Expect a busy Hobie Beach in Port Elizabeth this Sunday morning for the 7th round of the popular aQuellé Ocean Racing Series as races get underway at 9am. Following Round 6’s entry of over 500 participants, weather permitting, Sunday is expected to attract another great entry despite a bulk of the swimmers taking part in the 70.3 in East London.
Africa’s largest family beach event sees young and old competing together and the current Series leaderboard is testimony that age is no factor in the Series. 56 year old swimmer Denise Bosman currently leads the 2km Ocean Swim ladies category from 35 year old Antonella Saporta whilst 12 year old Tara Sacke leads the ladies 5km Beach Run category. With just 4 races remaining in the Series, this weekend could seal the overall Series titles for a couple of the current leaders in the Series.
Some of the stand-out performances have come from the following participants; 16 year old Pearson High School scholar Ian Venter (5 wins in the 1km swim), 19 year old Kirstin Marriott (4 wins in the 1km swim), Daniel Jones (5 wins in the 1km), Maritza Craig (4 wins in the 5km Beach Walk), Grobbie Grobler (4 wins in the 5km Beach Walk) and Alexander Road High School teacher Rebecca Newman with 2 wins and 3 third placings to lead the ladies 3km ocean swim.
In the 3km Ocean Swim a fantastic competition is brewing between Wayne Jones and Dylan Smith. Jones with 3 wins and a 2nd placing current leads the standings from Smith’s 2 wins and 2 second placings. Smith last win coming in last fortnight’s round 6 of the Series where he got the better of Jones.
Following Sunday’s race, the aQuellé Ocean Racing Series will take a month long break and return for round 8 on Sunday 6th March as February is action packed with open water swimming events which include the Nelson Mandela Bay Aquatics 10km, 5km and 3km Championship events at Settlers Dam, Grahamstown, the SPAR River Mile Festival over the weekend of the 20th/21st February and the Jendamark Bellbuoy Challenge on Saturday 28th.
The aQuellé Ocean Racing Series is open to all with a once off series registration of just R50 being required and an entry fee for swim events of R60, for the beach events R40 and for the kids 1km beach run at just R30. Over R10,000 in lucky draw prizes is up for grabs each race day including R1,000 cash with the kids 12 years and under enjoying their open prize giving ceremony before the adult prize giving.
Sunday’s round 7 opens with registration at 7.30am ahead of the race starts from 9am followed by the prize giving on the beach from 10am.
Alan Straton
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