Six junior oarsmen and women from Shanklin Sandown Rowing Club travelled to the National Water sports Centre in Nottingham last weekend to represent the Wessex region at the Junior Inter Regional Regatta. One of the top Junior Regattas in the country, this championships brings together the best athletes in all the different regions across the country to compete against one another over the 1500m course.
Having given an outstanding performance in the heat, the J14 2x of Ethan Walters and Riley Horrix, part of the IW Council Talent development programme, were one of the fastest qualifiers for the A final. A great performance in the final saw the boys then break away early and proceed to battle it out within the leading pack with rivals from Exeter and Hereford. Giving their best performance to date, Ethan and Riley became the first rowers from the Hants & Dorset Region to medal at this event by taking the Bronze.
The women’s J16 coxless four of Sophie Atkin, Emily Faithfull, Lottie Tapsell and Mia Phelan enjoyed a great row to finish 4th in their B final whilst Owen Denness rowing with the Herne Bay J14 quad took an excellent runners up spot in the B final. Rachael Debenham, again rowing in a composite, finished a creditable fourth in the WJ15 4 x B final.
The club would like to thank Ryde and Newport Rowing Clubs for all their help in training and use of boats.