News Headlines

Entries for the 2011 SPAR Redhouse River Mile are now open and whilst the event has to remain at Sundays River for another year due to the pollution problems in the Swartkops River, we are confident that this could be a record breaking year.

Prize money has been raised to it's highest in the history of the event and AutoTrust and Jonway Motorcycles have come up with FOUR scooters as lucky draw prizes once again.

Defending champions Chad Ho (KZN) and Dominique Dryding (WP) successfully defended their titles at the 2010 SPAR Redhouse Mile held at a new (and very popular) location this year in the Sundays River. Frank Greeff and Byron Lockett came 2nd and 3rd respectively in the Mens Mile whilst 14 year old Michaela Barns almost caused the upset of the event with an outstanding 2nd place ahead of Carmel Billson in the Ladies Race.

Port Elizabeth has been rocked by the news that the country's oldest open water swimming event has had to move because of severe pollution levels in the Swartkops River.

Following a letter from the Metro advising that water quality cannot be guaranteed, the organisers have made the decision to relocate the event to Sundays River.

Everything else will remain the same, just a different venue.

Defending Mile champions, Chad Ho and Dominique Drying, have indicated that they will be returning in 2010 to defend their titles.

Olympian 10km Swimmer, Chad Ho from Durban, won his first SPAR Redhouse River Mile. Ho won in a time of 15min 36secs from Tyron Venter and Frank Greeff.

Dominique Dryding from the Western Province was the new ladies winner, narrowly beating KZN's Kirsten Mower to the finish. Jessica Roux and Jenny White tied for 3rd place.

Nelson Mandela Bay's learn to swim program came out in force at this year's River Mile with just under 100 entrants.

The Metro continues to attract swimmers from the communities to their learn to swim programs and the Redhouse River Mile offers the perfect 'graduation' ceremony for these swimmers.

Amongst the entrants this year will be 76 year old Mally Richards, holder of the most River Mile swims, this year doing his 56th swim after only having missed out on only 5 races since his first appearance as a Muir scholar in 1948. One of the missed races was when Richards opted to watch his son Kevin win the race in 1979, something he repeated on 5 more occassions.

Also in the line up this year will be six times consecutive champion, Geoff Grylls (1960 - 1965).

A notable absentism this year is 8 times Ladies Champion, Velia Janse van Rensburg, who has taken a break from swimming to focus on her final year studies. Velia totally dominated the River Mile this decade, having only lost once in 2001 to Natalie Snodgrass, which leaves the ladies title race wide open with local swimmers Guppy Fish, Tasmynne Roe and Jessica Roux all in with a fair chance of snatching victory.

Two star Western Province open water swimmers, the SA 3km open water swimming champion, Abdul Malick Railoun, and 1,500km SA Open water ladies champion, Dominique Dryding have confirmed their entry for the Mile.

16 year old Railoun is from the Western Cape and has dominated the 1km and 3km events during the current National Swim Challenge open water swimming Series and is tipped as a strong contender to snatch the Men's Mile title from local double champion Byron Lockett and Olympian Chad Ho. Whilst Dryding will be looking to pip the local ladies to claim the Ladies Title which PE swimmer Velia janse van Rensburg has dominated for the past 8 years.

We are proud to announce that Sport Action Photography will be the official action photographers for the SPAR Redhouse River Mile 2009.

Sport Action Photography are able to provide "On the spot action photo's" minutes after each event and guarantee the best quality photos money can buy. You will be able to find their caravan on the lawns outside the registration building on race day or check out their website www.sportaction.co.za

As with all Zports events the Port Elizabeth Beachfront Lodges will continue to feature pictures of the event on their website.

The River Mile will have it's first Olympic entrant this year in 18 year Chad Ho. Chad is the African 5km and 10km Champion and was the only school boy to contest the Olympic 10km race in Beijing last year. Chad comes from KZN and will be looking for his first Redhouse River Mile medal on Sunday 22nd Feb.

AutoTrust Major Structural Repairer (Dolf & Glenda Jonker) have announced that they will be sponsor THREE Vuka Scuta's as lucky draw prizes for the top 5 Men and top 5 Ladies in the two premier Mile events.

Vuka Mandela Bay (aka The Cousin) have also remained involved to ensure that a 4th Vuka is given away as a lucky draw prize which ALL Mile swimmers will be eligible for.

Prize Winners have to be in attendance and MUST be wearing the wrist band containing their lucky draw number.

Zports and EP Aquatics are pleased to announce SPAR's continued committment to the Redhouse River Mile and 2009 sees the 85th running of this, South Africa's oldest open water swimming event.

Festivities start on Saturday 21st February with the Cerebos Potiekos competition. A new addition to the Sat program is the Rotary Club of Port Elizabeth Sunrise's 5km Fun Run starting at 9am. Castle Larger will once again be providing the weekend Beer Garden, with TV's showing the Super 14 rugby and their Gig-Rig having live entertainment.

Collection of registration packs and late entry for the Sunday's events will also take place on the Saturday.

It was unbelievable to see the large crowds gathering at Redhouse in the early hours of Saturday morning waiting for registration to open and to secure a pair of crocs.

300 early registrants received a pair of crocs beach shoes which are just the thing for water sport events.

SHOT to crocs for an awesome sponsorship which has become the talk of town.

Velia janse van Rensburg won her 8th River Mile on Sunday morning, beating Guppy Fish and Tasmynne Roe in a very close race.

AutoTrust vehicle repair centre, support sponsors of the event, presented Velia with a brand new Mazda car as a present for her achievement.

Byron Lockett also successfully defended his title, winning the Men's race from Christopher van de Sande and Frank Greeff.

The first 300 (THREE HUNDRED) participants to come and collect their registration packs OR enter for the River Mile on Saturday afternoon (doors open at 12 noon) will each receive a paid of crocs beach shoes valued at R400.

Support our sponsors, THEY'RE definately supporting you!

Keep watching the press, we're about to make a huge announcement which could see you coming down to pre-enter on Saturday afternoon and walk away with a pair of crocs!!!

Check out the range on offer...www.mycrocs.co.za

All we can say at this stage is plan to be at Redhouse early on Sat morning to ensure that you don't lose out!!!

One lucky swimmer will win a Vuka Scuta XS125 for just taking part at this years SPAR Redhouse River Mile.

Sponsored by "the cousin" from Vuka Mandela Bay in Circular Drive (just past Fig Tree SPAR), all participants in the Mile events will stand a chance to win this awesome lucky draw prize.

We are pleased to announce that the Weekend Post will be the media sponsors for the SPAR Redhouse River Mile and as such will be covering the event extensively over the next couple of weeks.

Participants will also be able to download the entry form from the Weekend Post website and full results will be published on their website after the event.

Zports are pleased to announce that the 2008 SPAR Redhouse River Mile will be bigger and better than before and will be taking place on Saturday 16th and Sunday 17th February 2008. Festivities on the Saturday will include Event Registration, a Cerebos potjiekos competition and a beer garden with live entertainment.

SPAR have been confirmed as title sponsors of the River Mile for the 9th consecutive year and the Associate sponsors have all remained with the Event. The Weekend Post have been secured as the Media sponsors whilst crocs are the new Associate Sponsors.

Please look at the information page to see all the great changes which will be taking effect this year.