September 9, 2019

South African Universities get ready to battle it out at the RMB Universities Boat Race

11 Universities from around the country are making their way to Port Alfred to take part in the annual RMB Universities Boat Race, hosted at Halyards Hotel on Kowie River from 12th to 14th September.

The RMB Universities’ Boat Race is a Regatta steeped in history that dates back to the 1930’s when there was a boat race between UCT and Rhodes, modelled on the prestigious Oxford and Cambridge Boat Race, the RMB Universities’ Boat Race involves the South African university rowing clubs and offers something different than the traditional 2000m Olympic style racing. The crews must navigate their eights around a variety of 90-degree corners and avoid numerous sandbanks to complete their 6 km (men) and 4 km (women) races.

Who will be taking home The Cambridge Rudder and The Isis Blade?

THE CAMBRIDGE RUDDER, awarded to the winning Men’s A crew, is an actual rudder obtained from the Lady Margaret Boat Club VII, decorated in Cambridge with the Crests of University of the Witwatersrand and University of Cape Town. The Rudder was first presented
by the Cambridge University Engineers Association in 1980 to Wits University men’s crew, winners of the first South African University Boat Race between the University of the Witwatersrand and the University of Cape Town.

2018 Gold: University of Pretoria. Silver: Rhodes University. Bronze: University of Cape Town

THE ISIS BLADE, awarded to the winning Women’s A crew, is part of an Oxford oar obtained from Oxford University Boat Club, decorated with the crests of Oxford University and that of the combined South African Universities. The Blade was presented by Martin Kennard, stroke and crew member of the Oxford crew from 1966-1968, to the winning University of the Witwatersrand Women’s crew in 1988.

2018 Gold: University of Pretoria. Silver: University of Cape Town. Bronze: Rhodes University.

Good Luck to the Athletes, Coaches, Support Crew and Clubs as they take to the Kowie River;

Nelson Mandela University
Rhodes University
Stellenbosch University
University of Cape Town
University of Fort Hare
University of Johannesburg

University of Kwa Zulu Natal PMB
University of Pretoria
University of Western Cape
University of Witwatersrand
Walter Sisulu University

Bruce Viaene RMB resident rowing photographer will be capturing all the action and sharing high-res images for free downloads.

“University Rowing would like to extend its thanks and appreciation to RMB who are the title sponsor this year’s Universities’ Boat Race. RMB truly embody the ethos that is Rowing and their slogan “Thinking. Pulling. Together.” is shared by all athletes and coaches in their pursuit for success”. – Cole Barnard, Chairperson USSA Rowing President

Blake brings a lot of energy, passion and heart into everything he does. He is extremely passionate about our country, it’s people and the environment. He is based in Cape Town and is happiest when he is running around exploring the beauty of the mountains.

Comments 1380

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *