Swimmers conquer the Ebotse Challenge
Rynfield Dam was the place to be on Sunday, January 12, when a large number of open water swimmers gathered for the 2014 Nature Valley/Ebotse Swim Challenge.
The challenge is the East Rand seeding event for this year’s Midmar Mile, which takes place on Saturday, February 8, and Sunday, February 9.
Sixteen-year-old Brandon Isemonger dominated the all-ages 3km swim and completed the event in a fantastic time of 39 minutes and one second.
His best time was recorded on in his first lap, with a superb 18 minutes and 59 seconds.
He was followed by the experienced Gary Albertyn (44), who completed the 3km event in a time of 40 minutes and 50 seconds.
Benoni resident Savannah Barman (15) showed exactly why she is so highly regarded in open water swimming by crossing the 3km finish line as the first girl with a time of 41 minutes and 15 seconds.
In the second event of the day (the girls u-13 and women’s 31 years and over) 1km swim it was 12-year-old Tayla Sinclair who finished the event in a time of 14 minutes and 25 seconds.
Megan Albertyn (40) was the best oldest female finisher in this event with a time of 15 minutes and 33 seconds.
In event three (u-13 boys and men 31 years and over, 1km) it was Gary Albertyn who was the best finisher, followed by 13-year-old Carl Maritz.
In the fourth event (men and women 13 to 30 years old, 1km) it was the winner of the 3km, Brandon Isemonger, who again took first position.
He completed this event in a time of 12.44.
Wayne Riddin, organiser of the Midmar Mile, said that the Ebotse Challenge event was started three years ago and is used to promote Benoni and its swimmers’ long association with the Midmar Mile.
“The Midmar Mile has a wonderful history with Benoni’s swimmers and it is people like Charlene Wittstock (Princess of Monaco) and Lorna Cochrane (the oldest ever finisher of the Midmar Mile at 89 years old) who have been fantastic supporters and ambassadors of the event,” he said.
He added that the event’s main focus is all about getting more people to participate in open water swimming.
“More and more people have realised the health benefits of the sport and we have seen a significant increase in the numbers of participants in these events in the last three years, particularly among men in the 41 to 50-year-old age group,” he said.
