Rough conditions met crews racing at Deal with the Novice Woman’s four getting the worst with the addition of torrential rain. Dover’s crews were Ella Cook, Lily Stafford-Edwards, Zara White, Emily Harvey coxed by Vanessa Ware, and Antya Markin, Lucy Castree, Rhiannon Castree, Evie Holland coxed by Lee Stampton. Ware’s crew had the better start and were leading through the first turn. A three way battle developed down the charge to the second turn with them falling to third. However, a great turn and hard push saw Dover roar to the line, rowing through both the leading crews, to take the win by over a length. Stampton’s crew put in a solid performance in a large field coming home twelfth.

The Open Senior Four saw a Deal heavy entry to compete against the Dover crew fresh from winning at Hastings last week. Jasper Mallet, Will Coleman, Chris Hall, Tom Stothart, with Ware coxing, got a great start and were initially neck and neck with a Deal crew heading to the first turn. Entering the turn first Dover’s crew opened a gap over Deal and led the field to the second turn. Another great turn and a big push carried Dover through the chasing pack leaving them with a comfortable lead at line.
Open Junior Sculls saw Hall and Mallet competing. Mallet had an excellent start and took the initial lead. Hall’s steady start saw him build speed as he moved to the first turn where he took the lead. Rowing long and steady Hall increased his lead ahead of a three way battle for second which saw Mallet fighting hard. After a good second turn, and a moment to sight a clear path to the finishing line, Hall came in for an easy win. Mallet would come home in fourth.
Woman’s Junior Four of E Cook, Nikki Leggatt, Holly Hannington, Harvey coxed by Ware were competing with Janice Bradford, Holland, Z White, Stafford-Edwards coxed by Stampton. From the start Ware’s crew were battling Shoreham’s A crew for the lead, with Stampton’s fighting for points. Through the first turn Ware’s crew were a little behind the leading Shoreham. Moving through the second turn close on the tail of Shoreham, Dover were forced wide by another Shoreham crew costing them the chance of the win. Stampton’s crew came home in eighth.
The Woman’s and Open Pair races had good performances from both crews with Hannington and Leggatt putting in a strong row. Overcoming an early collision with an errant Eastbourne crew, they competed hard to the second turn, but were unable to improve on third. New pairing of Cameron Mackintosh and Jack Castree had a great first race also overcoming a brief collision to close down on the leading crews. Finding real speed, which indicates a strong future, until a couple of deep strokes disrupted their progress. Closing hard on Eastbourne heading for the line they finished fourth.
Under 16 girls race saw Holly Young, R Castree, Hollie Castree, E Cook coxed by Stampton securing a good third place whilst Jess Clements came home fourth with a Herne Bay crew.
Leggatt had another good performance in the Novice Woman’s Sculls securing third place as did the pairing of Coleman and Mallet in the Open Senior Pair.
Masters 40+ of Jon Cook, Steve Bradford, John Castree, Paul Scoles coxed by Stampton would also finish third. Masters 50+ saw Jon Cook, Stampton, Nick Bailey, Roy from Herne Bay coxed by Mallet take Fourth. Masters Womans 40+, J Bradford, Markin, Z White, Leggatt coxed by Stampton finished fourth.
Open Senior Sculls saw Stothart finish fourth.
Open U16 had Riley Danko, Oliver White, Henry Cox, Jack Castree coxed by Ware come fourth after a tight fight with Shoreham. In the open U14 Danko, Jess Clements, Holly Young, Holly Dunham coxed by Stampton were eighth.
E Cook and Harvey took sixth in the Woman’s Double Sculls.
Open Novice Four crew of Jack and John Castree, Cox, O. White coxed by Stampton finished seventh whilst Scoles was eighth with Shoreham.
Bailey coxed Open Junior Fours of O White, Jack Castree, Cox and Mackintosh to tenth place.