OVER 400 COMPETITORS BATTLE IT OUT AT NEWPORT REGATTA ON THE RIVER MEDINA

Newport Rowing Club welcomed over 400 competitors to their annual regatta last weekend, forming part of the Hants & Dorset annual series. Close racing over the 2 days – on Saturday 3rd and Sunday 4th August – saw the Senior Men’s Fours event won by Lymington by a canvas from Coalporters. Newports’ Mixed Masters 50 crew, with a guest appearance from Kay Hume of BTC were just a length behind Southampton in their final. Newport Junior A crew missed out on a place in the final by a canvas to Christchurch. Newport Novice crew included Vlad Ignatenko, Riv Swaziel, and coxed by Fiona Brookes, all making their racing debut, alongside Hayden Tiffin, came up against strong and experienced opposition from Lymington and Coalporters and finished 3rd in their semi-final. Newport Junior B crew were also 3rd in their semi-final.

The only home crew to keep hold of some silverware were the Newport Women’s Masters crew who easily saw off challenges from Shanklin and Poole to win their final by a commanding margin.

More close racing followed on Sunday with a ‘dead heat’ in the semi-final  of the Men’s Junior Pair between Ryde, Southampton and Folkestone. This led to a re-row, which Ryde won, but were beaten by Itchen Imperial in the final. Newport scullers Julie Clarke, Chris Walters, and Connor Garner were knocked out in the early rounds of racing.

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