Coalporters Regatta. 19th Aug 06

Coalporters Regatta. Saturday, 19th August

A sensational return to form for the two Ryde Junior Ladies crews saw them comfortably win their respective semi-finals to face each other and Championship Leaders Christchurch in the final at Coalporters Regatta on Saturday, 19th August. In that final the two Ryde Ladies crews stormed away from the start leaving Christchurch in their wake and battled with each other over the full length of the course the Clubs B Crew of Sophie Draper, Chloe Attrill, Steph Goody and Claire Salter, coxed by Catherine Hume triumphing over the A. Crew of Aimee Dibbens, Hayley Edwards, Kim Salter and Rachael Brimstone, coxed by Steve Salter.

A second win for the Wightlink sponsored Club came in the Men's Junior Senior Fours where the crew of Adam Drockitt, Dave Squibb, Matt Evans and Sam Cocker with Penny Glazzard coxing triumphed over Championship rivals Itchen. Unfortunately there were insufficient Clubs to make it a qualifying event so the Hants & Dorset Championship will be decided at the last Regatta of the season with Ryde, Itchen and Southsea all on four points.

In the Men�s Senior Fours both the A crew of Nick Pike, Mike Jenner, Matt Allsopp and Ian Hayden coxed by Penny Glazzard and the B Crew of Con and Christy Sullivan, Ollie Bottrell and Steve Salter, coxed by Clare Salter reached the three boat final � against BTC. In an excellent race over the gruelling twice round course with three racing turns all three crews led at one point or another � the Ryde A Crew leading to the first turn � the A and B level at the second and the B Crew leading at the third thanks to a couple of excellent turns from their coxswain. Unfortunately over the final leg the BTC Crew pulled through both Ryde Crews to take the race and the Championship in what was never the less a magnificent race confirmed by the sustained applause crowed of spectators on Northam Bridge.

For the first time this season none of the Clubs Senior Scullers made the final, Nick Pike, Mike Jenner and Matt Allsopp all going out in their heats - although there was a suspicion that they made have been more focussed on the Senior Fours event. The Junior Sculler, Ben Ade, suffered a similar fate but Novice Sculler Tom Clark produced two good performances to reach the final of the Men�s Novice Sculls and the J16 event. He then faced a dilemma as the program layout prevented him competing in both finals - and he choose the Men's Novice sculls, arguably the more difficult and challenging event, as it was against older opposition, where he finished a creditable 3rd.

Your browser does not support inline frames or is currently configured not to display inline frames.