Shanklin Sandown Rowing Club travelled to Itchen Junior Regatta in Southampton, the first opportunity to put all of their hard training over the past few months to the test. The juniors of Shanklin did not fall short of their ambitions under the pressure, delivering strong performances all round resulting in 8 podium places, including 5 wins. These fantastic performances set a strong base for the winter season, and a precedent for excellence in the future.
The first of the days' successes came in the boy’s J13 double of Louis Sheasby & Carter Horrix, who stormed home to take a comfortable victory. Fresh from this success, these boys withstood the ever-worsening conditions to join forces with Arlo Adds & Ollie Hatch, taking to the water in the Boys J15 quad event. The crew, coxed by Yasmin Wright, made it two from two, winning after a very tight race. Finally, Arlo & Ollie capped off the positive day for the Junior Men’s Squad by cruising to victory themselves, also in a double.
The Girls Squad also experienced their fair share of success, fielding lots of athletes under the Shanklin colours, in a range of abilities, with some of the more experienced amongst them leading the newer athletes into the world of competitive racing. One of those experiencing racing for the first time was 11 year old Layla Katirewa. Although racing is not always straightforward, Layla, along with her crew of Esme Walters, Kayleigh Batchelor, Beth Katirewa and Yas Wright (cox) made it look so, with a comprehensive victory. The club’s J16 girl’s quad of Damia Robert, Allanah Denness, Beth Katirewa & Frances Katirewa secured an excellent second place, finishing a length behind current South Coast champions, Worthing.
The fifth and final victory of the day came from the double combination of Kayleigh Batchelor & Frances Katirewa which capped off an excellent regatta for Shanklin. The entire Junior Squad impressed, and will be looking to continue this form into the winter head racing season and beyond.
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