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Nelson Mandela Bay River Mile

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Africa’s oldest open water swimming event takes place in Nelson Mandela Bay this weekend.

The 96th Nelson Mandela Bay River Mile – the oldest swimming event in Africa – takes place at Sunday’s River this weekend with a festival of activities for the whole family.

Starting with the Vodacom 5km Family Fun run at 9am on Saturday morning, the River Mile festival for the first time includes a local inter schools festival schools from Patensie, Kinkelbos and Colchester. Saturday afternoon will feature the Blu Smooth wetsuit Mile and the family half mile whilst Sunday kicks off at 11am with the Gravity Kids across the River races for children 12 years and under who aren’t taking part in the Mile Events. This followed by the Oracle Media disabled Mile at 12 noon and then the iconic Nelson Mandela Bay Ladies and Men’s Mile events from 1.30pm.

Sure to take center stage on the weekend will be 87 year old Mally Richards who will be swimming his 67th River Mile. Richards holds the world record for Participation Longevity in Open Water Swimming from the Swimming Hall of Fame in America after completing 66 editions of the Nelson Mandela Bay River Mile last year in what is surely a record only he will ever be able to better.

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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.