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The RMB Buffalo Regatta is a national event and over the years has seen various international interest. In 1995 Emanuel College from Great Britain competed in the regatta. In the past Angus Robertson, a steward of the Royal Henley Regatta on Thames, attended and officiated at the Buffalo Regatta. His mere presence at the event as well as his comments about the Buffalo Regatta speaks volumes: “…it is the best regatta in South Africa by far.” We welcome the German Rowing Team who have arrived from Lower Saxony to participate this year.

The RMB Buffalo Regatta has grown into one of the largest rowing regattas in the country with over 200 events, over three days. A limitation is applied to the number of entries that can be accepted, due to the limitation of a six-lane course because of it being a tidal river run regatta. In 2003 an enormous project was undertaken by the local rowing community to clear the creek and widen the river at the 700m point to ensure a six-lane course.

The magnificent Grand Challenge Trophy has its humble beginnings on the 24th of May 1880, when the then East London Rowing Club crew, consisting of BY Hind, CE Cronin, WH Fuller and CC Miller, took part in the Zwartkops Grand Challenge in Port Elizabeth. They were so impressed with the Zwartkops Grand Challenge Trophy that they returned to East London with the idea of instituting a Buffalo Grand Challenge Trophy of their own. The new trophy was made possible by raising money through public donations, and the first time it was competed for was at the third Buffalo Regatta on the 29th of September 1881, although at that stage the trophy was still only a picture! Soon, however, it was to become the most cherished trophy in South African rowing, when it and the Buffalo Silver Sculls Trophy were unveiled later in 1881, both made from pure silver. However, tragedy was to befall the Buffalo Grand Trophy, it was destroyed by a fire on the 15th of August 1902, while stored in the strong room of the building of Messrs Dyer & Dyer, a general dealer in the town. The present trophy is a replica of the original, with the exception that it was reproduced a third larger and now measuring 1.2 metres in height, due to the price of silver being very low at the time. The insurance company arranged for the trophy to be made to the full value of the original. That is why the original Buffalo Silver Sculls Trophy is smaller than the Grand Challenge Trophy. Today these are certainly amongst the largest and most valuable trophies rowed for in Africa, and perhaps the World. Of course, with these trophies being priceless due to their size and the fact that they are both made of pure silver, the winners of these magnificent trophies unfortunately only get to take a photograph home.

Rand Merchant Bank became the national sponsor for rowing in South Africa in 2016 and with their commitment to SA rowing became a valued partner of Buffalo Regatta in 2017. RMB’s continued support and involvement is what makes a world-class rowing event such as the RMB Buffalo Regatta possible.

ECDC, BCMM and The Department of Sport, Recreation Arts and Culture are also integral partners of the RMB Buffalo Regatta.