SOUTHERN INDOOR ROWING CHAMPIONSHIP.

GB MENS LIGHTWEIGHT OPEN TRIALS.

Four members of Wightlink sponsored Ryde Rowing Club competed in the Open Southern Indoor Rowing Championships held at Bellmoor School, Southampton on Saturday, 17th February. Over a hundred competitors competed in the event, one of the largest indoor rowing events in the South, with over 20 categories. Adult racing was over the standard British indoor 2000 meters distance and Junior events followed the Amateur Rowing Association "Go Race" format - of how much distance you could cover in a specific, age related, number of minutes. Use of the latest technology allowed spectators to get a real feel of the action with each race unfolding in front of them on a big screen.

In the Boys J12 section Samuel Corney, in his first competitive event for the Club completed 452 meters in the allotted two minutes to finish in 5th place in his section. In the J18 section, where unfortunately their were only a small number of entries, Callum Lowe finished 1st with a 2000m time of 7 minutes 19 seconds and he was chased home, for 2nd place, by Tom Clarke, in a 2K time of 7 minutes 23 seconds. Mike Jenner, racing in the Lightweight 40 plus Veteran section finished 1st in a strong field in a time of 6 minutes 45 seconds and Ashley Maitland, racing under his Bournemouth University colours won the Men’s Lightweight, 20 plus section in a time of 6 minutes 35 seconds.

There was disappointment for Ashley Maitland and Ryde's Ollie Bottrell the previous weekend when they were scheduled to take part, along with Simon Jones, in the third British Men's open trials for the GB squad, in Boston, but it was cancelled due to the severe weather condition. It is though to be unlikely that the trials will be rescheduled and involvement in the GB Lightweight squad will now probably be determined by the results from the previous trials - which should certainly mean Simon returning to the squad - but an anxious wait for Ollie and Ashley where Ollie's sub 6 minute 30 seconds trials ergo time gives him a good chance of selection.

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