Ryde Rowing Club weathers the storm

Ryde Rowing Club, sponsored by Wightlink, were due to compete at Island neighbours Newport Rowing Club’s Annual Regatta over the weekend on the River Medina.

This sheltered river location is normally guaranteed to provide calm waters, but the weather broke and the conditions, especially on the Sunday (July 29) were very challenging, with high gusting winds and heavy rain.

Racing was possible on Saturday (July 28) as the fours are all coxed and capable of coping with the difficult conditions. The Ryde Club had two fours racing, the Men’s Coastal Junior Four of Tom Starkey, Tye Cameron, Ben Sanderson and Ben Toms, coxed by Dan Sanderson who were second in their heat but failed to register a fastest second place to claim a place in the final.

The Club also had a new Men’s Novice Four racing, with two members of the crew, Jonna Lewin and Gully Roghan competing for the Club for the first time. They joined Paddy Kearney and Ben Toms, with Dan Sanderson again in the coxswain’s seat, and rowed remarkably well to register the fastest second place in their heat to take a place in the final where they finished third.

RRC Mens Coastal Junior Four. Bow to Cox – Tom Starkey, Tye Cameron, Ben Toms and Ben Sanderson, coxed by Dan Sanderson

On Sunday the Club was due to have a Men’s Coastal Junior Pair and a number of Junior rowers racing in Coxed Quads and single sculls, but after the heats and finals of the Men’s and Ladies Senior Pairs events the regatta was abandoned in worsening conditions on safety grounds.

By Peter White