Fabulous five wins preserve top spot

Second-placed Deal are fairly close behind, however, so there is still everything to row for in the last regatta of the Coast Amateur Rowing Association (CARA) season in Bexhill on Sunday August 10.

The unusual course at Deal involving two turns made for an action and incident-packed regatta. Bexhill’s vet 40+ crew of Andy Strevans, Mark Mitchell, Matt Mitchell and Chris Messen triumphed in a re-row following a collision at the turns in the initial race. The club’s B crew finished third.

Mark Mitchell was also victorious in the senior sculls with Kieran Cahill second and Ashley Cahill fifth. The brilliant Mitchell and Kieran Cahill teamed up to clinch the men’s senior pairs with Phil McCorry and Greg Anderson completing a Bexhill one-two.

Another win came courtesy of the ladies’ novice four, who now move up to junior status. Bexhill’s other victory was provided by the ladies’ senior pair of Claire Hosie and Annabel Laity, whose team-mates came third.

A number of other good finishes boosted the club’s points haul. The men’s senior four of Mark Mitchell, Doug Holdaway, Matt Hellier and Kieran Cahill finished second after an incident at the second turn, while the Bexhill B crew was fourth.

Also coming second was the ladies’ senior four of Rachel Holdaway, Laity, Claire Cahill and Maisie Hill, with the B crew fourth.

Third places were achieved by the men’s vet 50+ crew, men’s junior senior four (with the B crew fifth), men’s junior sculls (with the B crew fourth), u16 mixed quad, u16 men’s quad, women’s double and junior ladies.

The men’s novice four, ladies’ junior pair, men’s junior pair, novice sculls and u16 girls’ quad came fourth, while the men’s junior four finished sixth.