Dover Rowing Club recorded early wins at Herne Bay regatta as the J16 Quad Sculls of Bo Corby, Sebastian Steele, Finn Cockerell, James Hale coxed by Emma Oliver recorded a comfortable win in their straight 1km race after pulling away from the field in the first quarter of the race. Dover’s J14 would race in a combined J14 mixed Quad Sculls and J16 Girls Quad Sculls race. It was clear from early in the race J16 Girls crew from Worthing, which contained National Schools finalists were stronger than the young Dover crew of B Corby, Josh Grassby, Ben Fagg, Alex McArdle coxed by Oliver but the young crew pursued the J16 finish less than 10 strokes behind winning the J14 race.
Hale and Steele were joined by Brendon and Kevin Ulyatt coxed by Oliver for the Men’s Novice 4 where they raced Dover’s second crew of Matt Neil, Matt McArdle, Jamie Smith, Matt Austin coxed by Cameron Mackintosh. Oliver’s crew were neck and neck with Deal at the turn until a seat issue would cost them the chance to compete for the win and they came home 2nd. Mackintosh’s novices containing two first time racers did well coming home in 3rd place. Hale, Steele and the Ulyatt’s would also race in the Men’s Junior 4’s again coxed by Oliver where racing Mackintosh, Matt Barnett, Eddie Briggs, Jon Cook who were coxed by Tony Burrows. The two crews battled each other over the first half of the race. The Oliver coxed crew pulled ahead into 4th place by the turn staying ahead of the 5th placed Burrows crew on the run to the finishing line.
Ladies Junior 4 of Emmeline McArdle, Canelle Ulyatt, Maria West-Burrows, Lorna Pile coxed by Oliver got a good start and moved into a tight race for second with Herne Bay. Moving towards the turn the Dover crew dropped to 3rd and were unable to close down the Herne Bay crew at the finish. In the Ladies Novice 4, E McArdle, C. Ulyatt, Marie Cockerell, L Pile coxed by Price had a bad start before picking up their rhythm and pushing Hastings for second. After the turn Hastings had a length on Dover’s crew which they held to the line.
The Ladies Double Sculls saw West-Burrows and Oliver get a great start moving into the early lead. Moving out to get a better run in the calm conditions, the decision was working well until a ‘crab’ slowed the boat, dropping the pair to 4th place with too little distance left to the finish to improve their position. Macintosh was Dover’s sole entry in the Men’s Novice Sculls. He was unable to stay with the leading scullers dropping to 5th by the turn. He chased the Eastbourne Sculler to the line but was unable to overhaul his opponent.
The Open Master’s 40+ saw Dover enter two crews K Uyatt, Cook, Neil, Nick Bailey coxed by Price and M Cockerell, M McArdle, West-Burrows, Briggs coxed by Oliver. The inside crews pulled away from Dover crews who were lined up further out. The Oliver coxed crew found themselves closing rapidly on the 5th place crew but lost out at the line with Price’s crew not far behind in 7th. Bailey had finished 5th in the Masters 50+ racing in a composite crew where their chance was lost at the turn.
Herne Bay is the last of the regattas in this year’s shortened CARA season. Anyone interested in competing for Dover next year should contact Dover Rowing Club via the website or Facebook page.