ELBA is delighted to be partnering with RMB to bring you the annual RMB Buffalo Regatta. RowSA currently enjoys a partnership with RMB, who believe that sustainable success can only be achieved when the best talent collaborates. This partnership has spread further to the banks of the Buffalo River, where our partnership with RMB has benefited the East London clubs and rowers with facility upgrades and development support. The Buffalo Regatta began in 1881 and has been held every year since then, except for an interruption during the war years, and in 2021 due to the global COVID-19 pandemic. In 2022 the regatta was held for the 134th time. Viewed as one of South Africa’s oldest and most prestigious national sporting events, ELBA is proud to host the event annually in East London. The Buffalo Regatta has been a major highlight on the South African rowing calendar due to the two magnificent trophies at stake, namely the Buffalo Grand Challenge (for Senior A Coxless Fours) and the Silver Sculls (for Senior A Single Sculls). These two trophies are commonly regarded as the most valuable trophies in South Africa and are keenly contested by our National Squad. The RMB Buffalo Regatta attracts participants from all South Africa’s rowing universities, clubs, and schools. We are privileged and honoured to have both women and men of the National Squad competing every year. The RMB Buffalo Regatta has grown from a Saturday morning regatta consisting of only a dozen races to three days running from Thursday to Saturday, 12 hours each day, which makes it the biggest rowing event in the country. The RMB Buffalo Regatta incorporates over a 1000 competitors taking part in over 200 events over three days. This includes the Selborne Schools Sprint Regatta, which is a unique sprint regatta held over 500m. It generates enormous excitement in fiercely competitive events, where spectators can enjoy schools rowing at its best. Over the couple of years, the event has been televised by SuperSport which has been well received by the broader rowing fraternity and supporters.

Published by Eastern Cape One Stop Shop