Newport Rowing Club hosted the revamped Head of the Medina Race on Saturday (14th October).
The race has a long history in the club but has not been run since 1999. The club decided it was time that the island had its own ‘head’ race once again.
This is a time trial-style race, starting at Newport Rowing Club and finishing 3.3km downriver. The race was supported by fellow Island clubs of Ryde and Shanklin & Sandown, as well as Poole, Lymington, and Southsea from the mainland. Altogether, there were 46 entries over the 2 divisions.
Benefitting from fine conditions throughout the day the rowers posted some excellent times. The fastest crew of the day, in 14.01 minutes, was from the home club, with the coxless four of Chris Waters, Connor Garner, Nathanial Hamilton and Toby Batchelor. Not far behind them was the Men’s Masters coxed four from Poole, with a time of 14.37. The fastest Women’s crew of the day was the Senior Women’s four from Lymington, in a time of 16.42, with Shanklin & Sandown having the fastest Women’s Masters time at 19.05.
In the 1st Division, a composite Men’s Coastal Senior 4+ from Ryde and Poole not only won their division but also put up the fastest time of the day. Ryde’s Paddy Kearney stroked the boat and young Harry Watts coxed. Also, in the 1st Division, Ryde had 3 open coastal scullers competing – Charlie Watts finishing 2nd, Isaac Gibson finishing 3rd and Matthew Groothuis finishing 5th.
There was a 1st place for Ryde’s Men’s open coastal double of Lars Groothuis and Joe Bird, and a 2nd place for Stella Baisley in the Women’s River Open single.
In the 2nd Division there was a first place for Ryde’s Men’ Open River double of Charlie Watts and Isaac Gibson – and a 2nd place for Stella Baisley in the Women’s Open River single.
