Ryde Rowing Club finally returned to mainland competition on Saturday (3rd July) as the Hants & Dorset Amateur Rowing Association 2021 season finally got underway again after more than a year’s absence.
All COVID-19 precautions were undertaken and there was a restricted program with no small boat events due to limited space available and restrictions on the number of athletes, coaches and officials attending. Spectators were discouraged. However, in spite of these restrictions, the Regatta was a great success with everyone really pleased to be back after such a long break.
Ryde started this new season the way they finished the last in 2019 with a win for the Men’s Senior Coxed Four of Alex Miller, Matt Allsopp and Mike Ewing – with Jo Gapper coxing – alongside a young Ryde Coastal Junior oarsman, Joel Smith, who rowed exceptionally. He was deputising for the fourth crew member who fell ill on the day.
Ryde also had 3 other Fours crews competing, most making their Ryde debuts in Hants & Dorset ARA Competition and the majority of them 16 or under. The club had 2 Novice Fours competing – the A Crew of Harry Jones, Frankie Leftley, David Baer and Paddy Kearney with Cayman Adams coxing finishing 4th in their heat and the B Crew of Elliott O’Sullivan, Charlie Walford, Tom Kerver and Dan Sanderson – with Graham Reeve coxing – finishing 5th in their heat.
Elliott O’Sullivan and Dan Sanderson then raced again with Bradley Whiting and Yogi Ashworth – with Ben Sanderson coxing – in a Boys J16 Coxed Four finishing in 3rd place in their final.
