Indoor Championships We interviewed longstanding

We interviewed longstanding rowing member Ian Brownlee about his long and varied rowing experience

Ian Brownlee (left)

Rowing Background

I started rowing at the age of 17 after deciding competitive swimming was too tough. I learnt in my home town of Ngaruawahia on the Waikato River in NZ, but later rowed for the Waikato Rowing Club in Hamilton. I went through to the top 8 squads and we won a lot of races. Four of the crew went on to win Olympic gold medals and world championships.

Royal Hong Kong Yacht Club Rowing

I arrived in Hong Kong in 1977 never expecting to row again. Just after I arrived I saw an article in the SCMP about four Yacht Club rowers rowing around Hong Kong Island in record time. I rang the Club and was put in contact with the Rowing Captain, Mike Tanner. Mike put me in touch with an Englishman Bob Wilson who needed a stand-in rower for his crew. I met them at Middle Island and went for my first row in Hong Kong. I will never forget that, as I was introduced to a new language which I found was from high class schools and universities in the UK. I was asked which school I had gone to, and Ngaruawahia High School just didn’t rate ! I didn’t understand half of what they were talking about and they rowed in a completely different way. It was pure culture shock!

There were only about 25 rowers In Hong Kong at that time, in the Yacht Club and Police Rowing Club. We were very competitive. Anything became a competition and it was extreme sports before being recognized as such. Many of us went on to do the new sport of Triathlon and did Ironman races. We rowed all around Asia and we were the first Hong Kong crews to race in Toda, Japan in 1979. My wife Maggie has always said we were a group of crazy individuals who were intelligent, talented, completely different in character, but incredible combinations when together.

Favourite Rowing Memories

There are several memorable moments. One was an evening in 1975 training in our 8 on Lake Karapiro at dusk. It was a unique session when everything just went right and the boat flew. I met some of the crew 45 years later and we all can vividly remember that evening. Another was going back to Toda and racing in a Masters event with three other Yacht Club Rowers all of who went in that first tour 40 years ago. We won both

Name: Ian Brownlee From: New Zealand How long in Hong Kong: 44 years Career: Town Planner in Government then as private Consultant Family: Wife, two kids and two grandkids Favourite Boat Type: 8+

times. And finally, 2019 when I celebrated my 70th year by rowing in two World Championships (one being the World Costal Rowing Champs in Hong Kong) and completed the Around the Island Race (ATIR).

Favourite Things about the RHKYC

The RHKYC has always been a place to meet people from everywhere, all who have a common passion for water sports. They have a vision for what water sports can provide to Hong Kong, and part of the legacy of the RHKYC is the establishment of national organisations that promote many water sports to the wider public and in competitions around the world. Rowing, Sailing, Dragon Boat and Paddling organisations were all established by RHKYC members. For me it has been a pleasure to work with Bob Wilson and Mike Tanner to establish the Hong Kong Water Sports Council, to encompass all water sports in Hong Kong. My personal challenge was to get a site on the Kai Tak Channel as a multipurpose water sports centre, and that is about to appear. Bob was inspirational in getting me to row ATIR when I was 70 “as no one that old has ever done it, so you better”.

Personal Rowing/Sporting Goals

It is easy to keep competing if you don’t stop, and in rowing and triathlon there are age group categories up to 90 years old. When I get to 75, I click into a new age category away from those younger guys. So to be rowing and doing triathlon age group championship races when I am 75 is my current target – and to do the ATIR again, just for Bob