Events
2014 Midmar Mile winner’s list grows
Howick – Sunday’s action from the 2014 aQuellé Midmar Mile, the 41st edition of the globally renowned open water swim event, got underway in a cloud of action as four more names were added to the 2014 winner’s list in the first two events of the morning.
The girls 13 years and under and women’s 31 years and older race set the tone for yet another memorable day at Midmar Dam as young Tracy-Lea Meyer of Our Lady of Fatima and former Olympian Mandy Loots soared above the rest to clinch the two respective titles.
Tracy-Lea Meyer (Our Lady of Fatima) emerges from the waters of Midmar Dam first in the Girls 13 years and younger category at the 2014 aQuellé Midmar Mile. Photo by: Anthony Grote/Gameplan Media
The boys 13 years and under and men’s 31 years and older showdown then saw Glenwood’s Luke Erwee clinch the younger title while Wade Krieger – returning home after spending the past few years living in Australia – claimed the older category’s spoils.
“I think it’s all my training that helped me a lot, training for long distance, the 800 meters, in the pool,” said Meyer.
“I was really happy and excited to win the race!”
Wade Krieger returned from years in Australia to claim the men’s 31 years and older title at the 2014 aQuellé Midmar Mile. Photo by: Anthony Grote/Gameplan Media
For Loots, an old-hand of the South African pool swimming fraternity, the 2014 event was an opportunity to do something for others with the former Olympic participant opting to tackle all eight of the programme’s races as part of the 8 Mile Club in support of The Pink Drive.
“Coming from being a pool swimmer, this year we have had a lot more waves, so that has been a different experience for me,” explained Loots.
“It has been good fun though and using my swimming for a bigger cause, that’s the bigger thing for me! For so long I swam for myself so it’s nice to get out there and swim for something special and worthwhile.
“Last year was a big surprise when I finished first in my category, so this year I was a bit more nervous about doing it again, but I was happy to get the same result,” she added.
Olympian Mandy Loots, swimming on behalf of The Pink Drive, claimed the women’s 31 years and older category at the 2014 aQuellé Midmar Mile. Photo by: Anthony Grote/Gameplan Media
For young Erwee, the race was far more of a race that it ought to have been after the emerging star mistook 8 Mile Club participant and top female contender Keri-anne Payne for one of his main rivals until the second half of the contest.
“Just after halfway I realised it was Keri-anne Payne on the right of me. I thought it was a swimmer with an orange cap at first but as we came closer together she turned left and I saw the full costume and gold cap and I knew then that it was Keri-anne Payne,” chuckled Erwee afterwards.
“I did relax a bit then but I looked behind me and saw Reece Kincaid. It was a hard race to the end and I just tried to give it my all.
“I’m quite pleased with myself. I had a good swim and I felt great in the water!” he added.
Luke Erwee (Glenwood) clinched victory in the boys 13 years and younger category at the 2014 aQuellé Midmar Mile. Photo by: Anthony Grote/Gameplan Media
Hugs all round! Coenraad Erwee (left) is pleased with his 2014 aQuellé Midmar Mile effort. Photo by: Anthony Grote/Gameplan Media
Krieger, a former top lifesaver on the Australian circuit, returned to South African shores recently and the 2014 Midmar Mile added to his already heightened appreciation of being on home turf once more.
“Ah man, I had such great fun out there today. I am so happy to be amongst South Africans again and to be involved in a great sport,” said Krieger.
“After being in Australia for 10 years, my main focus in every race is to prepare properly and give it my best go and I felt I did that today. Overall it was a really good swim.
“There was a little bit of a chop on the water but the start went off well for me and I just want to compliment the sponsors and the organisation for putting on a great event!” he added.
The day’s early events also saw women’s pioneer Gail Bristow continue her record of having completed each and every Midmar Mile that has been open to female competitors while Martin Godfrey notched up official finish number forty-one.
“It was a bit of a surprise today. I normally try to make the top five every year, but this year was a nice one,” she said shortly after completing her 40th Midmar Mile.
“I think I put in more effort this year, knowing this was a milestone for me, and I thought maybe I should work a little bit harder for it and see how high I could get, which has paid off nicely for me in the end!” she added.
The aQuellé Midmar Mile takes place annually at the Midmar Dam, just outside Howick in the KwaZulu-Natal Midlands. For more info visit www.midmarmile.co.za
SUMMARY OF RESULTS
2014 aQuellé MIDMAR MILE
Girls 13 years and under
1.Tracy-Lea Meyer 22.33
2.Alice Edward 22.59
3.Asleigh Green 23.23
4.Tayla Sinclair 24.34
5.Erika Esterhuizen 25.01
Women 31 years and older
1.Mandy Loots 24.13
2.Barbara Bowley 25.08
3.Sarah Ferguson 25.09
4.Ellen Hight 25.39
5.Hill Hanass-Hancock 25.40
Boys 13 years and under
1.Luke Erwee 21.46
2.Reece Kincaid 21.51
3.Dylan Cox 22.17
4.Cole Poovan 22.22
5.Dante Norjte 22.44
Men 31 years and older
1.Wade Krieger 21.50
2.Michael Phillips 22.22
3.Gary Albertyn 22.41
4.Brett Clark 23.00
5.Glen Gore 23.10
South African swimming legend Terence Parkin congratulates a brave young finisher, both having used the SaferSwimmer device, at the end of their 2014 aQuellé Midmar Mile. Photo by: Anthony Grote/Gameplan Media
Thousands of swimmers took to the waters of the Midmar Dam as they tackled the 2014 aQuellé Midmar Mile. Photo by: Anthony Grote/Gameplan Media
Be the first to leave a review.
Be the first to leave a review.
Field Notes (an exhibition)
Presented by Contemporary Archive Project
Opening: 1 November 2024 at 6 PM
Venue: The Chairman, Durban.
In the province of KwaZulu-Natal, stories are marked like pins scattered across a map. These pins cluster in the city of eThekwini or are more sparsely spread through the landscapes of Nquthu, Tugela, and Amaotana. By mapping out and noting where the photographs were made, the explorers’ tracks reveal a wide, eclectic range of stories, each reflecting individual narratives. In these collections, the photographers are the explorers of their own stories, presenting clips and field notes that present an Insider’s view.
Subverting old tropes of Outsiders looking in, disconnected from a culture or space, the photographs that make this exhibition present intimate representations of faith and religion, culture and rituals, life and death, solitude and community. The collective way of seeing a city and space are all informed by each photographer’s way of seeing.
In this gathering, we present moments from each photographer’s archive. Guided by the visual connections of the photographs, the exhibition’s content invites you to reflect on the themes of fragility, power, togetherness, and the significance of the spaces we call home.
The group exhibition features work from CAP’s archive, inclusive of:
Andile Ndunge, Andre Swart, Mandisa Buthelezi, Myllo Menorah, Niamh Walsh-Vorster, Paulo Menezes, Robyn Perros, Seraz Abrahams, Sibusiso Gcaba, and Thobani Khumalo.
This exhibition is made possible by the National Lotteries Commission.
Be the first to leave a review.
Entertainment
Jeremy Loops to perform at Old Mutual Music at the Lake Concert at the Durban Botanic Gardens on Saturday 19 October.
Be the first to leave a review.
-
Competitions12 months agoWin Tickets to Milky Chance in Durban!
-
Events12 months agoEast Coast Radio House & Garden Show 2024: Creating Happy Homes
-
Entertainment12 months agoGerman duo Milky Chance announces “Living in a Haze” South African tour
-
Entertainment12 months agoMilky Chance Announce Support Acts for Their “Living in a Haze” South African Tour This February
-
Events9 months agoDurban Mother’s Day Concert: The Old Mutual Music at the Lake
-
Events10 months agoDurbanite Spotlight: The Kickstands
-
Events9 months agoDurban Mother’s Day Concert: Top 5 reasons why the Old Mutual Music at the Lake concert is the ultimate Mother’s Day outing this Sunday.
-
Food6 months agoREVIEW: High Tea Elegance at Radisson Blu Umhlanga, Durban: An Exquisite Experience at FireLake Restaurant