Mandela University’s Madibaz rowers impress at the Buffalo Regatta, collecting multiple medals and gaining crucial race experience for the season ahead.
East London, South Africa (20 February 2026) – The Buffalo Regatta doesn’t hand out respect, you earn it. And this year, Mandela University’s rowers did exactly that.
Up against some of the country’s most established school, university and club crews, the Madibaz Rowing Club arrived in East London and left with 11 medals. Competing at one of South Africa’s oldest and most prestigious sporting events, the Gqeberha-based squad fielded 17 rowers, including one alumnus, and returned with five gold medals, five silvers and a bronze.
But what impressed the most is how the club has grown. Just a year ago, the club had only 12 active rowers. Today, that number has climbed to around 60.
Among the standout performances was Troy Renison, who battled through three heats to secure a fifth-place finish in the B division single sculls. This is a performance coach Adam Stead rated as one of the highlights of the regatta.
Santé Venter further cemented her status as one of the club’s brightest prospects, powering to victory in the B division single sculls. Meanwhile, Wade Murison struck gold in the C division and added a silver in the masters category. The squad’s growing depth was further highlighted in the C division men’s coxed quad sculls, where Madibaz crews secured both first and second place, and in the double sculls, where relatively inexperienced rowers performed impressively.
It’s a critical early-season benchmark, offering race exposure ahead of the Ussa Sprints in April and the University Boat Race on the Kowie River in September.
There are still hurdles. The distance to their training base on the Swartkops River remains a logistical challenge. Most of the squad only take up rowing after arriving at university, which makes their increasing competitiveness even more noteworthy.
This season already feels full of promise.
Sources: Supplied
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