Ryde Rowing Club’s young squad competed at the BTC Rowing Club Regatta on Saturday (14th July), which was held at Western Shore, Southampton in very warm but quite blustery conditions.
The conditions appeared to have little impact of the Wightlink-sponsored club’s J16 Coxed Four of Paddy Kearney, Tom Starkey, Ben Sanderson, Austin Smith – and cox Dan Sanderson – who comfortably won their event, the club’s 5th J16 title of the season.
There was also a fine performance from the club’s Senior Sculler Dale Buckett – racing for only the third time this season and at this level – who finished 3rd in a race won by Olympic Bronze Medallist James Foad of Itchen Rowing Club.
There was an equally good performance in the Men’s Coastal Single sculls where Joel Smith also finished 3rd – his best result at this level since his promotion from Novice status earlier in the season.
The club’s Men’s Novice Scullers, competing against older opposition, put in a strong performance with Austin Smith finishing 2nd in his heat to gain a place in the final – where he finished in a creditable 5th place. Ben Sanderson finished 4th in the same heat – just missing out on a place in the final.
The Men’s Coastal Junior Four of Tom Starkey, Joel Smith, Ben Sanderson and Austin Smith – with Dan Sanderson in the coxswains seat once again – produced there best result at this level to date comfortably winning their heat to claim a place in their first final since promotion to this status, where the finished in 5th place.
Joel Smith with Tom Starkey and Ben Sanderson with Austin Smith also competed in the Mens’ Coastal Junior pairs finishing 5th and 6th respectively.
