The 91st edition of the SPAR River Mile will offer a full weekend of water-based action and family entertainment when it launches on the Sundays River just outside Port Elizabeth on February 14 and 15. The festival attracted more than 6 000 visitors last year, with over 7 500 expected for the 2015 event, which once again takes place at Cannonville. This year, former Idols winner Heinz Winckler will anchor the entertainment aspect with a riverside concert at 3pm on the Saturday. He will be … [Read more...] about A weekend of River Mile fun
river mile
91st River Mile Extravaganza
Local non-profit sports events company, Zsports Events NPC, are pulling out all the stops ahead of the 91st anniversary of the SPAR River Mile, Africa's oldest open water event which started in the picturesque village of Redhouse on the Swartkops River on the 20th January 1924. The River Mile, one of the city's must do events, attracts thousands of participants and spectators from around the country to its new home on the Sundays River after having been forced to move in 2010 due to high … [Read more...] about 91st River Mile Extravaganza
2015 River Mile Entries Open
Entries for the 91st SPAR River Mile taking place on the 14th & 15th February next year are open. One of the Eastern Cape's traditional family events and South Africa's oldest open water swimming event is set to attract thousands of people to the banks of the Sundays River once again. The traditional Men's and Ladies River Mile are just two of the many events which will form part of the 2015 Festival which features entertainment from top SA singer Heinz Winckler and world renowned mentalist … [Read more...] about 2015 River Mile Entries Open
Second River Mile title for Christopher Reid
Christopher Reid powered his way to an uncontested second straight victory at the 90th edition of the SPAR River Mile at Cannonville just outside Port Elizabeth on Sunday. Reid, who swims for Aquabear in Port Elizaeth, showed his class as he took advantage of favourable currents to leave the field of 450 men in his wake in the Sundays River. The 18-year-old was followed home by East London's Edward Johannisen, who won the SPAR Kowie Mile in December. Another Port Elizabeth based swimmer, … [Read more...] about Second River Mile title for Christopher Reid
Expert says that Red tide is no threat to River Mile
With the red tide bloom having decayed in most parts of Algoa Bay, swimmers in this weekend's SPAR River Mile Festival will have no reason to fear any lingering effects on the Sundays River. According to estuarine ecology expert Professor Janine Adams of NMMU, the large-scale bloom of Lingulodinium polyedrum had been present in both the Sundays River estuary mouth and the Swartkops River, which is traditionally the home of the race. In the Sundays River, Adams said the red tide had been … [Read more...] about Expert says that Red tide is no threat to River Mile
Cannonville Redhouse River Mile
Nelson Mandela Bay, Port Elizabeth's historic SPAR River Mile, Africa's oldest open water swimming event, is set to complement an action packed 23rd and 24th February weekend for the city with a massive festival of activity for the whole family along the banks of the Sundays River. This year the River Mile, which started in 1924 in the picturesque village of Redhouse, celebrates it's 89th anniversary and will be attracting swimmers from around the country to the Sundays River on both Saturday … [Read more...] about Cannonville Redhouse River Mile
Redhouse River Mile
This race cannot truly be called the Redhouse Mile anymore as it is now at another venue due to poor water quality. It has become too commercialised & lost its character. Why are the proceeds not going towards trying to fix the source of the water problem to enable it to return to Redhouse? I realise that the municipality & whoever else needs to come to the party. Why are the sponsors, event organisors, DA Councillors, Swartkops Trust, etc. not putting more effort into getting the … [Read more...] about Redhouse River Mile
Eastern Cape Summer Festival
The Eastern Cape's newest summer festival will be hosted at Sundays River this month in conjunction with one of the regions most historic events, the SPAR River Mile. The River Mile festival offers two days of fun and excitement for the whole family along the banks of the Sundays River on the 23rd and 24th February. The festival, supported by the Eastern Cape Parks and Tourism Agency, will include no fewer than 6 sporting events, a host of food vendors, craft stalls and exhibitors as well as … [Read more...] about Eastern Cape Summer Festival
Win a Scooter at the Redhouse River Mile
As thousands of families head for Sundays River this Sunday for the annual SPAR Redhouse River Mile, 4 lucky Mile swimmers will come away from the event as proud owners of a brand new Scooter motorbike thanks to local PE specialist automotive body repairer, AutoTrust. AutoTrust, for the past 3 years have sponsored 3 scooter motorcycles as a winners jackpot prize where the names of top 5 Men and Ladies in the Mile swim are put into a lucky draw for the bikes. "We like to reward excellence … [Read more...] about Win a Scooter at the Redhouse River Mile
Swimming a Charitable Mile
After all the medals and prize money are presented at the 19 February 2012 SPAR Redhouse River Mile, the real winner is sure to be the local communities of Nelson Mandela Bay. Organisers of the River Mile, Zports Event Management, have once again teamed up with the Rotary Club of Port Elizabeth Sunrise to ensure that all proceeds from the Discovery off-road triathlon, Caste Lite Beer Garden and the Rotary Quali Juice Kids Entertainment area will all go towards the community based projects of the … [Read more...] about Swimming a Charitable Mile
One Man’s 58th Redhouse River Mile Attempt
The 2012 SPAR Redhouse River Mile, Africa's oldest open water swimming event, will be taking place at Cannonville Village, on the Sunday's River on Sunday 19 February and will be restricted to the first 1,000 mile swimmers only. Started in 1924, the event is celebrating its 88th anniversary with organisers, Zports, expecting another bumper event supported by SPAR Eastern Cape and the 7 Associate sponsors of the event, who have ensured that the 2012 event is able to carry a cash prize pool … [Read more...] about One Man’s 58th Redhouse River Mile Attempt
No Rain, No Water, No Development Kids at River Mile
A strong contingent of the Metro's black swimmers will be missing from the annual SPAR Redhouse River Mile this year. In previous years, the Metro's Learn to Swim program has funded up to 100 kids to attend this annual swimming event, which is Africa's oldest open water swimming race. This year the Metro has advised the organisers that due to there being no water in the township pools, the kids will not be attending. "The city has some really good swimmers from Motherwell and Kwazakhele who … [Read more...] about No Rain, No Water, No Development Kids at River Mile
Will the World Champ Make it Three in a Row?
Current World 10km World Cup Series Champion, Chad Ho, is looking forward to trying to achieve a hat trick of wins at this month's SPAR Redhouse River Mile which takes place on the Sundays River. Ho, from Kwazulu Natal, was in Port Elizabeth over the past weekend taking part in the international gala and confirmed that he is keen to return on the 27th to tackle Africa's oldest open water swimming race. 2011 will be the 87th anniversary of the River Mile which was started in 1924. Ho, South … [Read more...] about Will the World Champ Make it Three in a Row?
