The Boat Race Challenges ...
  
"That once each year, the gentlemanly pride of each of South Africa's leading schools
convenes at an agreed venue in a trial of strength and wits,
to participate in a race for eight-oared boats over a distance of six-and-one-third kilometres."

"That once each year representative ladies from South Africa's leading schools for girls
convene at an agreed venue in a trial of strength and wits,
to participate in a Quadruple Sculls race over a distance of four-and-one-half kilometres"
  

 
The Boat Race takes place in response to the "Boat Race Challenge":

That once each year ...

The SASRU BOAT RACE takes place on a suitable Saturday as early as possible in December.  This falls early in the school holidays of all provincial and independent schools - towards the middle of the South African rowing season when schools' eights should be nearing the end of the endurance-training and strength-training part of the season, before the 2000m sprints season which culminates in the Schools' Rowing Championships in March.

The pride of South Africa's Schools ...

When the BOAT RACE started in 2000 there were ten South African schools that rowed eights.  All but one of these participated in the inaugural BOAT RACE in Cape Town in 2000.

• Bishop's Diocesan School, Cape Town, Western Cape

• Grey High School, Port Elizabeth, Eastern Cape

• Jeppe Boys' High, Johannesburg, Gauteng

• King Edward VII School, Johannesburg, Gauteng

• Parktown Boys High, Johannesburg, Gauteng

• Selborne College, East London. Eastern Cape

• SA College School, Cape Town, Western Cape

• St Andrew's College, Grahamstown, Eastern Cape

• St Benedict's College, Bedfordview, Gauteng

• St Stithian's Boys College, Randburg, Gauteng

A race for eight-oared boats ...

Entries are confined to each school's First VIII.  Composite crews are not permitted, however Schools that do not normally row eights are nevertheless invited to put together an eight for the BOAT RACE. The Challenge is primarily an event for schools, at present Clubs may enter only with the permission of the SASRU President.

As for the annual SA Universities Boat Race, the race takes the form of a head-race, to determine "pairings" (with the two fastest crews going to the A-Final; the next two to the B-Final etc). Once "pairings" have been determined, the Challenges are issued by the Captains and two-boat racing over the same course and distance determines the winner and final rankings.

At an agreed venue.

The original idea was that the Boat Race should be hosted in turn by the four main rowing provinces at a local provincial venue selected by the host province.  However, the first Boat Race in Cape Town and the second in Port Alfred were so successful, that it is was widely believed the race should alternate between these two venues.  Currently the BOAT RACE takes place at Port Alfred each year.
 

 
Objects of the Boat Race
The primary object of the BOAT RACE is to give full effect to the "Challenge" as set out above.  An important - but secondary - object is to stimulate greater interest in rowing in the various provinces and in South Africa generally, through advertising the BOAT RACE in the local media and securing radio, press, TV coverage etc.  (And we might find that many other schools start showing an interest in rowing - and in eights!)

Another important - but, again, secondary - object is to assist the various provinces in gaining sponsorship for rowing. [If the BOAT RACE can be turned into a really important event on the SA Schools' sporting calendar, necessary finance for schools' rowing should be increasingly less difficult to obtain.]

Boat Race Management
An Annual General Meeting of participating schools shall take place at the time and at the venue of the annual BOATRACE.

Each participating school shall be entitled to two voting members at the Annual General Meeting.

The purpose of the AGM shall be to take decisions on all issues relating to the operation of the BOATRACE:

• confirming the host province and venue for the following year

• selection of a President of the following year's BOAT RACE from the host province, etc

The primary tasks of the President for that particular year shall be:

• to put together a committee from the host province to host visiting crews and coaches - including the provision of accommodation and meals (at no cost to visiting crews and coaches!)

• to put together a committee from the host province to advertise and market the BOAT RACE in the local media and secure all possible sponsorships (with, it is suggested, 50% of any profits accruing to the host province and 50% to SASRU to assist in the establishment of new SA school rowing clubs).

• to ensure that the proposed rowing course for the BOAT RACE is secured for the required dates of racing and suitably prepared and that there are sufficient officials, umpires, time-keepers, umpires-launches etc organised for the day(s) of the race.

• to provide nine "gold" BOAT RACE medals for the crew winning the A-Final and; nine "silver" BOAT RACE medals for the runners-up in the A-Final and nine "bronze" BOAT RACE medals for the winners of the B-Final

Floating Trophies
Two magnificent BOAT RACE floating trophies have been provided:

• for the winning school eight at the BOAT RACE;

• for the second-placed school eight at the BOAT RACE.