Africa's oldest open water swimming event takes place in Nelson Mandela Bay this weekend. The 96th Nelson Mandela Bay River Mile - the oldest swimming event in Africa - takes place at Sunday's River this weekend with a festival of activities for the whole family. Starting with the Vodacom 5km Family Fun run at 9am on Saturday morning, the River Mile festival for the first time includes a local inter schools festival schools from Patensie, Kinkelbos and Colchester. Saturday afternoon will … [Read more...] about Nelson Mandela Bay River Mile
river mile
Huge Prize for Schools at historic Nelson Mandela Bay River Mile
The 96th Nelson Mandela Bay River Mile - the oldest swimming event in Africa - is set to take centre stage of the Nelson Mandela Bay swimming scene later this month. Hosted at the scenic Sundays River on 22nd and 23rd February the event will highlight everything good about Nelson Mandela Bay - food, crafts, sport and community family involvement. "There will be no less than 7 events to choose from including four Mile swim disciplines, the Gravity Kids Across the River races and the … [Read more...] about Huge Prize for Schools at historic Nelson Mandela Bay River Mile
Where will you be on Sunday?
Africa’s oldest swimming event will form part of the River Mile festival at the Sundays River Cannonville Slipway this Sunday. On Sunday the 95th edition of The River Mile will take place at the beautiful venue. The race is the oldest known open water swimming event in Africa and one of the oldest in the world. Event winners can be tracked all the way back to the first race which was won by Roy Gregory in 1924. On that same day, the team trophy was also competed for. The first 5 swimmers … [Read more...] about Where will you be on Sunday?
95th River Mile Offers Huge Prize for Schools
The 95th River Mile is set to take centre stage of the Nelson Mandela Bay swimming scene next month. Hosted at the scenic Sundays River on 17 February the event will highlight everything good about Nelson Mandela Bay - food, crafts and sport. "There will be no less than 7 events to choose from including four swim disciplines, the Nitro Park Kids Across the River race, an Off-Road Triathlon and a 5km Fun Run. Added to these events, there will be a variety of arts and crafts, food vendors … [Read more...] about 95th River Mile Offers Huge Prize for Schools
Who will win 94th River Mile? Pick Your Favourite
There is much anticipation ahead of next week's 94th River Mile hosted by Nelson Mandela Bay Municipality. Africa's oldest open water swim boasts a rich history of swimmers who have won this historic event including SA Olympic swimming icon, Ryk Neethling, and SA's first ladies Olympian Joan Harrison. At the age of just 12 years, Harrison won the Ladies Quarter Mile in 1948 (Ladies Mile started in 1987) whilst Neethling won the Mile at the age of 16 in 1994. Next Sunday the 94th River Mile … [Read more...] about Who will win 94th River Mile? Pick Your Favourite
94 Years of the River Mile
The pre-entry excitement is rising as Nelson Mandela Bay gets ready for the 94th running of the historic River Mile on Sunday 18th February at the picturesque Cannonville village along the banks of the Sunday’s River. The inaugural race was held in the river at Redhouse on Sunday 20th January 1924 and was declared by all to be a huge success. Perhaps the greatest feature of the race was the fact that 48 men started and 44 completed the distance. A handsome cup was presented by Mr AW Murrell, … [Read more...] about 94 Years of the River Mile
The River Mile – Africa’s Oldest Swim Event
Nelson Mandela Bay's historic River Mile event will be undergoing some significant changes next year in the build up to the event's centenary celebrations in 2024. The Metro hosts one of the world's oldest open water swimming event which was established in Redhouse in 1924 as a means for the local swimming club to attract swimmers from 'town'. Now in its 94th year, the River Mile festival will undergo change as the organisers shake things up and start to build on the events popularity in the … [Read more...] about The River Mile – Africa’s Oldest Swim Event
Jones triumphant in River Mile
Port Elizabeth's Daniel Jones summoned up his best form in the nick of time to retain both his titles at the SPAR River Mile Festival at Cannonvile outside Port Elizabeth this weekend. The 18-year-old Bay Eagles swimmer beat his brother Wayne and Sean Murray in the double mile on Saturday and then got the better of pre-race favourite Ian Venter and Nicolas Adam in today's feature race over one mile on the Sundays River. "That was very, very tough," Jones said after dramatically edging … [Read more...] about Jones triumphant in River Mile
Historic River Mile anchors PE water sports calendar
The annual SPAR River Mile Festival is once again set to anchor Nelson Mandela Bay's vast water sports calendar this month. The 92nd River Mile, which takes place on the Sundays River at Cannonville just outside Port Elizabeth on February 20 and 21, traditionally welcomes thousands of open-water swimmers and supporters to its shores. Race director Michael Zoetmulder of Zsports said that although the event was a staple for local swimmers, it had shown tremendous growth over the past … [Read more...] about Historic River Mile anchors PE water sports calendar
Could Venter emulate Neethling?
16 year old Pearson High School scholar, Ian Venter, has shown that he has the form to win next month's historic SPAR River Mile, a title cherished by many a swimmer in South Africa. Over the past 92 years the River Mile has produced some legendary champions, a winners list which is like the who's who of swimming in South Africa includes triple Springbok Kevin Richards, a 6 times winner of the Mile, Olympic Champion Ryk Neethling who, like Venter, was only 16 when he won the title, and SA … [Read more...] about Could Venter emulate Neethling?
Entries Open for Spar River Mile
Entries for the 92nd SPAR River Mile have opened ahead of the festival of sporting events taking place at Sundays River over the weekend 20th & 21st February 2016. South Africa's oldest open water swimming event, the River Mile, will be just one of the many family sporting events on offer during the 92nd celebration of this iconic event. The packed weekend of activities will comprise of the Off-Road Saturday theme and the River Mile Sunday. Saturday's events include the popular Wimpy … [Read more...] about Entries Open for Spar River Mile
River Mile Results
Daniel Jones and Hannah Haswell secured a double win in the River Mile swum on 14 and February 2015 in the Sunday's River. Wetsuit double mile winners Daniel Jones and Hannah Haswell proved to be in unstoppable form as they powered to victory in the men's and ladies' mile at the 91st SPAR River Mile festival at Cannonville near Port Elizabeth on Sunday. Showing no after effects in the wake of Saturday's effort, Jones took an early lead to claim his first victory in the men's feature … [Read more...] about River Mile Results
Assisting to clean up the Zwartkops River
The SPAR River Mile will be going the extra mile to clean up the environment and help local charities when the event takes place at Cannonville near Port Elizabeth this coming weekend. The 91st edition of South Africa's oldest open-water swim will once again take place on the Sundays River instead of its traditional home at Redhouse because of raw sewage pollution in the Swartkops River. Title sponsor SPAR Eastern Cape has contributed R80 000 annually for the past three years to help … [Read more...] about Assisting to clean up the Zwartkops River
91st River Mile still at Sundays
Nelson Mandela Bay is set for a great week end of family entertainment, sport and fun as the 91st SPAR River Mile takes place along the Sundays River on the 14th and 15th February 2015. The festival has an action packed line up taking place in and out of the water. This will include the traditional mile swim and family half mile swim among others. Heinz Winkler is set to entertain the crowds on the Saturday, 14th February at 3pm and well-known mentalist and illusionist Larry Soffer on Sunday, … [Read more...] about 91st River Mile still at Sundays
Doors open for new River Mile champion
South Africa's oldest open-water swimming event will be seeking a new champion when the 91st edition of the SPAR River Mile takes to the water at Cannonville near Port Elizabeth on February 15. Two-time winner Christopher Reid will not be returning to defend his title, as he has taken up a swimming scholarship at the University of Alabama in the United States. Reid - who represented South Africa at the Youth Olympic Games in Nanjing, China, last year - was also named the readers' choice … [Read more...] about Doors open for new River Mile champion
