by Hla Min

Updated : Mar 2026

Captains of RUBC (1925 – 1965)

• Group photo of Past Captains was taken in the early 1960s.
• Several had passed away at that time. They are GBNF (Gone But Not Forgotten).
• Some have moved overseas.
• U Tin U was the most senior among the Past Captains. He passed away on August 19, 2025 (a few weeks after his 96th birthday).
• U Maung Maung Than Tun was the oldest among the Past Captains. He was older than U Tin U by a few months. Both are now GBNF.

U Ba Tun (1925) was the first Captain of RUBC

Commodore Than Pe (1927, 1928, 1930, Second President, succeeded Sir Arthur Eggar) : Defense Boat Club, Burma Rowing Federation, Vice Chief of Staff, Revolutionary Council, Minister of Health and Education, Bust)

U Oo Toke (1931)

U Tha Htin (1932) is an uncle of Dr. Tin Wa and Ko Frankie Ohn.

U Tun Thoung (1933, Third President in 1962) : sons — Maurice (Gold in 1961), Dennis (Green), Winston (Gold in 1962), Freddie (Green, basketball, swimming, track and field)

U Zaw Win (1934)

U Aye Maung (1935)

U Sein Tun (1936)

U / Ko Thaw (1937)

G. I. Ba Tun (1938)

U Kin Maung Bo (1939) was the first native Chief of Burmese Navy

C H Chan (U Thet Toe, 1940) and nephews — U Tin U (1948), Dr. Myo Tint (1955), U Tin Htoon(1959), U Sein Htoon, (1962), U Thaung Lwin (1963) — are Past Captains in the 1940s, 1950s and 1960s. The younger generation includes Phone Win and Zeyar Linn.

U Kyaw Thant (1941)

Club was inactive from 1942 to 1946, The Club house was ravaged in the World War. It was rebuilt with the help of Old Members.

U Kyaw Thein (1947, Civil Aviation)

U Tin U (1948, a Captain of RGC, most senior among the Past Captains until his demise on Aug 19, 2025)

U Kin Maung Nwe (1949)

Dr. Pe Nyun (Dick San Pe, 1950, Pediatric Surgeon, Canada) : older brother of H.E Dr. Pe Thein (Tom San Pe)

William Ohn Pe (1951)

U Chan Tha (1952, Soccer star, USA)

Bohmu Maung Maung Than Tun (1953, RUBC, Defense Rowing, Burma Rowing Federation), He has two sons. Hla Maw Tun is Past Secretary and Gold. Aung Khine is Past Captain and Gold

U Ko Ko Lay (1954)

Dr. Myo Tint (1955, Third in Burma in Matriculation, younger brother of U Tin U, succumbed to Covid)

U Tin Htut (1956, won Senior Novices as Rower and Cox, USA) : brothers U Mya Maung (elder) and Dr. Than Toe

Dr. Harry Saing (Htut Saing, 1957, ARAE Champion in 1959 and 1960, Multiple Sports Athlete, Pediatric Surgeon, Hong Kong, GBNF) : brother Victor Saing (Aye Kyaw)

Dr. Than Nyun (George, 1958, President of OMA)

U Tin Htoon (1959, ARAE Champion in 1958 and 1960, USA, 40th and 90th Anniversary Issues, younger bother of U Tin U)

U Han Tin (1960, Australia, GBNF) : father Sithu U Tin (4th President in 1963, 40th Anniversary Issue)

Dr. Tin Wa (1961, USA) : U Tin Ohn (father, early member) and younger brother Dr. Frankie Ohn

U Sein Htoon (1962, ARAE Champion, Burma Rowing Federation) : Zeyar Linn (son) is Past Captain and Gold

U Thaung Lwin (1963, Singapore ) : youngest brother of U Tin U

U Myo Tin (William Hone, 1964) : joined Air Force

U Zaw Lin (1965) : joined Army

Higher authorities ignored the Bye Laws from the mid 1960s.
I was the last Democratically Elected Executive Committee Member.

U San Maung (Gerald Sein, GBNF)

He is Past Secretary and Gold.

Ko Tin Myint (son of Arzani U Razak) remembered the AGM (Annual General Meeting) where they voted for Ko Gerald for Secretary.

In the Rag Regatta, Ko Gerald rowed as Bow for the EC crew which has three ECs who usually rowed on the Stroke side.

He was an excellent Sculler.

He served as RUBC coach. He would emphasis on practicing with “Fixed Tub”.

He was Shooting / Production Manager for Ah Myo Tha Yoke Shin (managed by U Sein Tin and U Mya Maung) and affiliated movie companies. We met Ko Gerald and his team in Ngapali where they were shooting a movie with War War Win Shwe. He asked if I would like to join them on the “road trip” via Taung Goke back home. The trip was tough but memorable. At Taung Goke, our host (movie theater owner) offered free admission to young people who could translate the movie titles into English. A winning entry was “Fly away bitter bird” for “Pyan Lay Dei Nghet Khar”.

Ko Gerald is GBNF (Gone But Not Forgotten). His younger brother is Ko Hardy (Yan Shin, Cox).

by Hla Min

Updated : Mar 2026

Novices

Members join RUBC as Novices. The two top teams compete in the Senior Novices event. The losing semi-finalists compete in the Junior Novices event.

The Senior Novices winners were awarded the Pewter Cup donated by Sir Arthur Eggar (Founder and Life President of RUBC). They also receive RUBC Brooch and are among the top contenders to receive Color Awards.

Color Awards

The Color Awards Committee review the the Log Books and the performance at the regattas to award colors.

• Half Green
• Full Green
• Gold

Gold is awarded to members for representing RUBC (e.g. in Inter-Club events)

Only a few became Gold within one year.

Two examples :

1954 : Ko Tun Shein (Willie Saing) won the Senior Novices as Timing Stroke. He became Gold.

1957 : Ko Tun Zan became Gold.

Early System

Depending on the time and resources, novices may have to wait for some time before they have access to Shell Fours.

• Novice
  Start with Fixed Tub
  Row Tub Pairs and Tub Fours
  Row Clinker / Shell
• Half Green
  Can cox
  Row Pairs, Fours, Eights
• Full Green
  Can cox
  Row Sculls, Pairs, Fours, Eights
• Gold
  RUBC Blazer Coat with Gold lining

Rangoon University Sports Council

For some period, the RU Sports Council also offered RUBC members

• Varsity Half Blue
• Varsity Blue
• Varsity Gold

by Hla Min

Updated : Mar 2026

Swimming (after Rowing)

Most members enjoy swimming in the Inya Lake after they had finished rowing.

A few members do not know how to swim, but they are confident that the eights and fours will not capsize even if someone “catches a crab”. There were a few instances where the scull and the pairs tripped over, but the non-swimmers felt safe and sound by clinging to the boat.

At one time, Burmese Laungs were loaned by RUBC. They are liable to flip over more than the RUBC boats.

There were two boatmen. U Par Oo was the senior. He and his son Tin Aung sold Than Pa Ya Yay. Ko Mya Hlaing was the junior. He sold Bu Thee Kyaw. They had to maintain the Tub Pairs and Tub Fours, and make patches to the boats and oars.

Before our days, there were many boats that were imported and not so many active members.

Later, due to restrictions for foreign exchange and the increase in active members, some local boats were used for training the novices.

Zeyar Linn added :

Our times 1992-2002, Swimming was prohibited but nowadays it is part of training sessions.