Itchen Imperial Regatta. Saturday, 13th July 2024.

ITCHEN IMPERIAL REGATTA, Saturday, 13th July 20204.

Crews & Scullers from Ryde Rowing Club, sponsored by Wightlink IW Ferries, made the short trip to Southampton for the Itchen Imperial Rowing Club Regatta on Saturday (13th July 2024) held over a 1400 metre course on the river Itchen where crews and scullers compete in three boat races usually involving heats and a final for each event type.

In the Men’s Coastal Junior Fours, the Ryde A Crew of Lar Groothuis, Joe Bird, Isaac Gibson, Charlie Watts (Str) with Harry Watts coxing qualified for the final by Comfortably winning their heat and semi-final before being involved in the closest race of the day in the final against Southampton where the Ryde crew won by the narrowest of margins of less than a canvas. The Club Coastal Junior B Crew of Max Lock, Fin Diffey, Yogi Ashwood, Ben Robotham and Ruby Read coxing finished 2nd in their heat failing to make the next round although racing really well as this was their first race at the status following their promotion following their Novice Fours win at the recent Swanage Regatta.

Further success for the Ryde Club came from Lottie Pettitt – who raced and stroked a composite Ladies Novice Four crew with Shanklin Rowing Club finishing first in their Final. Lottie also competed in the Ladies Novice Sculls event where she won her heat but could only manage 2nd place in the semi-final failing to qualify for the final although producing a very spirited race. Mia Read was also due to race in the Ladies Novice sculls but had to withdraw due to illness the same fate befalling the Men’s Coastal Junior Sculler Ben Sanderson.

The newly formed men’s Novice Four with two oarsmen - Reuben Rook and Cameron D’Arcy and making their racing debut for the Club alongside Fin Diffey and Max Locke with Ruby Read coxing produced an encouraging performance finishing 3rd in their heat failing to make the final.

The Men’s Senior Pair of Paddy Kearney & Will Hall finished 2nd in their heat failing to make the final and the same fate befell the Men’s Coastal Junior Pair of Isaac Gibson & Charlie Watts and the Ladies Pair of Alexis Owen & Maggie Sanderson.

Finally in the Men’s Novice Sculls Paddy Kearney sculled really well to reach the final by winning his heat and the semi-final where - he was narrowly beaten into 2nd place, with Ryde’s other Novice Sculler, Will Hall going out in the heat.