Newport rowers seal championship success

The final rowing regatta of the season saw Newport secure success in the Hants & Dorset Junior-Senior Championship over a 1,900m (1 1/5-mile) course, with a racing turn, at Western Shore, Woolston, Southampton. The Island rowers held a 5-4 lead over rivals, Southampton, going into the final competition.

Newport went hard from the start, securing a good position at the halfway point. Rivals Southampton put in everything they had coming out of the buoy turn, but Newport pushed on, keeping both Southampton and BTC at bay to secure victory. The squad are now looking forward to representing the association at the South Coast Championships, in Deal, Kent, in September.

Ryde’s Women’s novice four, coxed by Mai Read, and comprising Clare Gordon, Polley Townson, Abby Bird, and Sophia Roberts (Coalporters), finished first in their final by several lengths.

Ryde’s Women’s senior four, coxed by Ruby Read, and comprising Stella Baisley, Alexis Owen, Eva Gordon, and Emily Kellerman, finished fourth in their final. In the open senior pairs, Ryde’s A crew, of Charlie Watts and Paddy Kearney, finished seventh in their final, just behind Ryde’s B crew of Isaac Gibson and Max Locke.

Ryde A sculler, Charlie Watts, finished second in his heat, while novice sculler, Isaac Gibson, won his heat. In the final, Isaac was pipped at the post, losing by half a canvas to finish second, with Charlie in third.

In the Women’s single sculls event, Ryde scullers, Alexis Owen and Stella Baisley, finished fourth and sixth respectively in their final. Ryde also competed in the mixed Arthur Shergold Memorial Race, in a composite crew with Newport, featuring Mai Read and Isaac Gibson from Ryde, along with two rowers and a cox from Newport, finishing seventh in the final.

Shanklin Rowing Club are celebrating the success of Bass Andre, after winning four golds and a silver at the Jersey Beach Sprints and Offshore Championships.