ELBA’s Commitment to Development in Rowing

A Key imperative of ELBA and the greater local rowing community is to grow and foster the sport of rowing, with the focus being on increasing the number of participants in the sport and transformation as part of the development.

Through sponsorships and fundraising initiatives, we allocate funds and support with a specific focus on increasing the participation and training of Black (African, Indian, Coloured) rowers through the individual development initiatives facilitated by our affiliated local clubs; Buffalo Rowing Club, Leander Rowing Club, Selborne College Rowing Club and Clarendon High School Rowing Club.

We focus on supporting children from communities and schools within the Buffalo River area by assisting with equipment, storage facilitates and costs including entry fees, transport and accommodation for the identified development rowers to participate in the Buffalo Regatta, SA Junior and Senior National Championships.

We are proud of the various development initiatives:

• Our region has seen the formation of three development clubs whose participation numbers are forever increasing: University of Fort Hare Rowing Club, Walter Sisulu University Rowing Club and Kusile Comprehensive School
• Coaching and umpire courses are offered as a progression to the rowers to become more involved in the sport and encourage job creation by having an available pool of skilled officials for the various events.
• Ongoing training camps, including learn to swim programs are facilitated by the Buffalo Rowing Club to increase the pool of rowers in the local region.
• Our local rowers benefit through the twinning agreement that the Eastern Cape has with the State of Lower Saxony in Germany which we hope to continue fostering.
• The school clubs encourage an inclusive approach, pushing which often sees the rowers gaining opportunities for national and international sports scholarships at tertiary education institutions.
• Rowers who progressed from the Development programs have been appointed as a Coach to the SA Coastal Rowing team who participated in the African Beach Championships in Tunisia in October 2022, and athletes to successfully participate in the World Beach Games in Bali in 2023.
• We are encouraged by the University of Fort Hare who have signed a 3-year lease to occupy a bay at ELBA which is evidence to the commitment to the sport.

We are pleased that the development initiatives implemented over the last few years has achieved much success for the sport and community.