MyPE

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

Ocean Racing Series off to a flying start

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Africa’s largest family beach event, the aQuellé Ocean Racing Series, has got off to a flying start at Hobie Beach with just under 500 participants taking part on Sunday morning.

The Series which is unique to Nelson Mandela Bay, takes place on mostly alternate Sunday mornings throughout the whole of Summer, and on Sunday in near perfect beach weather featured 7 exciting family races which all take place at the same time.

Winning the 5km Beach Walk was Taryn Ferreira and Grobbie Grobler whilst 13 year old Lea de Villiers and 16 year old Vuyisa Mthimkhulu whilst in the Kids Beach Run, Imani Allah and Kaitlyn Richter were the winners in the 6 years and under category, Callum Loftus and Charlette Eary in the 7 to 8 year age group, Tristan Marais and Hunter Dutton in the 9 to 10 year age group with Daniel Giddy and Enzo Mhlonho winning the 11 to 12 year age group.

No fewer than 4 swimming races are included in the Series with the fast growing 400m swim being won by 11 year old Emma Kelly Lacey and 12 year old Connor Craig, Defending Series 1km Champion Ian Venter kicked off his Season 13 campaign with a win with Amica de Jager winning the ladies 1km race. Daniel Jones and Antonella Saporta won the 2km swim whilst Jenny Potts and Bruce Campbell took the line honours in the 3km swim.

Immediately after the races a prize giving ceremony is held on the beach with top 3 medals for the age group winners in the Kids Beach Run and for the top 3 in each of the other events. With over R20,000 in lucky draw prizes, a majority of the participants and their families stay for the prize giving, most hoping for the feature prize which is a R1,500 Greenacres Shopping Centre voucher.

Caltex Eastern Cape have teamed up with Greenacres Shopping Centre this season to support the Masakhane Future Stars program which affords youngsters from the historically disadvantaged communities the opportunity to take part in the Series.

The next round of the Series takes place on Sunday 5th November and is open to all – see www.oceanracingseries.com for information. Entry fee is R50 for the beach events and R100 for the swim events. Online registration is encouraged to avoid a R50 late entry fee if entering on the morning of the event. Online registration closes 9am on the Friday before race day.

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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.