Sun, Sea and some big waves at Southsea!
The hottest day of the year so far saw SSRC crews arrive at Southsea Regatta to very choppy water and the news that their boat “The Spyglass “ had been damaged in transit. In true Hants & Dorset fashion, other clubs rallied round to help and Shanklin would like to thank Newport, Ryde, and Coalporters rowing clubs for their help in assisting with transportation and lending boats.
The first race of the day was the J16 Girls quad with Roxy Browne in the bow in only her second race for SSRC, with Yasmin Wright, Rachel Debenham, Kayleigh Batchelor and cox Daisy Faithfull row strongly through the rough water to finish first H&D crew, in runners up spot behind Herne Bay.
The Men’s Novice Four of Kevin Faithfull, Andrew Tapsell, Thomas Ashley and Owen Denness with Daisy Faithfull coxing had their first experience of the rough water but rowed well to make sure they qualified for their final later in the day.
Gradually the wind lessened and with the dropping tide conditions improved as the day went on. However, the Ladies Junior 4 of Yasmin Wright, Lottie Tapsell, Rachael Debenham and Sophie Atkin coxed by Emily Faithfull, were unfortunate to have an outside lane draw and were unlucky not to finish in the first four needed to qualify for their final.
By the time the Novice Four took to the water for their final, conditions were much improved, but still very warm. The crew had their best row of the season so far and finished 4th in the eight boat final, and were the 3rd H&D crew to cross the line.
With the regatta running over 90 minutes late, Kayleigh Batchelor and Rachel Debenham had to wait for the final race of the day to row in the Ladies Double sculls and rowed an excellent race despite some steering problems and finished as the 2nd Hants & Dorset crew in 3rd place behind Shoreham and BTC.
A day of mixed fortune for Shanklin and they now look forward to the rescheduled Poole Regatta next Sunday and a trip to Henley Royal Regatta on Wednesday to watch club member Jamie Gamble compete in the Temple Challenge Cup, rowing for the University of Surrey Boat Club.
