Big drive to get more people to take up the sport

A drive to raise the interest in rowing in the city is as Buffalo Rowing Club hosts an Introduction to Rowing on the Buffalo River tomorrow.

Adults are the target market for this weekend’s session and any adult who is able to swim and interested can come and give it a shot, while another session for juniors will be held at a later date.

“It is just a general fun day and we would like to invite anyone who is interested in rowing to come and try it out,” said secretary and treasurer of Buffalo Rowing Club Kate Godfrey.

With East London hosting the Buffalo Regatta, which is one of the biggest and oldest rowing competitions in the country, in February every year, the majority of the participants come from out of the city.

This year Buffalo Rowing Club, after years of being dormant, competed in the Regatta for the first time in many years, along with East London’s other rowing club, Leander who have competed in every Buffalo Regatta.

“We started in October last year with about 20 of us and are now up to a membership of 75, so we are happy with the growth but want to encourage others who are interested to come and try it out,” said Godfrey.

With the interest clearly rising Buffalo Rowing Club are taking the opportunity to invite anyone interested to come and learn how to row, at no cost at a two-hour session getting under way at 10am.

“The youngsters seem to pick it up quicker than the adults do, so we want everyone to be on an even keel so that they can take as much time as they need to learn,” explained Godfrey.

The session will be held at the East London Boating Association on the West Bank, under the Steve Biko Bridge.

For any more information contact Kate on 061-009-0649.