BTC ROWING CLUB

A week of double disappointment for Hants and Dorset Champions Itchen Imperial Senior Four. Having been beaten in their first round clash with London Rowing Club A at Henley last weekend they could only manage second place at Southsea Regatta on Saturday after showing early promise. Leading off the start, they had ½ a length on Coalporters, Deal and Bexhill as they settled smoothly into their rhythm but it was BTC with D Cozens, M Baker, M Bailey, S Bailey (Stk) S Maxwell (Cox) who were first to turn, with a devastating sprint into the turning buoys, a perfect turn, and the rest was history. Coming away with a 2 lengths lead, they moved line ahead of Itchen Imperial who seemed to be in a state of shock, and with Coalporters being assaulted by Deal both verbally and with the clashing of oars, and with Bexhill unable to mount a challenge it left the margin of victory the only doubt. A verdict of Easily then from the Judges and a disqualification for Deal after the justified protest from Coalporters was upheld, but deemed not to have affected the result, left Bexhill being accredited with third place and the supporters with plenty to think about when deciding who would be favourite for this years South Coast Championship.

It was not all dome and gloom for Itchen Imperial though as their Ladies put the Hants and Dorset Ladies Senior Championship beyond doubt with another dominant display. Winning by a distance from Worthing, C Fagan, R McGregor-Ritchie, J Bull, K McGregor-Ritchie (Stk) H Fagan (Cox) looked a class act as they won with ease.

The Ladies Novice Fours gave supporters of both Southsea and BTC something to shout about when Judges were unable to separate the crews as they surged across the finishing line for a dead heat. Southsea had seemed to be well in control as they turned their buoy but after BTC had drawn level halfway back they had to fight for every stroke as supporters screamed their heads off. Having given their all, BTC had to settle for second place in the resulting re-row, but it will be a race that both crews will always remember.

In the Ladies Junior Fours, Coalporters turned their Canvas defeat by Champions BTC at Swanage into a 1 ¼ length victory over the longer Southsea course with a new “B” crew late entry combination, both crews looking to be more than a match for anything the Coast ARA can put together with their nearest rivals Shoreham B some distance behind but, with another enforced gap in forthcoming regatta dates due to tidal condition, many things can change. With the next Hants and Dorset Championship Regatta being at Poole on 10thAugust followed by the BTC Regatta at Southampton’s Weston Shore a fortnight later on 24th August, then another three week gap before the South Coast Championships at Deal on 14th September, it’s going to be difficult for Coaches to keep crews at top fitness, especially if some decide to take a short break from training.