By Isle of Wight Observer
Island crews took part in the Itchen Imperial Rowing Regatta, over a 1,400 metre (1,530yd) course.
Ryde Women’s Coastal Coxed 4 A crew with cox, Ruby Reed, Abi Locke, Eva Gordon, Emily Kellerman and Alexis Owen, won their heat, semi-final and the final, gaining the Hants & Dorset Championship, and automatic selection to represent the association, in the South Coast Championships later in the season.
In the Open Junior Senior Fours event, Ryde’s A crew, of Paddy Kerney, Will Hall, Joe Roberts, and Charlie Watts, with Mai Read coxing, also won their final and were followed home in second place by the club’s B crew of Isaac Gibson, Yogi Ashworth, Ben Robotham and Joe Bird, with cox, Harry Watts.
Newport’s Women’s Novice B crew of Becca Beaney, Cara White, Helen Hopper, Damien Cranham (Ryde), coxed by Mariana Hare, rowed well to finish second in their semi final. The A crew, of Flora Lockey, Julia Coulson, Hannah White and Grace Garner, coxed by Fiona Brookes, won their semi final and finished third in the final.
Newport’s Junior Pair, of Jake Garner and Nathaniel Hamilton, finished third in their heat, and the Junior 4 A crew of Boris Hare, Connor Garner, Nathaniel Hamilton, and Eric Williams, coxed by Mariana Hare, won their heat and finished in a dead heat with Southampton, their championship rivals, in the semi.
There was little to split the two crews in the final, but Southampton just edged ahead to win by a canvas. The crews are level on four wins each with the championship decider at Newport Regatta.
Isle of Wight Observer