Old Edwardians win Grand Challenge Trophy at Buffalo Regatta

Another exciting rowing weekend has just come to an end in South Africa, where the strong Old Edwardians Rowing Club – helped by Donovan Cech and Ramon DiClemente – took the most popular Trophy of the country in the 115^th Buffalo Regatta held on the Buffalo River, East London, South Africa.

This year’s favourites in “the Grand Challenge” (for Senior A Coxless Fours) – Old Edwardians (Old Ed’s) and Victoria Lake Club (VLC) put on some exciting racing throughout heats and finals. There were two heats of three boats each, with the first two in each heat reaching the final. In the first heat VLC, stroked by Sydney Olympian Ross Hawkins, took the race fairly easily from UCT.

The second heat saw a much tougher race develop between Old Ed’s (stroked by Donovan Cech) and Leander. Old Ed’s took the race by about half a length.

In the final, Old Ed’s got off to a quick start, while VLC lacked their usual pace. At the 500 metre mark, Old Ed’s had about a length on VLC and Leander, with UCT right at the back. VLC’s cruising speed, however, saw them pull back towards Old Ed’s, resulting in the crews going through the 1000 metre mark with only half a length between them. With 700 metres to go, Old Ed’s and VLC had stretched away from the rest of the field, and provided an exciting battle in the final 500 metres. However, the lead was too much for the VLC crew to make up, and Old Ed’s took the race by a little over half a length.

In the silver sculls, two Ravens crews – Sean Tagney and Ben Burnand took first and second position with just over two and a half seconds between them (7:14.43 and 7:17.32 respectively). Andrew Plumbley from WITS followed in 7:36.89 and Gareth Norman from VLC made up the rear of the field in 7:51.03.

The men’s eight race saw Old Ed’s take the lead again in 5:47.79. VLC followed in 5:52.01, then Rhodes in 5:56.72 and finally UCT in 6:22.89.

The Grand Challenge and the Silver Sculls are the main events of this competition. The Grand Challenge is even considered to be THE race of the season due to the prestige of the awarded trophy.

However, this annual regatta also has the peculiarity of seeing participants from all the Senior Clubs and all the Junior or School Clubs compete side by side.

To find out more and see full results, visit the RowSA website.