Ryde Rowing Club was represented by a small contingent at Coalporters Regatta in Southampton on Saturday, with the Women’s Senior Four securing a podium finish.
Holidays and illness meant Ryde had only a handful of crews and a sculler competing at Coalporters Rowing Club’s annual regatta on the River Itchen.
Racing took place over a 1,500m course, including a racing turn, with a maximum of 3 boats in each race meaning most events involved heats, semi-finals and a final.
Ryde’s Women’s Senior Four of Alexis Owen, Stella Baisley, Emily Kellermann and Abi Locke, coxed by Ruby Read, finished 2nd in their heat and progressed to the final as the fastest runner-up.
The crew went on to finish 3rd in the twice-round final – a strong performance in their first Hants and Dorset regatta over the longer distance.
The Women’s Novice Four of Demi-Cranham Ede, Abby Bird, Polley Townson and Clare Gordon, coxed by Mai Read, finished 2nd in their heat but narrowly missed out on a place in the final.
Lars Groothuis and novice oarsman Lucas Georgiou competed in the Open Junior Pairs, finishing 3rd in their heat.
Novice sculler Charlie Watts stepped up to compete in the Open Junior Sculls, as there was no Novice Sculls event at Coalporters, but was also unable to progress from his heat.
Georgiou was additionally part of a composite Open Novice Four alongside members of Newport Rowing Club. The crew finished 2nd in their heat but missed out on the final.
