Lymington Amateur Rowing Club

Lymington started off the 2011 season in style as they picked up six wins in the first three regattas of the season despite the absence of Milford Regatta.

Throughout last years rowing season the Junior Fours Championship was a hard fought contest between Lymington’s crew of Jonathon Prince, Luke Corbridge, Tom Fishwick, James Phillips and Cox Joe Bull and two crews from Christchurch.  Lymington was dominant in the first five races, picking up five straight wins including one over Christchurch at Newport.  Christchurch, newly promoted from Novice, boasted a larger squad than Lymington and took victory at Poole regatta to begin the championship battle.  Despite a brilliant effort from the younger Lymington crew and a re row on the final race of the season it was Christchurch who came through for a 6-5 championship win.

As the new season kicked off, it was Lymington’s turn to pick up some more silverware.  Christchurch took an early victory at the opening race of the season in Poole as Lymington struggled in the awkward conditions.  However, the Lymington crew, which now included Geoffrey Fryer in for the absent Fishwick, took the fight to Christchurch at Ryde Regatta.  Lymington got off to a good start but Christchurch had appeared to have muscled their way into the lead as the crews approached their buoy turns.  A good turn from coxan Joe Bull put Lymington into a strong position as they pressured Christchurch.  The pressure paid off as Christchurch made a mistake with just five hundred meters to go.  Lymington capitalized and took the lead before charging home to take the win.  The Lymington crew then took the opportunity to take the lead in the championship race as they mastered the difficult seas to beat Christchurch again and give themselves a 2-1 advantage going into Woolston Regatta on the 18^thof June.

Lymington also took a win at Poole Regatta in the form of the Senior Pair team Pete Lock and Rob Maltby who powered through their final in the awkward conditions to storm home for their first win of the season. Sadly the team were unable to attend at Ryde, however they were back for Shanklin regatta and the team raced in the horrible conditions to take their second win of the season, also giving them a 2-1 lead in the Championship.

James Phillips entered the Double Sculls event at Ryde partnered with Tim Bull.  The duo raced well in the rough conditions as the tide swept out but still managed to take the victory by a good few lengths.  

Lymington had two crews entered in the Veteran category at Ryde but it was the Over 40’s crew of Mark Tremain, Alan Taylor, Kenny Chalk, Tim Bull and Cox Joe Bull who battled hard against last years champions BTC to take an impressive victory.  The Over 50’s crew came second after another close fought contest with Coalporters.

Lymington also had two Scullers entered in the Novice Sculls category at Ryde.  Alex Barnes struggled in the rough conditions but that was in contrast to a strong performance from Geoff Fryer who lead the race well and made the most of a chaotic buoy turn as eleven scullers attempted to take four buoys, sculling well on the return leg to take the win.  Michael Leyland-Jones has also raced Junior Scull and despite a strong effort in all three races has sadly been unable to pick up a win.

In the first three regatta’s of the season Lymington has shown they have strength in depth with strong performances from in the Veteran Over 50’s (at both Poole and Ryde), Ladies Senior Pairs, Mens Junior Pair and Novice Fours category’s.  George Verdon and Richard Waddsworth competed in their first race as they entered the Junior Pair competition at Ryde before teaming up with Charlie Weston for his first race and Joe Bull in the Novice Fours at Shanklin.