THE winter rowing season kicked off with a regatta on the Isle of Wight.

The Head of the River Medina, a 3.5km processional race hosted by Newport Rowing Club on Saturday (October 5), saw all three principal clubs on the Island take part.

The race, starting at Newport Rowing Club and finishing at Kingston Marina, East Cowes, which attracted numerous entries across the categories, including teams from Poole and Southampton.

Despite rowing in bright and sunny conditions, the wind posed a challenge for the competitors.

In Division 1, Ryde Rowing Club crews excelled.

Charlie Watts and Joe Roberts were first and second respectively in the open single sculls, while Joe Bird and Max Locke triumphed in the open double scull event.

Ryde's J16 coxed four also clinched victory, as did a newly-formed women’s masters coastal coxed four.

Shanklin Sandown Rowing Club also celebrated success, with a girls' J16 quad winning their final and being the fastest girls' crew of the day.

Victories were also seen in the ladies' pairs class and men's pairs.

In Division 2, Ryde's open men’s river coxed four;, open novice river coxed four; and women’s master four, all secured first place in their respective sections.

Newport Rowing Club, the hosts, faced the disadvantage of having depleted crews, due to injury and illness.

The fastest women's crew of the event was from Southampton, coxed by Mariana Hare, of Newport.