Local non-profit sports events company, Zsports Events NPC, are pulling out all the stops ahead of the 91st anniversary of the SPAR River Mile, Africa’s oldest open water event which started in the picturesque village of Redhouse on the Swartkops River on the 20th January 1924.
The River Mile, one of the city’s must do events, attracts thousands of participants and spectators from around the country to its new home on the Sundays River after having been forced to move in 2010 due to high pollution levels in the Swartkops River. The 2015 event promises a festival of sporting events and entertainment which will start on the Saturday morning with the Wimpy Family 5km Run and a brand new and exciting event to the Eastern Cape, the Super Sprint Triathlon team relay which will comprise of a mixed team of 3 people each completing a 250m swim, 6km MTB cycle and a 1.6km run. The Triathlon relay, sanctioned by Eastern Province Triathlon Association, is expecting to be well supported given that it offers an exciting and achievable opportunity for all to complete a triathlon. The afternoon program features a Family Half Mile swim, the Disabled Mile and the Speedo wetsuit double mile swim, another new event on the program this year. The Saturday afternoon will conclude with a 90 minute SA heart throb Heinz Winckler concert – the ideal Valentine’s Day ending.
River Mile Sunday will start with the traditional and increasingly popular Wakaberry Kids across the river races for children 12 years and under will take place from 11am on the Sunday with 3 age groups (8u, 10u and 12u) for children who aren’t swimming the Mile event. A special race, founded by SA Paralympic champion Kevin Paul, for children with special needs takes place at around 11.40am on the morning. Already Caltex Eastern Cape have stepped up and will be sponsoring no fewer than 12 special needs children from Khaya Cheshire in Walmer as part of their CSI. Another exciting event on the program is the Celebrity swim-off between some of our EP Kings rugby starting at 1pm before the SPAR Ladies Mile kicks off at 1.15pm followed by the men’s mile starting at 2.15pm. Immediately after the Mile swims, festino’s will be entertained by world renowned magician and mentalist, Larry Soffer.
The 2015 SPAR River Mile Festival will also include local food and craft vendors, a Castle Lite Beer Garden and the Rotary Club of Port Elizabeth Sunrise Kids Zone where children can be left to play. Local celebrity Gareth Burley will MC the festival alongside Stanford Slabbert who will be commentating the River Mile for the 25th year. Entry into the festival area at Cannonville slipway is just R20 per person before 1pm and R50 per person in the afternoon. Children 10 years and under are free as are participants wearing their race day wrist bands which will be provided in their goody bag. The River Mile, a Nelson Mandela Bay Aquatics event, is only made possible through the support of SPAR Eastern Cape, aQuellé, Cerebos, ADT, Speedo, Caltex, iStream, Dynamic Express Services, Oricol Environmental Services, Mango Airlines, Wimpy and Wakaberry.
Friends and families of those swimming are asked to support the swimmers through the charity initiative ‘Swim a Mile for a Smile’ with all donations going to Cleft Friends and the Smile Foundation. See www.rivermile.co.za to secure your early bird entry.
Alan Straton
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