ITCHEN IMPERIAL JUNIOR SPRINTS.  SATURDAY, 24th SEPTEMBER, 2005.

With the Coastal rowing season over the emphasis of Wightlink sponsored Ryde Rowing Club's activities switches to their Junior Section and on Saturday, 24th September a strong team from the Club attended their first event of the Winter season, travelling to Southampton to compete in the Itchen Imperial R. C. Junior Sprint Regatta. The Regatta was contested by seven local Clubs with over a hundred Juniors competing many for the first time - illustrating the continued growth in the sport and in Junior Rowing in particular.

Club Crews and scullers competed in a number of age groups in different boat types and achieved a number of wins to record their best performance in this event.

The Clubs first win came in the Boys J15 "B" Double Sculls with a comfortable victory for James Eklund and Tom Cleary. James went on to compete in the Boys J15 "B" Single Sculls where he finished 2nd in his heat failing to make the final.

Charlotte Brimstone, in her first competitive race for Club won the Girls J13 Virus event in which fellow Club members Vicky Owrid and Louise Glover, who were also in their first race, also competed. Charlotte and Vicky then went on to race in the Girls J13 "B" Double Sculls event where they finished 3rd.

Adam Edwards also made his debut for the Club winning the Boys J13 Virus race - he then competed in a composite J13 Double with a member of Coalporters Rowing Club.

Ian Dyer and Tom Cleary competed in a J16 "B" Double Sculls event finishing 2nd behind a strong Christchurch Double. The Club had two Boys in the J16 "B" Single Sculls who were first and second in their final - Tom Clark just beating Jamie Lawson.

Another win for the Club came in the Girls J16 Coxed fours from a crew made up of Kim Salter, Rachael Brimstone, Sophie Draper and Sarah Lamb with Jasmine Burr-Hersey coxing. The girls then split into two J16 Double Sculls - Kim racing with Rachael and Sophie racing with Sarah - but both just failed to make their final. Rachael went on to race in the Girls J15 "B" Single sculls -with more success - winning her final.

Further success came in the Boys J16 Quad Sculls with a win for the crew of Tom Clark, Jamie Lawson, Ian Dyer, Tom Cleary and James Eklund. Jamie Lawson also competed in a composite Boys J16 Coxed Four with members of BTC Rowing Club which he stroked to victory.