Fresh from completing the fastest combined time for the virtual round the world race ahead of Folkestone and Worthing, Dover were back on the water at the Viking Shield at Herne Bay.
It was a winning start for Jasper Mallet who comfortably won the Novice Sculls race where he led the field from the start.
The Masters 40+ race saw a composite crew with Nick Bailey and Jon Cook and Jason Cunningham coxing racing Amanda Punton, Canelle Ulyatt, Maria West Burrows, Matt Burnett coxed by Sara Scrivens. The composite crew lead out of the turn by a length and were able to hold off a spirited effort from the Scrivens’ coxed crew to secure the win, with the other Dover crew second. West-Burrows had gutted out the race after taking a hard hit to the face during the turn from a rival crew’s blade (oar).
The Junior Ladies 4 saw Freya Emmerson, Nikki Leggatt, Holly Hannington, Emily Harvey coxed by Cunningham compete against Emmeline McArdle, Saffron Walmsley-Preece, West-Burrows, Ella Day coxed by Tony Burrows. Entering the turns Dover were one two when the Burrows boat rudder cable snapped, leaving Burrows draped over the stern and moving the rudder by hand for the rest of the race. Shoreham took the opportunity to row through, leaving Burrows and Cunningham crews to battle for second. Burrows crew held on to second at the line with the second Dover crew only a few metres behind. Burrows would be awarded coxswain of the day for his efforts.
In the Junior events the Men’s U16 Quad Sculls saw Josh Grassby, Ben Fagg, Bo Corby, Beau Everington-Nee coxed by Matt Barnett racing the younger crew of Henry Cox, Sonny Hart, Tom Gold, Artie Everington-Nee coxed by West-Burrows. The Barnett coxed crew led over the first 750 metres but an issue with one of the young rowers allowed Shoreham to creep past at the line leaving Barnett’s crew second and West-Burrows crew in fifth.
Oliver White, Hart, A Everington-Nee, Scrivens coxed by West-Burrows finished third in the U14 Quad Sculls. Scrivens finished third in a Bexhill crew in the U16 Ladies race.
Senior Men’s 4 had Cameron Mackintosh, Mallet, Cook, Will Coleman coxed by Emmerson head to head with Herne Bay on the outward leg. Herne Bay eased out to a lead with Dover coming home second. There was a similar outcome for the Men’s Junior Senior 4 of Mackintosh, Mallet, James Hale, Coleman coxed by Emmerson who came in second in a tight finish with Herne Bay. Coleman also competed in the Junior Sculls finishing 3rd.
In the Senior Pairs race Hale and Mallet had a good race in their first Senior outing. Turning third the pair were unable to close down the leading two boats.
The Ladies Novice 4 of Punton, Kaz Morrison, Zara White, Ulyatt coxed by Burrows put in a solid performance coming out of the turn in fourth and maintaining that position to the line. Lily Stafford-Edwards rowing with Folkestone, came over the line in sixth.
The Men’s Novice 4 of Mike Simmons, Brendon Ulyatt, Kevin Ulyatt, Duncan Taylor coxed by Emmerson had a good start and were battling for second at the turn. On the return leg they drifted down the field coming home in fifth.