Defending champion Christopher Reid will be the one to beat when more than 800 swimmers take to the water for the 90th SPAR River Mile feature races at Canonville on Sunday afternoon.
Reid will be looking to deliver a strong performance in Africa’s oldest open-water swim as he vies for a spot in the national team for the Glasgow Commonwealth Games in July.
The 18-year-old has just returned from Australia where he represented South Africa in the pool alongside Chad le Clos during the BHP Billiton Aquatic Super Series earlier this month.
“He’s certainly doing exceptionally well,” said River Mile organiser Michael Zoetmulder of Zports Event Management.
Zoetmulder said Reid would however face tough competition from two-time champion Byron Lockett.
Lockett, who won the race in 2007 and 2008, will be aiming to make a comeback in this year’s event.
“He’s back in the water and training and certainly has a chance of pulling it off,” said Zoetmulder.
“He’s only 22 but has a lot of experience and could certainly come through. We don’t want to write him off.”
In the ladies’ mile, Kirsten Marriott is the odds-on favourite to win after dominating the Ocean Racing Series over the 1km distance this season.
This week, she finished just outside the top 10 in the 5km swim at the national aquatic championships at Midmar Dam near Pietermaritzburg.
All eyes will be on the 17-year-old contender, as Olympian Jessica Roux is taking a break from competitive swimming and will not be back to defend her title.
Paralympic gold medallist Kevin Paul will have a fifth consecutive win in his sights when he plunges in for the disabled mile.
The Jones brothers – Wayne, Jason and Daniel – are also expected to sweep the podium once again in the wetsuit race.
Zoetmulder said a special highlight of this year’s weekend festival would be the Kings Across the River race.
Nine EP Kings rugby players – including Michael Killian, Paul Schoolman and Shakes Soyizwapi – will be out of their element as they tackle the width of the Sundays River.
“It starts at 1pm on Sunday and there will be a special autograph signing session for kids after that.”
Zoetmulder said organisers were expecting more than 7 000 visitors to attend the two-day swimming festival, with more than 1 600 participants across all events.
The racing starts with a splash on Saturday with the fun run, off-road cycle, half-mile swim and wetsuit mile events.
On Sunday, the action continues with the kids’ swimming races, including one for children with special needs, before wrapping up with the two feature races from 1.30pm.
A variety of entertainment will be on offer, including food and craft stalls, a kids’ zone, beer garden and comic relief provided by Gino Fabbri.
Entrance to the festival is free for children 10 and younger and participants wearing the race wristband. All other spectators pay R20.
Alan Straton
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