Rowing

by Hla Min

Updated : June 2025

Types

Burmese Style

Laung လောင်း is the traditional rowing in Burma.

Leg Rowing is performed by Inntha အင်းသား (inhabitants of Inlay Lake)

Western Style

In the early days, the western style of rowing was done at Rangoon Boat Club (RBC). It was an exclusive club.

Sir Arthur Eggar (RU Law Professor, former rower at Cambridge University, author of Egg-Baird rowing style) founded Rangoon University Boat Club (RUBC) in 1923. He pledged a third of his salary for the operating expenses of RUBC. Rangoon University Estate built the RUBC Club House with the Fund provided by U Nyo.

Publications

40th Anniversary Magazine (in 1963)

Compiled/edited by U Tin Htoon (A60) with the help of Sithu U Tin (President) and U Po Zon (Vice President)

90th Anniversary Magazine (in 2013)

Compiled/edited by team :

• U Tin Htoon (Chair)
• U Myo Myint (EC67, Vice Chair)
• U Htaik San (Henry, M81, Secretary)
• U Hla Min wrote “Prelude” for the sections and short articles
• Dr. Tin Wa
• U Khin Zaw
• U Zaw Min Sein
• Daw Joe Phyu
• U Yemunn Soe
• Daw San San Myint
• U Hla Maw Tun
• Dr. Nay Lin Aung

Autobiography of Sir Arthur Eggar

Saya U Tin Htut (M60), U Tin Htoon, U Myo Myint, U Htaik San (Henry), Daw Joe Phyu, U Thura Thant Zin (M76), Dr. Donald Chan and I donated for the publication.

The articles were first published in the Guardian Magazine. It covers the rowing days at Cambridge, founding of RUBC, trips to Rangoon (first as a Mathematics teacher and later as a lawyer and Professor), …

RUBC

Member

• 10 kyats (annual membership)
• 50 kyats (or so, for life time membership)

Executive Committee (EC)

• Honorary Treasurer
• Honorary Secretary
• Vice Captain
• Captain

The EC is elected by voting at the AGM (Annual General Meeting). I was the last Treasurer to be elected by the members. The next year, I became the last Vice Captain.The following year, I should have been Captain, but the higher authorities had a new rule. I became sadder but wiser.

Early Presidents

• Sir Arthur Eggar (Life time)
• Commodore Than Pe
• U Tun Thoung
• Sithu U Tin
• Saw William Paw

Two busts were made to honor Sir Arthur Eggar and Commodore Than Pe.

During the Adhamma Days, Sir Arthur’s bust was put in a place (out of sight). The Board listing the ECs was also moved (out of sight).

Novices

There were two races at the Regatta : Senior Novice (for 1st & 2nd place) and Junior Novice (for 3rd & 4th place).

Senior Novice Winning crew is awarded the Eggar Pewter & broaches (for bragging rights).

In 1954, an All Paulians crew won the Senior Novices race. Tin Htut (Cox), Tun Shein (Willie Saing, Stroke), M Hla Min (Moosaji, 3), and Than Nyun (George Nyun, 2) later became RUBC Gold. Sao Hso Holm (Mawn Pawn Sawbwa Lay) was Bow.

Tin Wa (Cox), Victor Htun Shein (GBNF, Stroke), Sunny Teng (3), Mya Maung (Minn Aung, 2), Mehm Than Thaung (Maurice Tun Thaung, Bow) won Senior Novice and Color Challenge for both the Monsoon Regatta and the Annual Regatta in 1958 and 1959. They are known as the Golden Crew.

Our Paulian crew was Runner-up for Senior Novices in 1963. We were awarded Full Green. Myint Thein (Cox), Myint Soe (Willie, Stroke) and Maung Maung Kyi (Bow) are now GBNF. Kyaw Wynn rowed as (3). I was No. (2).

Color Awards

• Half Green
• Full Green
• Gold

Details can be found in the 90th Anniversary Magazine

Defense Services Rowing Club

Commodore Than Pe (GBNF) and Bohmu Maung Maung Than Tun (GBNF) were founding members of the club. Both are Past Captains of RUBC.

Commodore Than Pe was Minister of Education and Health. He passed away and was succeeded by Colonel Hla Han.

A few years back, U Maung Maung Than Tun was the oldest living Past Captain of RUBC. He was a few months older than Saya U Tin U (C), who is now the oldest and most senior Past Captain of RUBC.

Burma Rowing Federation

• Western and Traditional Rowing
• Later include Kayak, Canoe
• My brother U Sein Htoon (M63, Past Captain of RUBC, ARAE Champion in 1960) is Past President

Regattas

Rag Regatta

One day fun-filled program; Finalists for the Novices are seeded at the Monsoon Regatta

Monsoon Regatta

Annual Regatta

ARAE Regatta

FEARA Regatta

Amateur Rowing Association of the East (ARAE)

Tin Htoon (S) and Harry Saing (B) won the Venables Bowl for Coxless Pairs at the 1958 ARAE Regatta in Calcutta.

Tin Htoon (S), Sunny Teng (3), Victor Htun Shein (2), Harry Saing (B) and Sein Htoon (Cox) won the Willingdon Trophy for Coxed Fours at the 1960 ARAE Regatta in Colombo.

Far East Amateur Rowing Association (FEARA)

Regattas were held in Hong Kong and Manila.