UCT ends Tuks’ decade-long reign in university boat race
Defending champs retain women’s title
UCT men’s rowing team are celebrating after snapping Tuks’ 13-year dominance of the RMB Universities’ Boat race on the Kowie by winning the A finals shootout that came to an exciting end at Tash’s on Saturday September 9.
Tuks however, swept the boards in the women’s section by winning both the A (18.53.3) and B finals over three days of rowing. UCT came in second in the women’s A final (19:58.3), followed by Maties (23:31.6) who beat UJ (24.10.6) into third spot.
The UCT men’s team, marshalled by coxswain Sam James, maintained their lead over the 6km distance, turning up the heat towards the Nico Malan Bridge to sprint home in a time of 16:02.8, seven seconds ahead of their Tuks rivals (16:09.5). UJ men’s showed resilience and fight to come home in third position (16:59.7) over Maties (17:22.8).
With UCT last having won 22 years ago, James was almost at a loss for words saying after the race: “We are of course over the moon. I am shaking with excitement.
“We knew we had a chance, we were fast in the heads race [Thursday’s time trial].
“Tuks pushed really hard. There were times I thought they might get us, but we just held them away for the rest of the race,” James said.
James, who is also chair of University Sport SA Rowing, said there would be lots of celebrations before the team
takes four months off before starting training for 2024.
Tuks’ vice-captain Sebastian Ring-Rose, though disappointed by their defeat, said it was good to know that university rowing was in a healthy state.
“It is bittersweet because we have held dominance over 13 years on the Kowie but what it does mean there is a positive development in SA rowing and there is growth in competition.
“Despite losing to UCT we have maintained our standard and that is important because all the other universities see us as having set that high standard, and we are proud of that.”
Tuks’ rowing chair and team rower, Emily Pollock, said Tuks might have dominated the women’s finals but it all came through hard work.
“We train really hard and we have managed to keep the core of our rowers from last year, which really helped a lot.”
The UFH and WSU men’s rowing teams showed marked
improvement over previous years. Lunga Mcetywa who coaches both universities, is upbeat about the future of
rowing at these institutions.
“Walter Sisulu and UFH … moved up from ninth and 10th to sixth and seventh position
respectively in the men’s division this year. The women ended in the same position as last year, but WSU had to bring in a lot of new rowers this year.”
Rhodes University rowers showed true grit and incredible team spirit in the men’s and women’s finals.
Rhodes women were placed fifth and the men’s crew eighth.
Captain of the “girls in purple”, Emma Stander, was full of praise for her team.
“We had a very long chat about how we wanted to approach the final as a team, as a unit. I’m so, so proud of our team,” Stander said.
Rhodes men’s captain Alexander Blackie said: “The boys are a bit sad but we did well. Everyone gave their all: we gave 100%.”
A feature of the races over three days was the rousing atmosphere at Halyards pier, where a colourful, energetic bunch of students were always on hand, complete with war
cries and shouts of support.
One of the parents of the participating rowers, who travelled from Cape Town, said they had been coming to the races for close to five years to support her children.
Another rower from Stellenbosch University said: “I am extremely proud of my team. We managed to push ourselves and rowed to the best of our abilities.”
Chair of the Port Alfred Business Chamber, Clinton Millard said Port Alfred and the surrounding areas always benefited in a big way from the student influx.
“A lot of restaurants, businesses and accommodation venues get a good financial spin-off from it.”
Millard said safety and security had been consistently of a high standard.
“We haven’t had any major incidents. The race is well controlled by the police, traffic department and municipality.”