Ni Hao Shanghai: Ridley Rows Up Success!
By Jack Wang ‘27 , Staff Writer & Jack Zhuo ’27, Staff Writer; Edited by Safiya Ahmed ‘27, Editor-in-Chief & Jaewon Koh ‘27, Staff Editor
The last week of September, rowers from all over the world came together for the World Rowing Championships that were held in Shanghai. This international spectacle drew in audiences from across the world and featured exciting races with some winners capturing gold with only a 0.03 lead!
In the wake of this competition, October 2nd and 3rd saw The Head of Shanghai Regatta that was held on Suzhou Creek, where Ridley was invited for the first time as a member of the “Honorable Contribution” sector, racing with other prestigious high schools in Shanghai. This event featured 2 main categories, a 4.3km head race and a 500m sprint. Ridley was able to capture one gold and two silvers on the quad and the eight, showcasing Ridley’s rowing culture and its excellence upon the international stage. Michelle Gao ‘27, a rower who won gold in the quad mentioned that “the course itself was a highlight standing in stark contrast with the Henley island course, while the scenery of Henley island is beautiful, a course winding through skyscrapers, bridges, and the hum of industrial life presents a whole new environment”.
The competition itself, though exciting, was definitely not the only thing that happened on the trip. Arriving a week prior, the Ridley crew were able to sightsee Shanghai, going to the Oriental Pearl Tower, the historic temple of the city gods, the Zhu Family estate known as the “Venice of China” and even the Shanghai Disneyland! Apart from that they also enjoyed the delicious street food like soup dumplings and scallion pancakes; All in all, experiencing Shanghai culture to the fullest ahead of the competition.
The trip also provided the opportunity to form many connections with local clubs and schools. In particular, Ridley rowed on the course in Century Park with DYL, the largest club in Shanghai for high schoolers. The two crews rowed together in joint practices and shared both pain and laughter as they prepared for the regatta. All in all, the trip was a great success not only in giving the Ridley crew an opportunity to shine competitively, but also in building connections with local crews and having a pleasant overall experience.
As the head coach of DY said, “we witnessed the ultimate outcome. This honor belongs to every child who strives for their dreams, and even more so to this collective community that strives with a shared purpose and strength” Rowing is about cooperation, strength, and purpose which Ridley perfectly embodied on its trip to Shanghai.
