The Shanklin Sandown Squad travelled to Milford-on-Sea for Lymington RC’s annual rowing regatta on Saturday, the first of a series of 13 regattas that formulate the Hants and Dorset domestic season. Shanklin have an extremely strong junior section, and that was reflected in the first race of the day, as the WJ16 Four of Yasmin Wright, Lottie Tapsell, Mia Phelan, Rachael Debenham and Emily Faithfull (cox) stormed ahead to win their category in style. Next up was the Men’s Novice Four - having not been rowing together for long, the crew of Thomas Ashley, Kev Faithfull, Owen Denness and Andrew Tapsell and Emily Faithfull (cox) did extremely well to have a strong row and finish 5th in their heat. The Women’s Novice Four of Yasmin Wright, Lottie Tapsell, Mia Phelan, Sophie Atkin and Emily Faithfull (cox) finished a comfortable 2nd in their Heat, and repeated that good performance, coming 3rd in their final. The club’s second win of the day came in the form of the Men’s Junior Pair of Jamie Gamble and George Glenister, as they rowed well to pick up the first point available in the new campaign in the ever-worsening conditions. The final win of the day came in the Men’s Junior Four of George Glenister, Jamie Gamble, Riley Horrix, Ethan Walters and Emily Faithfull (cox). Having won their heat comfortably, the boys progressed into the final alongside strong opposition such as Christchurch and Newport. In the challenging conditions they came out on top, picking up the first point of the new season. Shanklin Sandown Rowing Club is now focusing on the Island regattas next week - Ryde on Saturday and the club’s home regatta on the Sunday, and are aiming to replicate the good form.
