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

ORS Growing – over a Thousand Participants head for Hobie Beach

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This Sunday sees the third round of the Weekend Post Ocean Racing Series on Nelson Mandela Bay’s Hobie Beach with over a thousand participants and spectators expected to pack the beach in what is considered Africa’s largest family beach event.

From 9am on Sunday morning 5 simultaneously run events attract the attention of hundreds of local families and beach goers as the swimmers, runners and walkers get their fitness fix for the weekend. Most popular is the Dis-Chem 1km Ocean Swim which alone attracts close on 200 entrants whilst the Varsity College 5km Beach Run and Walk appeals to the fun runners or walkers who enjoy a welcome change from the weeks pounding of the tarmac. The ever increasingly popular Kingfisher FM Kids 1km Beach Run/walk is open to children 12 years and under, spoiling them with their kids oriented prize giving, finish drinks from Bonaqua and a R100 cash finishers jackpot for one lucky participant in their sports drinks bottle supplied by Crowhurst & Bond Optometrists.

This Sundays Dis-Chem 2km Ocean Swim could also see a new record being set as Kouga swimming coach, Brenton Williams, attempts to cover the distance swimming butterfly. Considered one of the most difficult swimming strokes for new swimmers, Butterfly surpisingly requires less energy than most once efficient technique has been developed.

“I’m not aware of any other swimmer who have completed a 2km butterfly Ocean Swim in South Africa so I’m very keen to give this an attempt. During recent training I’ve found it to be less tiring than my traditional freestyle swimming.” said Williams from his Marina Martinique training venue. “My only concern for Sunday is finding the space during the race to be able to swim the Butterfly stroke without knocking other swimmers on the head, especially on the busier buoy turns.”

Over the past couple of years, the Ocean Racing Series has also become a key benefactor of the Reach for a Dream Foundation, realising over 10% of the dreams in the Eastern Cape each season. Series participants, their friends, families and companies help ensure that each race day at least one dream is realised for the Foundation. This Sunday sees the realisation of the third dream of the season with a very special presentation of a desktop computer being made possible by swimmer Siegfried Lokotsch and his staff from Quantum Investments.

Newcomers to the Series are encouraged to register online (www.oceanracingseries.com) ahead of Sunday’s event which also features the kids lucky draw prize giving, the Reach for a Dream presentation and the Main lucky draw prize giving on the beach from 10am. Finishers medals and Glacéau vitamin water are available for all finishers each race day with late entries being taken on the beach from 7.30am. For the spectators, Shark Rock Pier offers the best vantage point for the swim events whilst anywhere along the beach between Hobie Beach and Pollok Beach ensures visibility of the run route.

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Zports

The Zports Event Management company offers professional control of sports events.By offering sport events to a wider general public, Zports seeks to bring these benefits to individuals and communities across South Africa. Furthermore, we exist to encourage and facilitate excellence. We want to provide an avenue for athletes with the talent and desire to achieve their full potential. See more articles by Zports.