Thames Valley Trial Head.
Sunday, 29th January, 2012.
There were some encouraging results for the Wightlink sponsored Ryde Rowing Club
crews and scullers when they competed at their first event of the year - The
Thames Valley Trial Head - last Sunday (29th January).
Staged at the 2012 London Olympic Rowing Regatta venue at Dorney Lake, near
Windsor the event is a time trial over 2000 meters, held in three divisions
where the equal conditions allow comparisons between divisions to be made.
Ryde took a strong team of over twenty athletes who raced in two of the three
divisions in a variety of boat types and categories, with some of the team
members competing for the club for the first time.
Racing in the 2nd division Ryde Masters Single Scullers acquitted themselves
well with Ben Ade recording the best time of the day in the Masters B Category
and both Nick Pike, racing at Masters D and Allan Evans racing at Masters F
recording the 2nd best times of the day in their respective categories. Ben Ade
and Nick Pike then competed in Division 3 in a Masters B double which was
again the fastest on the day in this category.
The Clubs Junior Senior Crew of Charlie Gedling, Joe and Charlie Norman and
Harvey Kirby competed in Double Sculls in the 2nd Division with Charlie
Gedling and Joe Norman competing in the J17 event where another 2nd best time
was achieved and Harvey Kirkby and Charlie Norman competing at J15 where
they finished with the 4th best time in a strong field. In the 3rd Division the
two doubles competed as a Coastal Coxed Four with Ed Newnham joining them as
coxswain where they finished 2nd to a Senior Crew.
In the 2nd division Ed Newnham coxed the Coastal Junior crew of Sam Corney, Dale
Buckett, Andreas Hicks and Max Reeve in a Coastal Junior four and they
recorded the fastest time of the day in this category before competing again
in Division 3 in a coxless quad finishing with the 4th best time in their
category behind three strong school crews.
The Club had six girls competing, two Melissa Carroll and Abbie Cornish - for
the first time in Ryde colors. The Club raced two combinations of Coastal Novice
four, one in division two consisting of Sophie Brown, Gemma Smith, Abbie
Cornish and Leanne Mitchell with Melissa replacing Gemma for the 3rd division
with both crews coxed by Katie Corney. The two crews recorded the 4th and 8th
best times respectively in this category in one of the largest fields of the
day. In division two Bryony Reeve and Melissa Competed in a J18 womens double
but were forced to use a Coastal boat, through lack of equipment which had a
significant impact on their time. In the third division Gemma Smith replaced
Melissa and a river double was available so a much improved time was recorded.
Finally, the Club boated a J13 Coxed Quad one of the youngest crews the club
has ever put afloat and all except Coach/Cox Graham Reeve were in their first
ever competitive race. This very young crew of Dominic Douglas, Joe Groves,
Jacob Redstone and Joel Smith, who were expected to be well beaten by the more
experienced school crews, sculled exceptionally well to finish with the 6th best
time in their category.
Photos.
TVTH2012 RRC J13 4x+ RRC J13 4x+ - Dominic Douglas, Joe Groves, Jacob Redstone
and Joel Smith, Coach/Cox Graham Reeve - afloat.
TVTH RRC J13 4x+ afloat RRC J13 4x+ - Dominic Douglas, Joe Groves, Jacob
Redstone and Joel Smith, Coach/Cox Graham Reeve - group.
Allan Evans MasF Sculler Allan Evans, RRC Master F Single sculler.
