MyPE

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

Only 1000 Redhouse River Mile Entrants Allowed

By

www.MyPE.co.za: The challenge is out there, Africa’s oldest open water swimming event is just around the corner and has become one of South Africa’s must do events. Hundreds of swimmers from around the country will once again descend on Port Elizabeth, Nelson Mandela Bay for the annual SPAR Redhouse River Mile which will take place on Sunday 27th February 2011.

Started in 1924, the event celebrates its 87th anniversary and organisers, Zports, have announced that this years event will once again take place at Cannonville on the Sundays River due to shocking water quality results on the Swartkops River. “We are looking forward to another great River Mile, with Sundays River offering an ideal setting for this family event. For the first time in the event’s history, due to the overwhelming popularity and growth of the event, we are having to restrict entries for the Men’s and Ladies Mile events to 1,000 swimmers and we encourage participants to get their entries in soonest in order to avoid disappointment.” said organiser Mike Zoetmulder.

Redhouse Swimming
From small beginnings the Redhouse River Mile has grown immensely (Image of Redhouse swimmers)

Naming sponsors SPAR have committed to the River Mile for a further three years and with the support of 9 Associate Sponsors, the 2011 River Mile features the highest prize pool in the races history. Over R70,000 will be up for grabs in prize money, medals and lucky draw prizes with the top 10 Men and Lady swimmers receiving cash prizes. In addition to the cash prizes, the Autotrust Winners Jackpot will feature no fewer than 3 Jonway motorcycles which are awarded by lucky draw to the top 5 swimmers in both the Men’s Mile and Ladies Mile events. A fourth Jonway motorcycle, valued at over R9,000 will be the feature lucky draw prize for all Mile swimmers.

Over 5,000 spectators and participants are expected to converge on the village of Cannonville on the Sundays River to witness one of Nelson Mandela Bay’s premier social sporting events and see some of South Africa’s top open water swimmers in action. KZN’s Olympian swimmer, Chad Ho, is keen to try and achieve a hat-trick of wins, having won in 2009 and 2010. Having won the race comfortably in 2009 and 2010, Ho will be expecting a greater challenge this year as local open water swimming champions, Chris van de Sande, Hanre Barnard, Jason and Wayne Jones and Michael Marais are all in top form this season.

Two times defending ladies champion, Dominic Dryding from Cape Town is also expected to return and will be well aware of the threat of local swimmer Jessica Roux who has been unstoppable in local competition of late. Roux will be joined by the Billson siblings, Carmen & Lauren, Rebecca Newman and a host of other equally talented local swimmers who could win their first River Mile title. Boosting the SPAR Redhouse River Mile are supporting open water swimming in Nelson Mandela Bay are Associate Sponsors; aQuellé, AutoTrust, Cerebos, Express Litho, Kingfisher FM, Tavcor Commercial Vehicles, Stormforce and Town Lodge.

The 2011 River Mile program will kick off at 9am on Sunday 27th February with the Discovery Tri-it Off Road team and individual triathlon with proceeds going to the Rotary Club of Port Elizabeth Sunrise. The Discovery Triathlon consists of a 500m swim, 15km Mountain Bike Ride and a 5km Trail Run and is suitable for all ages and abilities. At 9.30 there will be a 5km Fun Trail run for the fun runners and at 11am the Stormforce preliminary kids races for those kids who aren’t taking part in the Mile swim events. The Stormforce prelim swim sees boys and girls 11/12 years and 10 years and under swimming across the river, approximately 75m, in their seperate age groups. At 12 noon there will be the Disabled and Wetsuit Mile events with the Ladies Mile event starting at 1pm and the Men’s Mile at 1.45pm. This is to be followed by the Future Exotics swimwear fashion show and the main prize giving which features the give away of no fewer than 4 Jonway motorcycles.

All online entrants before the 14th February 2011 will qualify for a River Mile t-shirt. Entry forms will be available from SPAR outlets, News Cafe and all leading sports stores from the 15th January. Normal entries will close on 13th February or when the limit of 1,000 has been reached. Late entry fees will apply to all entries accepted after this date. Late entries and the collection of the registration packs and River Mile t-shirts will be done at the Walmer Park shopping centre prior to the event.

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.