Newport Rowing Club has clinched the Hants & Dorset Junior-Senior Championship after holding its nerve in a thrilling winner-takes-all season finale at Woolston.
The final regatta of the year at Weston Shore saw Newport arrive with a slender 5–4 championship lead over rivals Southampton – leaving everything resting on the last race of the season.
A Southampton victory would have levelled the standings at 5–5 and forced a row-off to decide the championship, but Newport were determined to finish the job at the first opportunity.
The Island crew made a strong start and put themselves in a good position by the halfway stage, before Southampton launched a determined challenge coming out of the buoy turn.
With the championship on the line, Newport responded and found another gear, keeping Southampton at bay while also holding off a strong challenge from home club BTC.
Newport maintained their advantage to the finish, with BTC taking 2nd place, sealing the Junior-Senior Championship for the Island club.
Ollie Coulson, Alex Barnes, Jake Garner and Jude Williams, coxed by Mariana Hare, delivered the championship-winning performance, capping an impressive campaign for the whole squad.
There was further recognition for Mariana, who was named Cox of the Day.
With the Hants & Dorset title secured, Newport’s squad will now prepare to represent the association at the South Coast Championships in Deal, Kent, in September.
