HERITAGE
Clarendon High School , and two rowing clubs , Leander Rowing Club and Buffalo Rowing Club . With the help of our local rowing community , rowing numbers in East London have been steadily increasing . In recent years two additional university clubs have also joined , University of Fort Hare Rowing Club and Walter Sisulu University Rowing Club . The ELBA committee and community are proud supporters of all our local clubs .
The current ELBA clubhouse on the East Bank
Today the Regatta is not only a national event , over the years it has also attracted international interest . In 1995 , Emanuel College from Great Britain competed at the regatta . In the past , Angus Robertson , a steward of the Royal Henley Regatta on Thames , attended and officiated at the Buffalo Regatta . His mere presence at the event as well as his comments about the Buffalo Regatta speaks volumes : “... it is the best regatta in South Africa by far .”
Spectators were in for a treat at the 2020 RMB Buffalo Regatta as the full RMB National Squad took part in the event . Roger Barrow , head coach at the time , said the RMB Buffalo Regatta was an important event on the squad calendar for 2020 . “ With Roodeplaat Dam currently out of use because of a hyacinth infestation , the RMB Buffalo Regatta served as the first 2000-metre race of the year , and the first steps towards selecting a team for the 2020 Tokyo Olympics .”
A True
Essential Support
Rand Merchant Bank ( RMB ) became the national sponsor for rowing in South Africa in 2016 , and through this commitment to SA rowing , also became a valued partner of the Buffalo Regatta from 2017 , resulting in the name change from Buffalo Regatta to RMB Buffalo Regatta . RMB ’ s continued support and involvement is what makes a world class rowing event such as the RMB Buffalo Regatta possible .
The RMB Buffalo Regatta is very fortunate to receive the continued support of Buffalo City Tourism , and this relationship was established over 10 years ago . In 2015 , the Buffalo Regatta became the first regatta to be televised on Super Sport , which was an exciting development for SA rowing at the time . In 2019 the RMB Buffalo Regatta recorded another first , becoming the
Silver
Lining
first regatta in the country to live stream the finish line . Live stream has since become an integral part of what the RMB Buffalo Regatta offers to all our supporters . It ’ s with the support of our sponsors , such as Buffalo City Tourism , that we can bring all our supporters to the live rowing action on the banks of the Buffalo River , from the comfort of their own homes , during the actual time of the event .
The Eastern Cape Development Corporation ( ECDC ) has also been an integral partner and sponsor of the RMB Buffalo Regatta since 2019 . Continued financial support from ECDC and other sponsors is what has elevated our RMB Buffalo Regatta medals to being amongst the most desired in a rower ’ s career . And with the help of all our sponsors we hope the RMB Buffalo Regatta ’ s future will remain as rich as its history .
Bruce Viaena , Damian Bradshaw / Photoquip
The fascinating history of the RMB Buffalo Regatta ’ s trophies , made from pure silver and priceless in terms of both material and historical value , adds still more to the aura of the regatta .
The magnificent Grand Challenge Trophy has its humble beginnings on the 24th of May 1880 , when the then East London Rowing Club crew , consisting of BY Hind , CE Cronin , WH Fuller and CC Miller , took part in the Zwartkops Grand Challenge in Port Elizabeth . They were so impressed with the Zwartkops Grand Challenge Trophy that they returned to East London with the idea of instituting a Buffalo Grand Challenge Trophy of their own .
The Buffalo Grand Challenge Trophy
The Silver Sculls Trophy
The new trophy was made possible by raising money through public donations , and the first time it was competed for was at the third Buffalo Regatta on the 29th of September 1881 , although at that stage the trophy was still only a picture ! Soon , however , it was to become the most cherished trophy in South African rowing , when it and the Buffalo Silver Sculls Trophy were unveiled later in 1881 , both made from pure silver .
However , tragedy was to befall the Buffalo Grand Trophy … It was destroyed by a fire on the 15th of August 1902 , while stored in the strong room of the building of Messrs Dyer & Dyer , a general dealer in the town . The present
Prize-giving at the RMB Buffalo Regatta , with all the sought-after trophies trophy is an exact replica of the original , with the exception that it was reproduced a third larger and now measung 1.2 metres in height , due to the price of silver being very low at the time . The insurance company arranged for the trophy to be made to the full value of the original . That is why the original Buffalo Silver Sculls Trophy is smaller than the Grand Challenge Trophy .
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RMB Buffalo Regatta 2022
Today these are certainly amongst the largest and most valuable trophies rowed for in Africa , and perhaps the World . Of course , with these trophies being priceless due to their size and the fact that they are both made of pure silver , the winners of these magnificent trophies unfortunately only get to take a photograph home , as the trophies are too valuable for public handling , but the intensity of preparation , competition and prestige of the events attracts the countries elite rowers to stake their claim every year .