Ryde Rowing Club competed at the final Hants & Dorset ARA Championship Regatta at Southampton Coalporters Rowing Club on the River Itchen on Saturday (22nd August).
By their own high standards the season has proved to be a difficult and frustrating one for Ryde, with limited success on the water. But results for the Club in recent weeks and on Saturday, where they achieved three 3rd places, showed some encouraging signs that progress is being made and a recovery underway.
Their best result probably came from the Ladies Novice Four Crew of Lisa Murphy, Kate Whitehurst, Julie Cole and Abi Locke – with Mick Jenner steering – who won their heat and finished 3rd in the final in what was only their second regatta as a full crew.
The Men’s Coastal Junior Pair of Will Ford and James Smith also recorded a 3rd place in their final in a close race maintaining their recent improved form.
Ryde’s final 3rd place was in the Men’s Coastal Junior Sculls where Stephen Johnson won his heat and finished 2nd in his semi-final, qualifying for the final as fastest looser where he finished 3rd in another close race. Ryde’s other Junior Sculler, Andy Hicks also won his heat but finished 3rd in his semi-final came failing to make the final.
The Club would have had another finalist as the Men’s Novice Four of Joel Smith, Jacob Redstone, Ben Toms and Joe Groves with Austin Smith coxing won their semi-final only to be disqualified for an infringement at the turn.
