Wightlink-sponsored Ryde Rowing Club took their largest squad of the season since their home regatta in May to the Itchen Imperial Rowing Club Regatta on Saturday and experienced some success and encouraging performances.
The best performance of the day came from the Boys J16 Coxed Four of Ben Toms, Jacob Redstone, Joel Smith and Dom Douglas – with Austin Smith coxing – who won their final by the narrowest of margins against strong opposition.
This crew raced again in the Men’s Novice Fours with Tom Kearney replacing Joel Smith and finished 2nd in their heat where only the winners went through to the final – and a similar fate befell the Men’s Coastal Junior Pair of Will Ford and James Smith who had the misfortune to meet the eventual winners in their heat.
Joel Smith and Jacob Redstone also competed in the Boys J16 Single Sculls with Joel easily winning his heat and finishing a close 2nd in the final, which Jacob just failed to make. Joel also competed – for the first time – in the Men’s Novice Single Sculls finishing 2nd in his heat where, again, only the winners progressed to the next round. Also racing in the Men’s Novice Sculls was Dale Buckett, an easy winner in his heat but 2nd in his semi-final and Stephen Johnson who unfortunately took the wrong buoy in his heat, while leading comfortably and was disqualified.
Mick Jenner competed in the Men’s Senior Sculls and Andy Hicks, racing above his status, competed in the Men’s Coastal Junior Sculls but both failed to reach their respective finals.
The Novice Ladies crew of Lisa Murphy, Kate Whitehurst and Abi Locke competing in only their 2nd Regatta in a composite crew with host Club Itchen – and with Allan Evans coxing – showed further improvement finishing 2nd in their heat.
Finally a scratch Men’s Senior Four of Andy Hicks, Stephen Johnson, Ben Ade and Mick Jenner with Chloe Weaver coxing finished 3rd in a closely contested final.
Photographed L-R: Ben Toms, Jacob Redston, Austin Smith (Cox), Dom Douglas and Joel Smith
