The 129th annual Buffalo Regatta is up and running today as 40 junior and senior rowing clubs and 803 oarsmen and women aim to impress in this year’s event on the Buffalo River.
Today’s first day of action will have a full programme of heats and will see the teams fighting to reach Saturday’s finals, where they will be challenging for top honours.
The rowing starts at 6am today and will continue throughout the day, with the final events set to get under way just after 5pm.
East London clubs will be aiming to impress in their home event, while out-of-town heavyweights will be challenging for top honours again.
From East London, Leander Rowing Club, Clarendon Rowing Club, Selborne Rowing Club and Buffalo Rowing Club will be taking part on the local front.
Leander will be looking to add to their impressive tradition, while also putting in a top performance.
“The Leander Rowing Club will continue to keep its record of being the only club to have an unbroken record of participation in the Buffalo Regatta every year, dating all the way back to its founding at the end of the 18th century,” Leander Rowing Club captain Kurt van Aardt said.
Last year Leander claimed one of the major trophies on offer, the Panmure Plate, and they will be aiming to repeat that feat, and with a larger entry field this time, claim even more titles.
“This year the Leander Men’s A Coxed 4 (consisting of David Hartwanger, Jeff Jackson, Graham Baker, Kurt van Aardt and Jonas Gottwald) will be attempting to regain the title in the Panmure Plate,” said Van Aardt.
“We will also compete in other races with Murray Chandler (former Silver Sculls winner 2008) making his return to race and competing in the prestigious Silver Sculls race this weekend.
“Other crews taking part are Men’s Masters Men’s 8 and coxed 4 and scullers, Senior Men’s 4 and scullers and a Ladies 8.”
On the junior side Selborne and Clarendon will be aiming to entertain the home supporters.
Clarendon has done very well in the regatta over the last two years and they will want to have another good showing.
“Our preparations have been good, I am very optimistic with this year’s team and we hope to get some good results,” Clarendon rowing coach Bill Godfrey said.
“We want to have a good all-round regatta and we would like to compete across the board, so that is our aim over the next three days.”
Selborne will also be looking to do well and put in a good showing.
“The guys are excited, they are looking good and on a good day they can do very well,” Selborne rowing coach Kevin Taylor said.
“I think we have a number of crews who can do well and we would like to claim some top three places in some of the races.”
As always, Tuks University in the seniors and St Albans in the juniors will be expected to do very well in this year’s regatta.
However, other senior sides like NMMU, Rhodes, UCT and Old Edwardians and junior teams St Andrew’s College, Grey, DSG, St Andrew’s Girls as well as a few others will all also be in the running for top honours.
Tomorrow’s action will see the 57th annual Selborne Sprints Regatta and the first Buffalo Sprints.
This is always a spectator favourite as the races are only 500m so it makes for some exciting rowing.
The Selborne Sprints will get under way 6.30am and should conclude around 5.15pm, while the Buffalo Sprints is set to get going at 5.45pm and aim to finish by 6.50pm.
Rowers out of the starting blocks
Today’s first day of action will have a full programme of heats and will see the teams fighting to reach Saturday’s finals, where they will be challenging for top honours.
The rowing starts at 6am today and will continue throughout the day, with the final events set to get under way just after 5pm.
East London clubs will be aiming to impress in their home event, while out-of-town heavyweights will be challenging for top honours again.
From East London, Leander Rowing Club, Clarendon Rowing Club, Selborne Rowing Club and Buffalo Rowing Club will be taking part on the local front.
Leander will be looking to add to their impressive tradition, while also putting in a top performance.
“The Leander Rowing Club will continue to keep its record of being the only club to have an unbroken record of participation in the Buffalo Regatta every year, dating all the way back to its founding at the end of the 18th century,” Leander Rowing Club captain Kurt van Aardt said.
Last year Leander claimed one of the major trophies on offer, the Panmure Plate, and they will be aiming to repeat that feat, and with a larger entry field this time, claim even more titles.
“This year the Leander Men’s A Coxed 4 (consisting of David Hartwanger, Jeff Jackson, Graham Baker, Kurt van Aardt and Jonas Gottwald) will be attempting to regain the title in the Panmure Plate,” said Van Aardt.
“We will also compete in other races with Murray Chandler (former Silver Sculls winner 2008) making his return to race and competing in the prestigious Silver Sculls race this weekend.
“Other crews taking part are Men’s Masters Men’s 8 and coxed 4 and scullers, Senior Men’s 4 and scullers and a Ladies 8.”
On the junior side Selborne and Clarendon will be aiming to entertain the home supporters.
Clarendon has done very well in the regatta over the last two years and they will want to have another good showing.
“Our preparations have been good, I am very optimistic with this year’s team and we hope to get some good results,” Clarendon rowing coach Bill Godfrey said.
“We want to have a good all-round regatta and we would like to compete across the board, so that is our aim over the next three days.”
Selborne will also be looking to do well and put in a good showing.
“The guys are excited, they are looking good and on a good day they can do very well,” Selborne rowing coach Kevin Taylor said.
“I think we have a number of crews who can do well and we would like to claim some top three places in some of the races.”
As always, Tuks University in the seniors and St Albans in the juniors will be expected to do very well in this year’s regatta.
However, other senior sides like NMMU, Rhodes, UCT and Old Edwardians and junior teams St Andrew’s College, Grey, DSG, St Andrew’s Girls as well as a few others will all also be in the running for top honours.
Tomorrow’s action will see the 57th annual Selborne Sprints Regatta and the first Buffalo Sprints.
This is always a spectator favourite as the races are only 500m so it makes for some exciting rowing.
The Selborne Sprints will get under way 6.30am and should conclude around 5.15pm, while the Buffalo Sprints is set to get going at 5.45pm and aim to finish by 6.50pm.
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