South Coast Championship Regatta 2015

Over 170 crews saw action at the 59th South Coast Championship Regatta, as the Wimbleball club hosted two days racing at the picturesque Wimbleball Lake on Exmoor

The annual event features crews from Hampshire and Dorset, West of England and the Coast Associations. Most of the attention was focused on the six main championship categories which saw the top two crews from each region race off to determine the champions of the South of England. There were also a considerable number of open events for seniors and masters and a full programme of junior races on the Sunday.

It was the Itchen Imperial club from Southampton who took three of the six major championship races. However, the men’s senior A title went to the Bexhill crew of Mark Mitchell, Greg Anderson, Matt Hellier, Kieran Cahill and Rachel Holdaway who clawed their way back after a strong start from the Imperial four to take the much sought after ‘Bideford Bowl’.

There was further success for the Coast region when Matthew Handley, Owen Mullaney, Reece Mullaney. Luke Mullaney and Lois Mullaney secured the Senior B (Junior / Senior) title, whilst a resurgent Westover and Bournemouth crew of Jon Solly, Jim Kay, Gianluc Angiolini, Josh Williams and Anna Nolan took the honours in the Senior C (Junior) race.

Despite the disappointment of missing out in the men’s Senior A title, Itchen did take the corresponding ladies’ championship through the efforts of Robin McGregor-Ritchie, Kate Taylor, Kirsty McGregor-Ritchie, Jessica Bull and Adele Walton who held off a strong challenge from the Greenbank Falmouth crew to secure the title for the Hants and Dorset region. The Southampton based club also secured the ladies Senior C (Junior) and veteran 40 coxed fours championships.

The Junior Regatta on the Sunday was dominated by West of England crews and in particular the Exeter and Dart Totnes clubs who both secured five race victories over the course of the day. There was also success for the home club Wimbleball who secured race wins in both the Junior 14 single and double sculling races.

Event organisers Andrea and Steve Worley were delighted that the event turned out to be such a success and were particularly pleased with the conditions over the weekend.

Next year’s event will be the turn of the Coast ARA who will stage the 60th South Coast Championships at Herne Bay in Kent on Saturday 3 September.

Report by David Godfrey