WA Squad Gains International Experience at Rose Regatta

On the weekend of 15 and 16 May, a team of five represented Western Australia at the Rose Regatta in Shanghai, China. Those who followed our athletes on the water via the livestream gained a strong appreciation of how globally connected WA rowing has become.

This tour was made possible by the Department of Creative Industries, Tourism and Sport (CITS). Through the Asian Engagement grant funding, this trip marked Rowing WA’s booking of its 54th flight ticket bound for an Asian destination. Across the three years of Asian Engagement, more than 50 athletes and coaches have experienced racing and coaching opportunities in Asia.

Stemming from positive relationships developed with the China Rowing Association, the invitation to send a squad of five athletes to the Rose Regatta was warmly welcomed. The athletes and coach were selected from four WA clubs, and the way they came together quickly as a team was a testament to their adaptability. Their efforts racing against the Estonian U23 team and strong crews from China, New Zealand, Italy and the Czech Republic highlighted both their competitiveness and ability to perform on an international stage.

We congratulate George Byass (WARC), Nuala Holland (FRC), Emily Ewen (UWA Boat Club), Ellora Kelly (SRRC) a on their efforts on the water, and their strong ambassadorial conduct off the water.

The regatta featured a 1000m quad event on the Saturday and a 500m doubles event on the Sunday. Two races were held for the quad, with cumulative time used to determine final rankings. The WA crew competed strongly against Estonia, the eventual winners, finishing 8th overall.

In the doubles, Ellora Kelly and Nuala Holland combined to finish 5th overall, while Emily Ewen and George Byass placed 17th in a competitive international field.

The tour also provided a valuable opportunity for international coaching development. Congratulations to Caine Bristow (WARC) for his work guiding the athletes on the water. We look forward to these learnings being brought back to WA to support the development of future athletes in the U26 pathway.

The squad spent eight days in Shanghai, making the most of the opportunity to experience the city and its culture alongside their racing commitments.

Our thanks again go to CITS for their continued support of the Asian Engagement program, along with the WA rowing community for its interest in this initiative, which continues to promote Western Australia as an international rowing destination. Our talent and experience continue to grow. (website banner)