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Ross Rowing Club was justifiably proud of the universally
accepted success of their regatta weekend despite some intermittent
weather problems. Ross Masters and Juniors Regatta on Sunday
attracted 486 competitors in 286 crews from 24 clubs from
around the country and the Open Regatta on Bank Holiday
Monday was an even bigger event, attracting 598 competitors
in 245 crews from 38 clubs. This adds up to a total of 531
Crews and 1,084 competitors making it bigger than Henley
Royal Regatta (by 45 entries).
A
record entry of dragon boats from local and visiting clubs
made for an entertaining Saturday afternoon. The Dragon
boat event is designed to be an entertaining prelude to
the main rowing events and Many crews took the fancy dress
aspect very seriously indeed. There was some excellent racing
all afternoon with young and old alike joining in the fun.
The final was won by the 'Lash Monkeys' from Upper Thames,
retaining their title. In second place was Worcester Rowing
Club with Trent Rowing Club in a strong third place.
On
Sunday, the senior men's squad fielded seven veteran crews
and finished the day with four wins all against crews from
Staines Boat Club: Both the Masters B Double Scull and Masters
B Coxless Pair of Lenny Colling and Laurence Morgan; the
Masters C Coxed Eight of Paul Carpenter, Steve Randell,
Philip Davies, Graham Watling, Paul Brodholt, Antony Dixon-Gough,
Jeremy Picton-Turbervill and Dave Sykes coxed by Morgan
Baynham-Williams and the Masters B Coxed four of Paul Carpenter,
Steve Randell, Philip Davies and Antony Dixon-Gough coxed
by Ollie Sturgess.
On
Monday the senior mens squad fielded five crews and again
finished the day with four wins: The Mixed Composite Elite
Coxed Eight of Paul Carpenter, Steve Randell, Philip Davies,
Antony Dixon-Gough, Geraldine Calcraft, Rosie Lindley, Bethan
Hunter and Hannah Patterson (from Llandaff) coxed by Morgan
Baynham-Williams beat an eight from Ortner Boat Club which
is a club for ex-members of Reading University Boat Club;
The Masters D Coxed Four of Jeremy Picton-Turbervill, Graham
Watling, Paul Brodholt and Dave Sykes coxed by Lucy Jones
beat Royal Chester; The Open Intermediate 1 Coxed four of
Lenny Colling, Laurence Morgan, Sam Jenkins and Mitch Browning
coxed by Jessie Crossman beat Magdalen College Boat Club
and the Masters F Coxed Eight of Philip Palmer, Tim Ball,
Richard Ceci, Jack Westley, Tony Allen, Howard Copping,
Graham Nicholson and Robin Billingham coxed by Jessica Jordan
beat Monmouth.
The
Ross ladies had an incredibly successful weekend. On Sunday
the WMas C 4+ crew of Nicky Wild, Annie Williams, Dawn Evans
and Rowena Pollock coxed by Morgan Baynham Williams won
against their opposition Llandaff by two and half clear
lengths. On Monday the WMas D 8+ crew of Sarah Sykes, Alison
Griffin, Christine Hughes, Pam Ball, Anne Morris, Elaine
Powell and Sheron Dean Lucas had an exciting race against
Royal Chester, initially commenced with a poor start due
to the stroke seat coming off its runners but undeterred,
the crew settled into a good rhythm and raced neck and neck
down the course against their opposition with the stroke
person, Sarah Sykes rowing on her posterior. Despite all
the challenges they won by a small margin, well done goes
to all the ladies for holding it together in such difficult
circumstances, a very well deserved win.
Further
wins in the form of the WIM2 coxless pair of Geraldine Calcraft
and Geenee Watling, WIM2 8+, WNov 4+ and a mixed elite crew
with Geraldine Calcraft and Bethan Hunter in brought the
ladies tally to 6 wins out of a total 19 wins for Ross for
the whole of the weekend Sunday's junior regatta had a big
entry, making the competition in every event very strong.
Crews
from the Ross RC junior academy won seven events overall
and finished the day winning the Victor Ludorum cup as the
most successful juniors at the regatta, demonstrating the
strength of performance from the junior squad as a whole,
not just those who won their events. On the Monday, junior
crews entered several events with the Ladies Novice Four
crew of Caitlin Scott, Charlie Morris, Charlotte Leach and
Jess Jordan, coxed by Tom Scott, winning their event and,
as a result, the first rowing points of their young rowing
careers.
Junior
Captain, Mark Scott said he was 'delighted and proud, not
just with the performance of the juniors in their races
but also for their contribution, and that of their parents,
in helping to run the regatta over the weekend and make
it such a wonderful success for the Club.'
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