The South Coast Rowing Championships, held at Folkestone and organised by the Coast Amateur Rowing Association and Folkestone Rowing Club, took place on Saturday, September 16.

At the Championship Regatta, each association nominates two – sometimes three – representative crews to compete at six events, with other crews racing in the Open and Invitation events and in the Junior Regatta.

Ryde’s Men’s Coastal Junior Four, Charlie Watts, Ben Sanderson, Will Hall and Paddy Kearney, with Mai Mackay coxing, were selected to represent the Hampshire and Dorset Amateur Rowing Association.

It was the forty-third time the club has been asked to provide a representative crew for the Association and it has gone on to win nineteen South Coast Championships.

Isle of Wight County Press: Tobin Green, Murray Taylor, Carter Horrix, Louis Sheasby and Esme Walters.Tobin Green, Murray Taylor, Carter Horrix, Louis Sheasby and Esme Walters. (Image: Shanklin Sandown Rowing Club.)By the narrowest of margins, they were unable to add a twentieth win, finishing second to Southampton.

In the Open events, the Men’s Junior Senior Four, Dan Sanderson, Isaac Gibson, Matt Chalmers, Gully Roughan, and coxed, Lottie Rowland, finished third in the final.

It was a fine achievement, considering they were rowing above their status and one member of the crew was a novice oarsman.

Also racing were Ryde’s Men’s Novice Coxed Four, Lukas Georgiou, Joe Bird, Gully Rhogan and Yogi Ashworth, coxed by Lottie Rowland. They exceeded expectations by finishing second in their heat and fourth in the final.

Isle of Wight County Press: Ryde's Championship Coastal Junior Crew: Mia Mackay (cox), Paddy Kearney, Will Hunt, Ben Sanderson, Charlie Watts.Ryde's Championship Coastal Junior Crew: Mia Mackay (cox), Paddy Kearney, Will Hunt, Ben Sanderson, Charlie Watts. (Image: Shanklin Sandown Rowing Club.)In the junior events, Ryde's Boys J16 Quad, Lukas Georgiou, Isaac Gibson, Joe Bird, Yogi Ashworth and cox, Harry Watts coxing finished third in their heat and fifth in the final.

The club's Girls Under 14 Quad crew, Lottie Roland and Mai Mackay, completed by two girls from Bexhill,  were coxed by Dan Sanderson.

They sculled really well, to finish second in their final.

Meanwhile, Shanklin Sandown Rowing Club also travelled to Folkestone.

The club's Junior squad secured two victories, thanks to the efforts of the Girls J14 Quad: Izzy Bounds, Layla Katirewa, Ella Haydon, Immy Burfitt and cox, Esme Walters led from the
start and dominated, winning by over ten lengths.

Isle of Wight County Press: Girls J14 quad of Izzy Bounds, Layla Katirewa, Ella Haydon, Immy Burfitt and cox, Esme Walters.Girls J14 quad of Izzy Bounds, Layla Katirewa, Ella Haydon, Immy Burfitt and cox, Esme Walters. (Image: Shanklin Sandown Rowing Club.)

The Boys Quad, Tobin Green, debuting, Murray Taylor (Itchen RC), Carter Horrix and Louis Sheasby and cox, Esme Walkters took the plaudits in the J16 event, securing a place in the final and top spot on the podium.

The victories also meant the Juniors won the Victor Ludorum trophy for the most successful Junior club.

In the senior regatta, the club had four crews, with two representing the Hampshire and Dorset region in the championship finals.

All crew looks forward now to the Winter Head race season and an opportunity to hone their technique and further improve their endurance.