Ryde Rowing Club will host the first Hants & Dorset Amateur Rowing Association Championship Regatta of the season this Saturday with Shanklin’s Championship Regatta taking place on Sunday.
The Ryde Regatta has ninety-five entries, but this is likely to be over a hundred once late entries are accepted. The Regatta will still require a packed Programme of 19 races to be completed in just over four and a half hours over an 1820m course from Appley Beach, near to the Ryde R. C. Headquarters in Appley Park, towards Ryde Pier and return after a buoy turn.
Races are taking place for Senior, Junior/Senior, Junior and Novice men in coxed fours, Senior and Junior men in coxless pairs, and Senior, Junior and Novice Men in Single Sculls. For Ladies there is Senior, Junior and Novice coxed fours and a Ladies Senior sculling event. There is also a Masters – formally known as Veteran – Fours event for men and Ladies – the Ladies Masters event being staged for the first time this year.
The Regatta is scheduled to start at 11:45 with a race every 10 to 15 minutes and the prize giving by a representative of the Regattas main Sponsors – Carisbrooke Shipping – will take place at the Clubhouse in Appley Park at around 17:30.
In addition to Carisbrooke Shipping as main sponsors, the Regatta has received further support from a number of local businesses. Further support comes from Wightlink, who are the Clubs main sponsors; Steve Cook, Club Vice President and the Clubs’ 150 Club as well as the Barclays Community Support scheme.
Ryde Inshore Rescue will be providing safety cover and St. John Ambulance will be on scene providing first aid cover.
Ryde, the host Club, have a large entry with seven crews and scullers racing and following some good results in the pre-season head races, the Club has high hopes of some wins.
Some very close racing is expected and the general public are most welcome to view this free event – the best vantage point being from the sea wall by the Canoe Lake.
