Isle of Wight crews row in all weathers

SIX crews were taken by Shanklin Sandown Rowing Club to the season-ending Bournemouth Regatta, with all finishing in podium positions at the weekend.

The J16 girls quadruple sculls crew of Yasmin Wright, Kayleigh Batchelor, Sophie Atkin and Rachael Debenham took the win, whilst the J16 sweep crew, which included Emily Faithfull, who replaced Batchelor, won by just two lengths.

The club’s third win of the day was secured by Ethan Walters in the boys J16 sculls.

Sophie Atkin competed in the girls’ J16 sculls for the first time, finishing an excellent second, while the boys’ J14 quad of Owen Denness, Thomas Ashley, Sam Evans-Murray and Walters also secured the runners up spot in the J16 race.

Ryde Rowing Club picked up their sixth J16 trophy of the season when their mixed J16 coxed four of Paddy Kearney, Harry Jones, Freya Drage and Callum Hynd, with Joel Smith as coxswain, won their event.

In the single sculling event, Ryde’s best performer was Tye Cameron, who finished second in the final of the boys’ J16 race.

NEWPORT REGATTA

ROWING clubs from the mainland took part in the annual Newport Regatta, but appalling weather played its part in making it a tough test for competitors.

On Saturday, in the fours, a Newport Rowing Club novice ladies’ crew of Beth Walpole-Davis, Olivia Wright, Fleur Barclay and Emily Oatley battled hard to grab second in the final.

Their senior ladies’ crew of Anna Webb, Josephine and Julia Wilks and Sophie Oatley, were neck-and-neck with Southampton until they were pipped on the line.

On Sunday, weather conditions worsened, but the ladies’ senior pair, Anna Webb and Sophie Oatley, came second in the final.

Competing for Ryde Rowing Club for the first time, in the men’s novice fours, were Jonna Lewin and Gully Roghan. They joined Paddy Kearney and Ben Toms, with Dan Sanderson as coxswain, to finish third in the final.

Shanklin Sandown Rowing Club were represented well by the senior men’s crew of Joe Murray, Alex Robertson, Jamie Gamble, Garry Walters and Emily Faithfull (cox), who enjoyed a strong row in the final, coming just five lengths behind winners BTC.

The men’s senior pair of Alex Robertson and Joe Murray were the club’s only crew to go afloat on Sunday and finished third in the final.

Unfortunately, after only two events, the rest of the regatta was cancelled on safety grounds.