Bexhill Regatta Report

Bexhill Regatta went ahead last Sunday despite the previous days cancellation of Hastings regatta due to strong winds and the promise of more South Westerlies forecast around midday. Captain Doug Holdaway had asked for a good turnout of local rowers and his call was answered by a plethora of crews in all races. The high turn out lead to the club finishing the CARA league’s first event of the new season ahead of rivals Deal by 30 points! The club took 3 wins and had ‘placed’ crews in every race to gain the fabulous winning points tally on the day.

The youngsters of Abbie Little, Charlie Cooper, Millie Jones and Katherine Latherine in the Quad race started proceedings by taking 3rd place followed by Bexhill’s first win, Mark Mitchell and Kieran Cahill flying off at the start and maintaining their lead throughout in the Men’s Senior Pairs. The club gained more points with a fine row by Phil McCorry and Greg Anderson taking 3rd with Doug Holdaway and an injured Ashley Cahill behind in 5th. It didn’t take long for win number two the champions from last years vet 50plus, Mark Cowling, Dave Jones, Clive Bingham and Andy Wilson, look like they will be the ones to beat this season too.

Bexhill gained more points with Bob Balchin, Graham & Paul Dawes and Steve McCorry taking third and the mixed crew of Tony Page, Alex Elliott, Christiana Braun and Shirley York gaining the club 3 more points with their 4th place. The third win of the regatta saw Bexhill’s 40 plus crew of Remuna Picard, Warren M-Harvey, Andy Strevin and Mark Mitchell showing all their rowing skills battling a by now heavy sea that saw the b crew retire early from taking in too much water.

The premier race of the day saw Deal hold off the Men’s Senior Four of Mitchell, Holdaway, Matt Hellier and K Cahill finishing 2nd, whilst the b crew of Nick & Phil McCorry, Josh Green and G Anderson took a commendable 4th place. Mark Mitchell made a great race out of the Senior Sculls by coming from around 10 lengths behind to be just pipped at the finish by a bow ball length taking 2nd. K Cahill took 3rd and P McCorry took 4th to tally up 12 points for Bexhill in the race. Further 2nd places were taken in the Novice sculls by Martin Matt and the Junior Sculls by P McCorry, G Anderson took 3rd. Another 2nd for the Men’s Junior crew Will Knapp Adam Baker, Lewis Sealy and M Matt followed by Max Golledge, Tim Rumary, Tom Green and Keiran Kingwear taking a point in 6th. The Ladies Novice 4 of Jany Blatcher, Maya Coussins, Haz Purcell and Jess Plail rowed a very fine race in really awful sea conditions to claim a third.

The Ladies Senior Four of Rachel Holdaway, Katie Skelton, Claire Cahill and Emma Young took a valiant 2nd place after leading up to the last quarter to be taken by Shoreham. The Ladies Senior Pairs saw R Holdaway and Young take 2nd with a 4th for Skelton and C Cahill. The Mens Junior Pairs saw a 4th for M Matt and W Knapp whilst the Junior Ladies of A Little, Georgina Pepper, Laura Quinn, and Charlie Cooper took 2 points in 5th. With conditions deteriorating as the day progressed the decision was made on safety grounds to cut the regatta short with just two events remaining. Next stop Shoreham on Saturday.