Eleven Hants and Dorset League clubs took
part. In all some 125 rowers competed over the 17 events which were all keenly
contested with some very close finishes along the 1600m course.
The regatta was opened by the new Chairman of the IW Council Cllr Peggy Jarman.
In perfectly flat conditions, it was the first Island appearance of Newport's
new Burgashel coastal four named Mickey Westmore and sponsored by ITS Tools.
The boat was entered in the men's novice four and consisted of Kevin Bennett,
Darryl Janner, Axel Pfitzer, John Kerr and coxed by Vanessa Payne kept in
contention but found the competition fierce, finishing fourth. The men's
junior/senior four and the veterans four from Sandown and Shanklin both picked
up a point with third places.
Regatta controller John Bailey said East Cowes probably had the best
conditions of any coastal event he could remember and the only mishap of the
day befell Coal-porters men's junior pair when, after a promising start, the
bow blade and oar parted which left them with only one oar but they were
safely towed to shore by the Newport safety launch.
The trophies were presented by Cllr M. Webster, Mayor of East Cowes. The Frank
Taylor Cup for the best aggregate score went to Christchurch who beat Southsea
by a single point.
Newport would like to thank Ryde Club for help with their safety launch, Cowes
Harbour Commission and Wight Leisure for their support and all the regatta
committee.
RYDE CLUB
Last Saturday's Newport regatta saw another win for Ryde, this time in the
senior sculls by Nick Pike making up for his narrow defeat the previous week.
Pike started his race with determination and it soon became clear that the
battle was between himself and two Southsea scullers, Rob Stearne and Pete
Mahoney. However, Pike was first into the turn and was able to build a good
margin on the return leg to win by five lengths.
Mick Jenner had a better race than last week and finished fifth. The senior
four made a much better start than usual and reached the turn just ahead of a
crew made up largely of BTC's winning boat from last year.
A slow turn allowed the BTC crew to draw level and tension led to Ryde rowing
short and allowing BTC through to a length's lead by the finish. The senior
pair of Matt Allsopp and Ian Hayden seemed destined to allow the opposition to
get away once again but a good second half of the race saw them come through
two boats to finish fourth.
The senior squad was joined by novice sculler Ben Churchill. He was well in
contention in the first half of the race but a collision at the turn slowed
him down and he finished third.
Tomorrow (Saturday) sees a larger Ryde squad competing at its own regatta at
Appley and Shanklinís regatta takes place on Sunday on the Esplanade from
10.45am to 4.30pm.
The Sunday event which is supported by Wight Leisure has attracted an entry of
several hundred competitors and this is likely to increase with more entries
on the day, from Hants and Dorset clubs, in the 16 different events for both
men and ladies.
This is the fourth championship regatta of the 2004 season and follows on from
Newport's event at East Cowes last Saturday and Rydeís event Saturday, May 22.
