MyPE

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

Only Two Rounds Remain

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Nelson Mandela Bay’s unique aQuellé Ocean Racing Series returns Hobie Beach this Sunday for the penultimate round of beach action for Season 13 which has already attracted over 3,300 entrants.

The Series, offering 7 different events on each race day, takes place on mostly alternate Sunday mornings throughout the Summer months and will conclude on Sunday 8th April this year. Hundreds of participants take part in one of the 7 events which includes 4 ocean swim distances and a beach run/walk for adults and kids.

In his last season of competitive open water swimming, SA 3km Open Water Champion Ian Venter, is in need of two more wins to defend his Series 1km title. Despite being unbeaten this season, he hasn’t managed to attend all races and trails Cole Craig and Kyle White in the overall standings whilst in the ladies 1km Ocean Swim, star EP swimmer Amica de Jager needs a podium finish in 1 of the 2 remaining races to win the Series Title with her older sister Chane having excelled this season in the 3km distance and looks to be a comfortable Series winner. For the Men’s 3km swim it’s a tussle between Heinrich Vorster and Bruce Campbell for honours. In the 2km ladies race there is a 3-way tussle with Antonella Saporta, Paige Black and Tracy Judd whilst top EP triathlete Keegan Cooke just needs 1 more podium finish to secure the Season 13 title.

Whilst the 400m swim is becoming increasingly popular with the more mature swimmers, it’s the youngsters who have dominated this season and Season 13 400m title will go the way of Aminah Lindoor (12 years old), Connor Craig (12) or Daniel Richter (10). The beach events have been dominated this season with Taryn Ferreira and Grobbie Grobler assured of their titles in the 5km Beach Walk with Lea De Villiers and Tara Sacke fighting it out for the ladies 5km Beach Run title and Masakhane Future Stars runner, Masixole Saphangiso assured of the Men’s title.

The Masakhane Future Stars program, sponsored by Greenacres Shopping Centre and Caltex Eastern Cape, sees over 60 children from the disadvantaged communities being afforded the opportunity to enjoy the Ocean Racing Series each race day with some of the students in the running for overall honours in the 5km Beach Run.

For newcomers, online registration prior to Sunday morning is highly encouraged as late entries on the day are subject to a R50 penalty. Timing chips at a once off R30 are also compulsory for the Series from this weekend.

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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.