Sunday, 9th March, 2008.

Ryde Rowing Club, sponsored by Wightlink I.W. Ferries continued their preparations for the new Coastal season with a trip to Christchurch for the Head of the Stour, returning to the Island with an impressive haul of five wins.

In the first division the Club concentrated on single sculls with seven scullers competing. Mike Jenner produced the fastest time of the day of any single sculler to win the Men's Open Veteran event in a time of 12 minutes 38 seconds. Ian Hayden was the next Ryde Sculler home in 12 minutes 53 seconds to win the Coastal Junior Section, followed by Nick Pike in 13 minutes 11 seconds to record 2nd place in the Men's Senior Coastal Sculls. The young Ryde Novice Sculler Tom Clark completed the course in an impressive time of 13 minutes 31 seconds to win the Novice Section. Ben Ade secured 2nd place in the Men's Coastal Junior Sculls with his time of 13 minutes 56 seconds and Stu Johnson was 5th in the Men's Coastal Sculls with a time of 14minutes 55 seconds. Alan Evans was 3rd in the Men's River Veteran Sculls in a time of 18minutes 41 seconds.

In the second division the Men's Coastal Senior Four of Stu Johnson, Ben Ade, Mike Jenner and Ina Hayden, with Bryony Reeve Coxing won their section, recording the fastest Coastal boat time of the day of 11 minutes 53 seconds -over thirty second a head of their nearest rivals.

The Club also had a Men's Coastal Four Competing, although two of the crew - Tim Wiggins and Francis Moore are Novice oarsman. Alan Evans, Tom Clark and Cox Eleanor Gaskin, completed the crew, who finished 4th in their section in a time of 13 minutes 28 seconds. 

Nick Pike, the only Ryde Sculler in the 2nd division, competing in River Men's Open Sculls secured Ryde's 5th win of the day, in a time of 13 minutes 40 seconds.

For the record we would like to correct a result from Ryde's last competition, the Burway Head on the 9th February. Provisional results on which the press report had been based had indicated that Ryde's had finished 2nd in the Men's Senior 4 Coxed Fours but the final version recorded a win for the crew.

Ryde's next competition will be the Southampton Eights, River and Small Boats Head on the 23rd March.

Photo attached: Ryde Senior Mens Four at the Head of the Stour, L to R -  Ian Hayden, Ben Ade, Mike Jenner, Stu. Johnson.

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