The oldest open water swimming event on the Continent, The Nelson Mandela Bay aQuellé River Mile hosted by the Nelson Mandela Bay Municipality, returns to Sunday’s River over the weekend 18th / 19th February for another action packed family fun weekend celebration of it’s 99th Anniversary.
Africa’s oldest swimming event reaches it’s 99th milestone and things couldn’t get hotter for this year with a top field of swimmers anticipated for the iconic Men’s and Ladies Mile events.
The family weekend will kick off on Saturday 18th with the Colchester Sports Day, a local derby between 3 of the local schools featuring a 5km Fun Run (open to all), a soccer tournament and a netball tournament. The afternoon festivities will include no fewer than 3 live bands in the way of Shard, Axyl and Bedlam, all performing from 1pm in the Castle Lite Beer Garden which is being run by the Rotary Club of Uitenhage. An assortment of Food Trucks and vendors will ensure everyone’s needs are catered for.
Saturday afternoon also featured the Wetsuit Mile, Disabled Mile and the Family Half Mile swims starting from 2pm with prize giving on the stage at 3.15pm.
Action packed Sunday starts off with the Kids Across the River races for children 12 years and under and who are not taking part in the Mile events. Age group prizes for 6u, 8u, 10u & 12u. Racing for the kids gets underway from 10h45 with their special prizegiving taking place at 12h00.
Then it’s the big ones, the aQuellé Ladies River Mile kicks off at 13h30 with the Men’s Mile starting an hour later. Defending champions are local swimmers, Christian Davidson and Caitlin Rademakers.
Online registration for all events is necessary with information and entry available on www.rivermile.co.za. For further information you can also reach out to Zsports Events SA at info@zsports.co.za or on 041 484 7860.

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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."
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