Folkestone Rowing Club
Eastbourne REGATTA
The long awaited summer seemed to have arrived on Friday when the early mist cleared to reveal blue skies and a warm balmy evening with a glass flat sea. Members of Folkestone Rowing Club loaded their trailer with excitement and anticipation of a successful day at Eastbourne.
Saturday dawned with cloudy skies and a strong westerly breeze. Arriving at Eastbourne everyone prepared themselves to tackle the challenging sea.
The young Novice crew of Nathan Belcher-Wilson, Mark Edgar, George Chandler and James Leppard coxed by Sophie Watkins took to the rough waters and proved that technique can surpass strength and size to win their first Novice race against much larger and older crews.
In the final of the Junior Sculls Marc Alderman rowed a hard race, unfortunately being pushed into third place towards the finish line.
Sophie Watkins and Isobel Smith were having second thoughts about taking to the foaming waters and although they found the conditions challenging enjoyed the sheer exhilaration of the race.
The Mens Senior Four saw two crews from Folkestone compete against a strong field. The Herne Bay crew who have won all season were hit by a huge wave and sank half way to the buoy turns leaving Folkestone B crew of Craig Hoveman, Sam Milton, Nick Phillips and Marc Alderman coxed by James Leppard to take the lead. After a difficult bouy turn they raced to the line to earn a well deserved second place.
The Mens Senior Sculls saw Marc Alderman once again out in boat rowing a good race to take 4
Rowing was proving more difficult as several boats were sinking as they tried to launch with rolling waves tossing the tiny boats around like flotsam.
It was decided to send out the more experienced crews and the Veterans Fours took to the water. The Vets A crew of Simon Appleby, Matt Keller, Chris Lewis and Steve Tupper coxed by Nathan found the conditions more challenging than expected and took third place. The vets B crew of Steve Edgar, Terry Smith, Sally Watkins and Martin Fakley coxed by Emily Watkins rowed a surprisingly good race to take fourth place in the very difficult conditions.
The Junior Ladies crew of Lois Williams, Agnieska Gniot, Nicki Devine and Lesley Woodsford coxed by Emily Watkins had spent all day agonising whether to rise to the challenge but rowed a fine race to take a well deserved second place.