MyPE

Community Business Directory, Event Listings, News and Views from Gqeberha, Nelson Mandela Bay

2015 marks return of the Ocean Racing Series

By

The popular aQuellé Ocean Racing Series kicks off the 2015 water sports calendar when it returns to Hobie Beach this Sunday morning. Unique to Nelson Mandela Bay, the Series offers 5 individual and simultaneously held events each race day. This weekend sees the increasing of the 2km Ocean Swim to a 3km swim whilst the other events remain the same, these being the 1km Ocean Swim, 5km Beach Run, 5km Beach Walk and the popular kids 12 years and under 1km beach run/walk.

With over 400 participants anticipated on Sunday morning, the Series comprises mostly social entrants who are wanting to keep fit during the summer months whilst having fun at the beach with family and friends. This said, the Series also attracts some of the best individuals in their respective disciplines and this is evident from the calibre of athletes who are heading the overall Series standing at this, the halfway stage of the Series.

The find of the Series this season is 16 year old Brigitte Muller who recently moved to Port Elizabeth and swam her first ever ocean race at round 1 of the Series. Muller has so far remained unbeaten in the ladies 1km Ocean Swim and heads the overall standings from Amy Mardon and Antonella Saporta whilst 17 year old Joshua Bellairs heads the Men’s 1km swim from Wayne Jones and Ian Venter. In the long course swim, which was 2km for the first half of the season and now increases to 3km for the remainder, Bradley Reen finds himself at the top of the leader board with Daniel Jones and Daylan Smith close behind whilst Kirsten Mariott heads the ladies division from Rebecca Newman and Denise Bosman. In the 5km Beach Run it’s been very surprising to see how well the teenagers have performed and 13 year old Samantha Perelson heads the ladies division from 13 year old Megan Snyman and 15 year old Ntandokazi Baxana whilst 15 year old Dylan Finlay remains unbeaten in the Men’s division and leads Frederik Jantjies and Likhaya Rooi in the overall standings.

In the 5km Beach Walk consistency sees Colin Korkie leading from Johan Ferreira and the Series’ oldest competitor, 83 year old Quentin Vermaak, whilst Milé Vermaak remains unbeaten in the ladies division to lead Michelle Geel and Emile Stemmett.

Entries open from 7.30am on Sunday morning at Hobie Beach with racing starting at 9am and followed by the kids prize giving at 10am and the adult prize giving immediately after the last participant finishes. Race days are on mostly alternate Sunday mornings through to the 15th March

The following two tabs change content below.
My Twitter profileMy Facebook profileMy Google+ profileMy LinkedIn profileMy Flickr profileMy Pinterest profile

Alan Straton

Chief Cook, Bottle Washer and Broom Mechanic at MyPE
Passionate about Port Elizabeth and definitely NOT packing for Perth. Alan's ethos is epitomised in the words of Nelson Mandela; "I have fought against white domination and I have fought against black domination. I have cherished the idea of a democratic and free society. If need be, it is an ideal for which I am prepared to die." See more articles by Alan.