Dover Rowing Club were in action in the annual joint regatta between CARA and Hants and Dorset associations, held at Southsea. Southsea Regatta has been a frustrating regatta in recent years with a number of close second places but no wins.
Jasper Mallet was drawn in the unfavoured outer lanes in the rough water of the day in the Open Junior Sculls. A great start saw him ease out into a slight lead as he passed the 500m mark and he was in a clear lead at the turn. It is after the turn that the inside lanes gain the advantage over the rougher outside lanes, but Mallet handled his boat well and maintained the lead at 1500m. The inside sculler from Poole started to rapidly close but Mallet remained poised and was able to maintain his lead to the line, giving Dover their first win at this regatta for over ten years.

Tom Stothart had a good start in the Open Senior Sculls and was in the mix through the outward leg of the race, turning in fourth place in a tight field. The return leg became more challenging and saw Stothart drift off the pace, finishing in sixth.
Holly Hannington and Nikki Leggatt were in their first CARA race as a pair. A solid start saw them struggle initially, leaving them chasing the field. Improved steering from their Viking Shield race, saw them turn in eighth. Though pushing hard to improve their position, Dover’s pair were unable to improve place at the finish.
Alex Henchy joined with three Shoreham Novice Women and had to go through heats to qualify for the final. Performing well as a scratch crew, they turned in a qualifying position and finished the race in third place. The final proved more challenging and the composite crew found themselves towards the back of the race at the turn, finishing in eighth place.
Leggatt entered her first single sculls race in a fine boat. A nervous start in the difficult conditions saw her down the field. Building in confidence, she gradually improved her position, moving up to ninth at the finish.
Things didn’t go to plan for Dover Women’s Junior Four comprised of Henchy, Leggatt, Hannington, Emily Harvey coxed by Mallet. In the heat the crew struggled to set down their power in the conditions and found themselves slip out of the qualifying positions. After the turns the gap was too great to make up and Dover’s crew came home in seventh.