Lottie PettittRowers from Ryde Rowing Club made the short trip to Southampton for the Itchen Imperial Rowing Club Regatta on Saturday (13th July). The regatta was held over a 1,400-metre course on the River Itchen, where crews and scullers compete in 3 boat races usually involving heats and a final for each event type. In the Men’s Coastal Junior Fours, the Ryde A Crew of Lar Groothuis, Joe Bird, Isaac Gibson, and Charlie Watts (Str), with Harry Watts coxing, qualified for the final by comfortably winning their heat and semi-final before being involved in the closest race of the day in the final against Southampton, where the Ryde crew won by the narrowest of margins of less than a canvas. The Club Coastal Junior B Crew of Max Lock, Fin Diffey, Yogi Ashwood, Ben Robotham and Ruby Read coxing finished 2nd in their heat failing to make the next round, although racing really well as this was their first race at the status following their promotion following their Novice Fours win at the recent Swanage Regatta. Further success for the Ryde Club came from Lottie Pettitt – who raced and stroked a composite Ladies Novice Four crew with Shanklin Rowing Club finishing 1st in their Final. Lottie also competed in the Ladies Novice Sculls event where she won her heat but could only manage 2nd place in the semi-final, failing to qualify for the final, although producing a very spirited race. Mia Read was also due to race in the Ladies Novice sculls but had to withdraw due to illness, the same fate befalling the Men’s Coastal Junior Sculler Ben Sanderson. The newly formed men’s Novice Four with two oarsmen – Reuben Rook and Cameron D’Arcy and making their racing debut for the Club alongside Fin Diffey and Max Locke with Ruby Read coxing – produced an encouraging performance finishing 3rd in their heat, failing to make the final. The Men’s Senior Pair of Paddy Kearney and Will Hall finished 2nd in their heat, failing to make the final, and the same fate befell the Men’s Coastal Junior Pair of Isaac Gibson and Charlie Watts and the Ladies Pair of Alexis Owen and Maggie Sanderson. Finally, in the Men’s Novice Sculls, Paddy Kearney sculled really well to reach the final by winning his heat and the semi-final where he was narrowly beaten into 2nd place, with Ryde’s other novice sculler, Will Hall, going out in the heat.
Newport took 3 crews and 2 scullers to the latest round of the Hants & Dorset 2024 competition. Semi final of the Men’s Junior Fours: Ryde in the foreground and Newport behind. Julie Clarke competed against scullers less than half her age, finishing 3rd in her heat. Conner Garner made a great start leading off in his heat, but lost time at the turn and finished 2nd. The Men’s Junior crew of Nathaniel Hamilton, Connor Garner, Harry Hare, and Boris Hare, competing in a cohort of 16 crews, reached the semi finals and were narrowly beaten by fellow islanders from Ryde RC. The Women’s Masters crew of Julie Clarke, Julia Coulson, Lexie Nestor-Powell and Fran Ladd were in contention in their heat but lost out in a close race to Poole. The Men’s Novice crew of Jake Garner, Chris Clarke, Ed Hopper, and Hayden Tiffin progressed comfortably to their final. The final was close all through the race with little between Newport and Southampton’s BTC crew. Newport were unlucky to pick up a good deal of wash from passing motor boats, taking on water as a result. Despite this, they pushed BTC all the way to the line to finish a close 2nd. All 3 crews were coxed with skill by Mariana Hare.
A great day at Itchen Regatta in Southampton demonstrated strength in depth from Shanklin Sandown Rowing Club with another set of podium places amongst the 10 crews entered. Highlight of the day was the Novice Ladies win and promotion to Junior Status with an exciting straight final against two host club crews. The Shanklin-Ryde composite of Shanklin’s Lisa Atkin, Sam Travis, Evie Crew, Lottie Pettitt (Ryde) and Jane Denby-Roach (Cox) had an excellent race, leading from the start, turning efficiently at the turns to build a commanding lead on the return leg and enjoying a three-length victory. Fred Giemza-Pipe, currently leading in the Junior Sculls championship race, encountered stiff opposition in his final and finished second on this occasion. Sculling team mates Arlo Adds, Esme Walters, Frances and Beth Katirewa put in some strong performances, despite not making the final. In the pairs events, Fred teamed up with Kev Faithfull to give championship holders Itchen a close race, whilst Anna Scott and Frances Katirewa finished third in their heat. In the Masters events, Shanklin continue to show improved form and are now closing gaps with their rivals, despite tough draws. Anna Scott had a busy day, competing in both Men’s and Ladies events, teaming up with Kev Faithfull, Paul Gamble, Gary Burch, Jane Denby-Roach, Lisa Robertson and Stella Gamble.
