Ryde Rowing Club shines at highly competitive Swanage Regatta

An Isle of Wight rowing club had a strong showing at the Swanage Regatta on Saturday, June 29, fielding four fours crew, two coxless pairs and four scullers.

The event, part of the Hants & Dorset ARA fixture list, featured a record 180 entries – including Ryde Rowing Club – over the 1,500m course in Swanage Bay.

Ryde’s Men’s Noice A Crew, of Ben Robotham, Yogi Ashworth, Joe Roberts, Joe Bird and cox Harry Watts, highlighted the club’s success by winning both their heat and final, earning promotion to Coastal Junior status.

Ryde also secured four second-place finishes:

• Men’s Junior Senior Four: Ben Sanderson, Charlie Watts, Paddy Kearney, Will Hall, and cox Mia Read.

• Boys J16 Coxed Quad: Max Locke, Fin Diffy, Joe Bird, Charlie Watts, and cox Ruby Reid.

• Boys J16 Coxed Four: Joe Bird, Max Locke, Finn Diffey, Lottie Pettitt, and cox Harry Watts.

• Coastal Junior Pair: Charlie Watts and Joe Roberts.

In single sculls, Ben Sanderson finished third in his final, and Paddy Kearney placed second in his heat but did not advance.

In Ladies Novice Sculls, Lottie Pettitt and Mai Read qualified for the final, finishing fifth and sixth, respectively.

Finally, the club entered a crew of Alexis Owen, Mai Read, Dan Sanderson and Ben Rowbotham, coxed by Ruby Read, into the mixed fours, who finished in fifth place.