There were celebrations for Dover Rowing Club at Herne Bay Regatta as the Woman’s Junior Four secured the Coast Amateur Rowing Association Championship for their division with their sixth win of the season. Dover entered two crews; the A crew of Ella Cook, Nikki Leggatt, Holly Hannington, Emily Harvey with Vanessa Ware as cox; the B crew of Alex Henchy, Lucy Castree, Zara White, Rhiannon Castree coxed by Lee Stampton. The race saw Dover A facing off against Herne Bay’s lead crew who were on the better inside lane. Herne Bay had the better start edging out to a slight lead as both crews pulled ahead of the pack. Into the turns it remained close with Ware moving her boat more inshore. As the push for home developed Dover A moved through and away from Herne Bay to open a length and a half lead through the finish line and spark celebrations amongst the crew and supporters. Stampton’s crew would finish eighth.

Open Senior Fours saw Dover enter two crews, Will Coleman, David Powell, Tommie Were, Tom Stothart coxed by Ware, and Oliver White, Jack Castree, Henry Cox, Sonny Varnes-Stone coxed by Stampton. Herne Bay’s crew had a flying start pulling out to over a length lead with Ware’s crew in hot pursuit. Heading into the turn Herne Bay had maintained their lead and entered first but a sharp turn by Ware largely neutralised their advantage. The run home was neck and neck until, with 300m to go, Ware’s crew broke free and started to move away to take the win with over a two length lead. Stampton’s crew secured a points finish in fifth. This win combined other Senior Category results secured the events Senior Aggregate prize for Dover. They also received a trophy for first Kent Senior crew.
In the Open Novice Four O White, Powell, H Cox, Jon Castree coxed by Stampton got a good start with Herne Bay and Deal competing initially. Heading into the second half of the outward run it became a two horse race with Herne Bay. Through the turns there was no clear leader and it wasn’t until 500m to go that Dover pushed ahead, only for Herne Bay to push back as they neared the finishing line. Dover’s crew held their nerve and took the win by half a length. O White and H Cox progress to Junior level with this win.
Open Senior Sculls saw Coleman and Stothart competing. They both started well and soon found themselves in pursuit of Shoreham’s sculler. Coleman had the better turn and moved ahead of Stothart and into second. Unable to catch Shoreham, Coleman took second place and Stothart finished third.
Woman’s Senior Four had Rachel Bailey, Charlotte Cox, Ashleigh Stevenson, Lily Stafford-Edwards coxed by Ware start well and quickly enter a three way fight with Shoreham and Herne Bay crews. Tight through the turn, Shoreham started to ease ahead leaving Dover to fight Herne Bay for second. Despite a hard fight Dover fell to third at the line by half a length.
Coleman and Stothart entered the Open Senior Pair and started well but couldn’t hold onto the leading two crews. Through the turn they consolidated their third place and pushed on in pursuit of the two leading boats. They were unable to improve on third at the finish.
Woman’s J16 Quad saw two crews competing Holly Young, Hollie Castree, R Castree, Poppy Worthington-Taylor coxed by E Cook and Holly Dunham, Elizabeth Strong, Ella McQueen (Shoreham), Jess Clements coxed by Stampton. The sprint race quickly developed into a battle for third and fourth with Cook’s crew pulling ahead of Stampton before the line.
In the Mixed J14 Quad Dunham, O White, Worthington-Taylor, Riley Danko coxed by E Cook competed well fighting hard for third place at the line.
Leggatt and Z White raced in the Woman’s Novice Sculls. Leggatt had the better start and was in the leading three as the scullers headed towards the turns, Z White was sculling well in sixth. The run home saw Leggatt drop back to third at the finish with Z White coming home in sixth.
Nick Bailey would get a brace of third places rowing in a Folkestone composite in the Masters 40+ and the Masters 50+.
Woman’s Novice Four saw two crews competing; Young, Charlotte Barnes, Strong, Worthington-Taylor coxed by Ware faced off with H Castree, Michelle Meakin, Hayley Crocker, Alex Tilley coxed by Stampton. It was the Ware crew who had the better race moving through to third place through the turns and consolidating their position on the run home with Stampton’s crew seventh.
Stevenson and C Cox competed in the Woman’s Senior Pair finishing fourth in a hard fought race. Woman’s Junior Pairs saw three crews competing; E Cook, Harvey finished fourth, Leggatt, Hannington finished sixth and Z White, R Castree came home in eighth place.
Open Junior Pairs saw Varnes-Stone, Jack Castree finish fourth and Ollie and Harley Scrivener finish tenth. These two crews would unite in the Open Junior Four coxed by Ware finishing fourth.
Open J16 Quad saw a mixed crew of Young, H Cox, O White, R Castree coxed by E Cook compete, finishing fifth.
Open Double Sculls saw Stothart, Danko finish sixth and Jon Cook, Toby Cook finish ninth. In the Woman’s Double Sculls Harvey, Worthington-Taylor finished ninth and Young, E Cook come home tenth.
Open Novice Sculls: Were finished fifth, Varnes-Stone eighth and Jack Castree ninth in their respective heats.