RMB Backs Historic Buffalo Regatta as East London Hosts Festival of Rowing

 

RMB Backs Historic Buffalo Regatta as East London Hosts Festival of Rowing

 

The iconic RMB Buffalo Regatta returns to the Buffalo River this February with RMB reaffirming its long-standing commitment to South African rowing and one of the country’s oldest and most prestigious sporting events.

First contested in 1881, the Buffalo Regatta boasts a rich history spanning more than 140 years, placing it firmly among South Africa’s longest-running competitive sporting events. With only limited interruptions over its lifetime, the regatta has remained a cornerstone of the national rowing calendar and a proving ground for generations of South Africa’s finest athletes.

Held in the heart of East London, the Buffalo Regatta combines tradition, fierce competition and a unique river racing spectacle — drawing crews from across the country and delivering high-quality racing in senior, masters, student and school categories.

 

 

 

Historic Trophies and Championship Racing

At the heart of the regatta lie its most revered events — the Grand Challenge and the Silver Sculls — trophies etched with the names of South African rowing greats and synonymous with excellence, rivalry and unforgettable racing.

While these marquee races carry deep historical significance, the Buffalo Regatta’s reputation is built on the depth of competition across the full programme, with thrilling contests expected throughout the weekend.

 

Women’s Racing Takes Centre Stage

The women’s events are set to be among the most compelling of the regatta, racing for the newly RMB commissioned bronze trophies – The Rowing Hare and Lion Paw for the Women’s Sculls and Women’s Four respectively –  introduced last year and showcasing the growing strength of women’s rowing in South Africa.

The Women’s Sculls promises a standout contest. Leading the field is Paige Badenhorst, South Africa’s Paris Olympian, who enjoyed a phenomenal international season, culminating in an impressive 8th-place finish at the World Rowing Championships in China.

Challenging her is Courtney Westley, who edged Badenhorst in a tight encounter at the recently held VLC Sprints. Westley also enjoyed a standout international campaign, winning silver in the women’s pair at the World University Games alongside Kat Williams.

Adding further depth is Zimbabwean lightweight standout Doné Erasmus, an A-finalist at the U23 World Championships, setting the scene for fiercely contested racing.

 

Men’s Silver Sculls: Rivalries Renewed

The Men’s Silver Sculls once again brings together some of the country’s most recognisable names. Last year produced one of the closest finishes in recent memory, with Murray Bales-Smith narrowly defeated by Paris Olympian Chris Baxter.

Bales-Smith has since turned his focus to coastal rowing, earning an impressive 8th place at the Coastal Rowing World Championships, but with significant time in the single scull, he will be aiming for redemption over Baxter on the Buffalo River.

They will be pushed hard by Troy Zillen, who never allows the heavyweight field room to escape, as well as Damien Bonhage-Koen, Baxter’s pair partner and a serious contender in his own right.

 

School Rowing: Tradition Meets Rising Talent

School rowing remains a highlight of the Buffalo Regatta, offering a unique showdown between coastal and inland programmes over a straight 2000-metre course.

On the girls’ side, St Andrew’s School for Girls arrives as the crew to beat following a dominant season, while St Stithians College showed promising speed at the Boat Race heats and will be eager to challenge.

The boys’ events again promise intense racing. St Benedict’s College has led the inland charge after dominating in Gauteng, but St John’s College and King Edward VII School have already shown they are closing the gap.

From the coastal schools, South African College Schools impressed at the Schools Boat Race, St Andrew’s College continues an upward trajectory, and Rondebosch Boys’ High School is traditionally strong at Buffalo and expected to feature prominently once again.

The school boys’ pair event adds further intrigue. Michele Rohrbeck and Diego Ramos of St Benedict’s have been dominant this season and turned heads by showing exceptional speed when racing senior crews — finishing second overall at the VLC Sprints, behind only the RMB National Squad.

Despite this being a schools-only event at Buffalo, strong pairs from King Edward VII School and St Andrew’s College will be looking to challenge them over the Buffalo River’s demanding course.

 

A Festival of Rowing in East London

In 2026, the RMB Buffalo Regatta forms the centrepiece of a broader Festival of Rowing, transforming East London into the heartbeat of South African rowing across multiple disciplines:

• Eastern Cape Championships – 31 January
• RMB Buffalo Regatta – 5 & 7 February
• Selborne Sprints – 6 February
• Coastal Shootout – 6 & 8 February

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