TWO ISLE of Wight rowing clubs tasted success at a mainland event at the weekend.

On Sunday, March 10, Shanklin and Sandown Rowing Club travelled to Southampton for the BTC Spring Head, returning with a haul of medals.

The race against the clock over a 5km course on the River Itchen saw Louis Sheasby and Carter Horrix in the J16 double sculls win by more than two minutes.

Fred Giemza-Pipe also took top spot on the podium for a second week running, winning the men’s novice sculls race.

The trio, together with Arlo Adds and Esme Walters (cox) then contested the Junior Men’s River four event, and with a strong second half of the race, secured the club’s third win of the day, just ahead of Newport.

The mixed master’s four of Stella Gamble, Paul Gamble, Gary Burch, Lisa Robertson and Jane Denby-Roach (cox) also took top spot in their category.

Meanwhile, the club’s young J16 girl’s coastal quad of Izzy Bounds, Evie Crew, Rose Collier, Layla Katirewa and Jane Denby-Roach (cox) – three of the crew being J14 – sculled well in their event to finish just behind Itchen-based Coalporters.

Ryde Rowing Club also competing in the BTC Spring Head – their first mainland event of the new season.

Isle of Wight County Press:

In division one, the Men’s Coastal Junior Four of Lars Groothuis, Isaac Gibson, Joe Roberts, Charlie Watts, with Harry Watts (cox), finished second in their section.

At the same event, the Men’s Coastal Novice Four of Ben Robotham, Fin Diffey, Lucas Georgiou, Joe Bird, and Ruby Reid (Cox) took fifth place. 

The club had two Men’s Novice River Sculls competing – Paddy Kearney, who finished in fourth place, and Yogi Ashworth who finished in sixth.

Isle of Wight County Press:

Mai Read and Lottie Pettitt, competed in a Women’s J8 Coastal double, meanwhile, clinched first in their division against limited opposition.

In the second division, Paddy Kearney competed in a Men’s Coastal Single scull, and won his section, while Charlie Watts and Lars Groothuis finished second and third respectively in the Men’s Coastal J16 Single Sculls.

Finally, the Ryde Men’s Novice Four of Ben Robotham, Fin Diffey, Lucas Georgiou and Joe Bird, with Ruby Read coxing, finished second in their section, while Isaac Gibson and Joe Roberts finished third in the Coastal Junior Pair.