Asian Tour ’25 – Hengqin Regatta, China

Excitement builds as the 2025 Asian Engagement tour takes flight this week!

The Asian Engagement team from Rowing Western Australia (RWA) starts their journey to Hengqin China on Wednesday 26 November. The team consists of athletes from Curtin University, The University of Western Australia, Swan River Rowing Club, and Fremantle Rowing Club. Our members race at a high-level in their clubs, whilst attending their studies at the universities of Notre Dame, Curtin and UWA. Racing will commence on November 29 at the Tian Mu rowing course, hosted by the Tinmuk Rowing Club. Our female and male eights will be battling it out of for a place in the Finals on November 30. The RWA crew will be racing in the University category, under the RWA name.

This tour was made possible by an Asian Engagement grant provided by the department of Creative Industries, Tourism and Sports. This program is in its second year and is showing positive signs in promoting Western Australia as an internationally renowned rowing destination. Thanks to this funding, RWA has had representation at two Asian regattas to date, namely Hong Kong ’24 (46^th Hong Kong Championships), and Shanghai ’25 (Rose Regatta). This will be our third adventure to Asia, and second as a squad of 21. The crew will be taking great pride in their roles as WA ambassadors for the sport when competing on the Asian rowing circuit.

Interest in Perth as a rowing destination is growing. We welcomed the Royal Hong Kong Yacht Club junior members to our All-Schools regatta in June, highlighting the benefits of connections made during our outbound trips. This trip will cement relationships with clubs in that region, providing Asian athletes increased confidence on the benefits and ease of training and racing in WA. Both eights have been moving well in the pre-tour training camp, so all involved are feeling well prepared.

China Rowing is building its program and looks for international squads to provide role-models for their junior levels. For RWA, and the athletes behind it, to be on an invitation list that includes Harvard, Yale, Cambridge, and Oxford, is a great honour.

An early flight to Singapore and then on to Macau on November 26 will see the crew whisked straight to a welcome dinner upon landing. There will be a tour of Macau University of Science and Technology on Thursday before crossing into Hengqin on Friday and settling into the racing environment. Racing takes place Saturday and Sunday. with the crew returning via Macau and Singapore on Monday.

The athletes/ambassadors for rowing in Western Australia are:

• Female- Emma O'Neill (SRRC), Chloe Fleay (FRC), Emma Pittman (SRRC), Nuala Holland (FRC), Lara Connolly (SRRC), Cal Emery (CUBC), Greta Spencer (SRRC), Ella Waddy (CUBC) and Helena Hurworth (SRRC).
• Male - Remy Payne (FRC), Oliver Cliff (UWA), Daniel Holding (FRC), Quinton Marketos (SRRC), Liam Davis (FRC), Fergus McNamara (SRRC), Austin Vincent (FRC), Blair Parnell (SRRC) and Rei Poon (SRRC).
• Non-Travelling Reserves (whose support and availability has been greatly appreciated) – Isabella Erdinger (SRRC) and Liam Dewar (CUBC).
• Coaches – David Vandas (FRC) and Ellie Madin (CUBC).
• Tour Manager – Mark Easterbrook (RWA).