Redhouse River Mile

Africa's oldest open water swimming event started in Redhouse, Port Elizabeth in 1924. The event was held annually on the Swartkops River in the suburb of Redhouse through to 2010 when it was forced to relocate to the Sunday's River due to water pollution in the Swartkops River. The event is one of Nelson Mandela Bay’s premier social and swimming events attracting thousands of social swimmers and spectators from around the country each year.

1924 to 1930
1924

1925
 * Mens Mile: Roy Gregory

1926
 * Mens Mile: Geoff Philip

1927
 * Mens Mile: Ary Snetler

1928
 * Mens Mile: "Doc" McWilliams

1929
 * Mens Mile: "Doc" McWilliams

1930
 * Mens Mile: Ary Snetler


 * Mens Mile: Ary Snetler

1931 to 1940
1931

1932
 * Mens Mile: "Doc" McWilliams

1933
 * Mens Mile: "Doc" McWilliams

1934
 * Mens Mile: H. Hammond

1935
 * Mens Mile: D. McDowell

1936
 * Mens Mile: Otto Schweltzer

1937
 * Mens Mile: Peter Elliot

1938
 * Mens Mile: Peter Elliot

1939
 * Mens Mile: Otto Schweltzer

1940
 * Mens Mile: R. Cherrington


 * Mens Mile: D. Walker

1941 to 1950
1941 to 1945

NO EVENT DUE TO WAR

1946

1947
 * Mens Mile: Peter Elliot

1948
 * Mens Mile: Peter Elliot

1949
 * Mens Mile: Albert Boliter

1950
 * Mens Mile: Ernie Nicholson


 * Mens Mile: Ernie Nicholson

1951 to 1960
1951

1952
 * Mens Mile: Ernie Nicholson

1953
 * Mens Mile: Derek Staples

1954
 * Mens Mile: Peter Schulze

1955
 * Mens Mile: Derek Staples

1956
 * Mens Mile: Derek Staples

1957
 * Mens Mile: Derek Staples

1958
 * Mens Mile: Derek Staples

1959
 * Mens Mile: Francois Mai

1960
 * Mens Mile: Derek Staples


 * Mens Mile: Geoff Grylls

1961 to 1970
1961

1962
 * Mens Mile: Geoff Grylls

1963
 * Mens Mile: Geoff Grylls

1964
 * Mens Mile: Geoff Grylls

1965
 * Mens Mile: Geoff Grylls

1966
 * Mens Mile: Geoff Grylls

1967
 * Mens Mile: Brian Elliot

1968
 * Mens Mile: Brian Elliot

1969
 * Mens Mile: Geoff Bolton

1970
 * Mens Mile: Brian Elliot


 * Mens Mile: Brian Elliot

1971 to 1980
1971

1972
 * Mens Mile: David Stones

1973
 * Mens Mile: Derek Elliot

1974
 * Mens Mile: Derek Elliot

1975
 * Mens Mile: Peter Horwitz

1976
 * Mens Mile: Brett Bugler

1977
 * Mens Mile: Andre Kotze

1978
 * Mens Mile: Brett Bugler

1979
 * Mens Mile: Mark Edge

1980
 * Mens Mile: Kevin Richards


 * Mens Mile: Kevin Richards

1981 to 1990
1981

1982
 * Mens Mile: Kevin Richards

1983
 * Mens Mile: Kevin Richards

1984
 * Mens Mile: Sean Mulvey

1985
 * Mens Mile: Kevin Richards

1986
 * Mens Mile: Jacques Coetzer

1987
 * Mens Mile: Anthony Aubin

1988
 * Mens Mile: Kevin Richards
 * Ladies Mile: Belinda McFadzean

1989
 * Mens Mile: Jacques Coetzer
 * Ladies Mile: Chantall Tutton

1990
 * Mens Mile: Andrew Turner
 * Ladies Mile: Nicki Hutchinson


 * Mens Mile: Andrew Turner
 * Ladies Mile: Nicki Hutchinson

1991 to 2000
1991

1992
 * Mens Mile: Pierre de Roulbaix
 * Ladies Mile: Amanda Grendon

1993
 * Mens Mile: Pierre de Roulbaix
 * Ladies Mile: Amanda Grendon

1994
 * Mens Mile: Greg Kahn
 * Ladies Mile: Jeanine Steenkamp

1995
 * Mens Mile: Ryk Neethling
 * Ladies Mile: Karen Allers

1996
 * Mens Mile: Mark Harris/Greg Kahn
 * Ladies Mile: Joannie Coetzer

1997
 * Mens Mile: Ryko Marrkgraaff
 * Ladies Mile: Honey King/Joannie Coetzer

1998
 * Mens Mile: Haydn Holmes
 * Ladies Mile: Tracey Barber

1999
 * Mens Mile: Kyle Main
 * Ladies Mile: Dominique Donner

2000
 * Mens Mile: Kyle Main
 * Ladies Mile: Elzet Pretorius


 * Mens Mile: Kyle Main
 * Ladies Mile: Velia Janse van Rensburg

2001 to 2010
2008 2009
 * Men's Mile: Byron Lockett
 * Ladies Mile: Velia Janse van Rensburg
 * Wetsuit Mile:
 * Disabled Mile:
 * Men's Mile: Chad Ho
 * Ladies Mile: Dominique Dryding
 * Wetsuit Mile: Lawrence van Lingen (Male), Denise Bosman(Female)
 * Disabled Mile:

2010
 * Men's Mile: Chad Ho
 * Ladies Mile: Dominique Dryding
 * Wetsuit Mile: Kerry Longhurst(Female), Chris van de Sande (Male)
 * Disabled Mile: Nazlie Abrahams (Female), Kevin Paul (Male)

2011 to 2020
2011
 * Men's Mile: Chad Ho
 * Ladies Mile: Carmel Billson
 * Wetsuit Mile: Liza Bright (Female), Chris van de Sande (Male)
 * Disabled Mile: Ingrid Kingwill(Female), Kevin Paul (Male)

2012
 * Men's Mile: Troy Prinsloo
 * Ladies Mile: Jessica Roux
 * Wetsuit Mile: Wayne Jones(Male), Rebecca Newman (Female)
 * Disabled Mile: Kevin Paul (Male), Ingrid Kingwill (Female)

2013
 * Men's Mile: Chris Reid
 * Ladies Mile: Jessica Roux
 * Wetsuit Mile: Jason Jones(Male), Amy Mardon (Female)
 * Disabled Mile: Kevin Paul (Male), Ingrid Kingwill (Female)

Milestones

 * 2010 - Event relocates to Cannonville on the Sunday's River due to a polluted Swartkops River.
 * 2013 - Most swims record: Mally Richards - 60



2013 marks the 89th Anniversary of the River Mile and will be a festival of activity on Saturday 23rd and Sunday 24th February.

Sporting events included in the festival program include: Discovery Consulting Services 5km Fun Run; Discovery Consulting Services Off-Road Triathlon (team/individual); Disabled Mile; Second Skins Wetsuit Mile; Family Half-Mile / Rotary Swimarathon; Stormforce Kids Prelim Races (12yrs and under); SPAR Ladies Mile; SPAR Men's Mile.