Southampton Coastal Head of the River Race Saturday, 29th April, 2006

 In their final "warm-up" event for the Coastal Regatta season - which starts with their own Regatta on the 13th May - Ryde Rowing Club had four fours and four scullers competing in the Southampton Coastal Head of the River Race on Saturday, on the 29th April.

The Southampton Head is a timed event with crews starting at approximately ten second intervals, in the order they finished the previous year.

In the first division the Men's Senior Four of Ben Ade, Nick Pike, Matt Allsopp, Mike Jenner with Penny Glazzard, from Coalporters, coxing started first and although challenged in the early stages by a strong Lymington crew completed the course in the fastest time of the day - 16 minutes and 8 seconds - to take the Head Pennant and Trophy.

Their was another winning performance from the Clubs Junior Senior Crew, of Cedric Alligie, Dave Squibb, Ben Churchill and Sam Cocker, coxed by Adam Edwards - competing for the first time at this status following their promotion from Junior last year - who finished 3rd overall in a time of 17minutes and 1 second to win their section.

A Men's Novice Four, of Ian Dyer, James Eklund, Tom Clark and Jamie Lawson, with Bryony Reeve coxing also produced a surprisingly good result to finish 3rd in their section in a time of 17 minutes 47 seconds.

In the second division Aimee Dibbens, Hayley Edwards, Kim Salter and Rachael Brimstone, with Adam Edwards coxing raced in the Junior Ladies section, producing another good performance, to finish 3rd in a time of 19minutes 28 seconds and the Clubs trio of Senior scullers - Nick Pike, Mike Jenner and Matt Allsopp, also racing in this division, finished 2nd, 4th and 5th respectively, in times of 17 minutes 48 seconds, 18minutes 11 seconds and 18 minutes, 18 seconds.   

The Clubs Junior Sculler, Cedric Alligie also performed well - it is believed he finished second in his event but unfortunately no result time was recorded.

These results earned the Club the "Courage Shield" for having the lowest aggregate time for their fastest three crews.

The Wightlink sponsored Clubs next event is their own Regatta, from the beach at Appley, Ryde, near their Appley Park Clubhouse, on Saturday, 13th May - starting at 10.00am - with Shanklin Rowing Clubs Regatta on Sunday the 14th.