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Wightlink sponsored Ryde Rowing Club continued their preparations for the new
season on Sunday (6th March) competing in the Head of the Stour, at
Christchurch. The race is a time trial, in two divisions, over a winding two and
a half mile course and the conditions were difficult - very cold and with an
awkward wind for the crews to cope with which made the river very rough in
certain sections.
In the first division the Boys J16 Crew of Charlie and Jo Norman, Charlie
Gedling and Harvey Kirkby with Ed Newnham Coxing, racing in a Coastal Coxed Four
– and the J15 boys crew of Sam Corney, Andreas Hicks, Dale Buckett and Max Reeve
with Katie Corney coxing and racing in a Coastal Coxed quad both finished 1st in
their respective sections. Both these crews went on to compete in the Men’s
Novice Fours section in the second division where the finished 8th and 10th
respectively in a large and very competitive field.
Four of the Clubs Senior Oarsman – Russell Page, Nick Pike, Mike Jenner and Ian
Hayden raced in a Coxless Quad in the first division winning the section fairly
comfortably with the 4th best time of the day – only bettered by two eights and
a Senior Coxed four from BTC. Three other Club Seniors competed in the first
division – Sam Cocker and Ben Ade – in a Men’s Coastal Senior Pair where they
finished 3rd and Stuart Johnson in the Men’s Coastal Novice Sculls where he
finished in 4th place.
Also first in their status was the Clubs Girls J18 Coxed Quad of Leanne
Mitchell, Gemma Smith, Sophie Brown and Bryony Reeve with Coach Graham Reeve
coxing – where Leanne and Sophie were racing for the Club for the first time.
Another Ryde member competing in Ryde Colors for the first time was Maddie Dunn,
who has recently moved to the Island and transferred her allegiances to Ryde
from her mainland club. However racing in a Ladies Novice Scull in division one
she was forced to withdraw not wanting to put her borrowed boat at risk in the
difficult conditions. However she made up for this disappointment in Division 2
– racing in a mixed double scull with Ian Hayden and recording a comfortable
win.
Four of the Senior Men – Mick Jenner, Ben Ade, Stu Johnson and Sam Cocker – with
Bryony Reeve coxing competed in the Senior Men’s Coastal Fours section in the
2nd division – finishing in 2nd place. Russell Page and Nick Pike switched to
single sculls for division two – Nick finishing 2nd in the Men’s Open Sculls and
Russell coming home first in the Men’s Veteran Sculls.
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