ITCHEN IMPERIAL REGATTA, 27th AUGUST, 2005

The final Regatta of the Hants & Dorset Season, the Itchen Imperial Club Regatta, in Southampton, saw another good performance from, the Wightlink sponsored Ryde Rowing Club, with two crews selected to represent the Association at the South Coast Championships Regatta at Bexhill on the 3rd September.

The Clubs Men's Junior Senior Crew of  Ollie Bottrell, Nick Christopher, Stu Johnson, Ashley Maitland with Kim Salter coxing were selected following their win against Association Champions Christchurch and the Men's Junior Crew of Con and Christy Sullivan, Sam Cocker, Matt Evans and Cox Jodie Cocker are already confirmed as the Champions of the Hants & Dorset were also selected after winning their event.

More wins came in the Single Sculls events - with Nick Pike, again already confirmed as Association Senior Sculls Champion, taking his 8th win of the season with Mike Jenner just behind him in 2nd place - Matt Allsopp having failed to make the final. Steve Salter, competing in the Men's Junior Sculls, also won to confirm his position as runner-up for this Championship. Ben Ade in the Novice Sculls - who's performance has been steadily improving all season just missed out on a place in the final.

The Men's Novice crew of Ian Dyer, James Eklund, Tom Clark, Jamie Lawson and Kim Salter coxing   also had a successful day winning their third consecutive J16 event and finishing 2nd in the Men's Novice Fours, their best result so far this status.

The Men's Senior Crew of Ben Ade, Matt Allsopp, Mike Jenner and Ian Hayden, coxed by Tom Clark faced the Coast ARA Champions from Herne Bay, in their semi-final loosing to them by just two feet in one of the most exciting races of the day.

The Junior Ladies Crew of Rachael Middle, Aimee Dibbens, Hayley Edwards and Emma Levisan, coxed by Kim Salter while not reaching the final acquitted themselves well in their first race at Junior status, following their promotion from Novice status the previous week.

This weekend, the 3rd September, sees the culmination of the Coastal Rowing Season with the Club competing in the South Coast Championships Regatta, at Bexhill and the Club travel with high hopes of success for their two representative crews and for the Clubs other crews in the open events.

The News from the World Rowing Championships, in Gifu, Japan, where Ryde Oarsman Simon Jones is stroking the GB Lightweight Coxless Four is that the Regatta has been delayed by forty-eight hours following typhoon force winds and rain. but Simon's crew was in action on Tuesday 30th August, finishing second in their heat behind France to book a place in the semi-final.