Shanklin Sandown Rowing Club ended the Hants and Dorset rowing season by travelling west to Paignton for the South Coast Championships last weekend. The club aimed to conclude their record-breaking season in the same vein, spanning across different age-groups and categories.
The club continued their domination of the junior events by collecting 4 wins and two 2nds in six events offered. All Junior boys events were won, starting with the mixed J14 quad of Layla Katirewa, Daniel Page, Carter Horrix, Louis Sheasby & Daisy Faithfull, Horrix and Sheasby then forming half of the J16 quad alongside Arlo Adds and Ollie Hatch, who won in impressive style, following a nail-biting finish. The clean sweep was capped off by the Boys J18 four of Riley Horrix, Charlie Pitt, Ethan Walters, Matthew Page and Oliver Johnston (Itchen RC) who led from start to finish, winning in emphatic style, beating hard competition from Herne Bay.
The Girls J14 quad of Immy Burfitt, Ella Haydon, Layla Katirewa, Freya Jones and Esme Walters (Cox), experiencing their first experience South Coast championship,secured a three length victory over Poole, with the Girls J16 quad of Esme Walters, Beth Katirewa, Layla Katirewa, Olivia Taylor (Coalporters) & Emily Faithfull falling just shy of the victory in an agonisingly close finish. The Girls J18 four of Fauve Morgan, Damia Robert, Abi Swinscoe, Frances Katirewa finished a creditable second to ensure the club took the aggregate cup for most successful club at the junior regatta.
Next up was the senior regatta, in which Shanklin contested three events. The Ladies Senior Open four of Beth Katirewa, Frances Katirewa, Daisy Faithfull, Emily Faithfull & Esme Walters dominated the race from start to finish to be crowned South Coast Open champions. The Junior ladies Open crew of Esme Walters, Frances and Beth Katirewa, Abi Swinscoe and cox Jane Bailey rowed well in the heat to qualify for the final in just their second junior race. Leading at several stages in the race, a racing incident hampered their stride, however, the crew regained their composure to eventually finish 5th. The Boys J-S Open crew of Ollie Hatch, Matthew Page, Riley Horrix, Ethan Walters and Emily Faithfull fought hard, but were beaten by a good Ryde crew, and finished second.
The club’s juniors have one final racing opportunity this weekend at Itchen Junior Regatta in Southampton, before a well-earned break and the head racing season.