Isle of Wight rowers turn out for Milford-on-Sea Regatta

Crews and scullers, from the Wightlink-sponsored Ryde Rowing Club and Shanklin-Sandown Rowing Club, were among those to compete in the first Hampshire and Dorset Amateur Rowing Association regatta of the season, hosted by Lymington Amateur Rowing Club.

Ryde boys' J16 coxed quad, Mai Read, Lars Groothuis, Charlie Watts, Joe Bird and cox, Ruby Read rowed excellently to win.

There was an excellent row, too, from Ryde’s men’s novice four, Ben Robotham, Yogi Ashworth, Joe Roberts and Joe Bird with cox, Harry Watts, who finished second in both their heat and the the final.

Ryde's J16 Coxed Quad in action (Image: Ryde Rowing Club)

The Ryde men’s junior senior four, Ben Sanderson, Will Hall, Dale Buckett and Paddy Kearney with cox, Mai Read, also placed second in their final.

Also among those racing were Paddy Kearney and Will Hall in the Men’s Senior Pairs and Charlie Watts and Joe Roberts, in the men’s junior pairs.

The single scullers' achievements included a fourth place for men’s coastal junior sculler.

Shanklin-Sandown Rowing Club's men's junior four team, which beat Itchen. (Image: Lisa Atkin)

Meanwhile, Shanklin Sandown Rowing Club started their Hants and Dorset season successfully with three victories.

The men’s junior four team, comprised of Arlo Adds, Carter Horrix, Louis Sheasby, Fred Giemza-Pipe and Esme Walters (cox), edged out Itchen to win by a length.

The open double sculls was won by Sheasby and Horrix, resisting a late challenge from Christchurch.

There was also success in the girls' J14 quad, of Izzy Bounds, Rose Collier, Ella Haydon, Layla Katirewa, and Esme Walters (cox), who secured the hat-trick, as well as landing third in the J16 race.

Giemza-Pipe narrowly missed out on winning the novice sculls.

In open ladies' double, first-time competitors Walters and Anna Scott, finished third place.

The masters ladies' and men's teams finished third and fourth respectively, while the novice ladies' four and men’s junior pair earned fifth-placed finishes on their debut.

The club will also participate in the forthcoming National Schools Regatta at Dorney Lake and the second Hants and Dorset regatta at Poole.