The event took place at the Cradle Moon Lakeside Game Lodge in Muldersdrift on 19 and 20 January and was a seeding event for the Midmar Mile.
‘The event dawned bright and sunny and conditions were perfect for the much-anticipated Cradle Moon Swim Challenge. On both days, these good conditions held just long enough for every event in the fun-filled morning to proceed without a hitch,’ says one of the participants from Carletonville Swimming Club, Annalise Freese.
On 19 January, the action started with a three-kilometre swim for more intrepid open water swimmers. Annalisa Freese completed it in a time of 1:05:47 minutes,
Bianca Janeke in 1:04:01, Markus Homan in 1:09:36, Sharlene van Niekerk in 1:10:20 and Tammy van Niekerk in 1:02:57 minutes.
The next morning, the local swimmers’ first event was a 1,2 km swim for girls and women of 13 and under and 31. Annalisa Freese completed this event in a time of 26:27 minutes, Anja Kruger in 32:38, Marisan Grove in 30:35, Gerrie Grove in 34:17, Minke Grove in 34:19, Sharlene van Niekerk in 27:00 and Sonja Kruger in 34:01 minutes.
Then it was the men and boys’ turn in event four.
Annalisa Freese completed this race for extra training in a time of 27:28 minutes. Ben van Niekerk finished in 29:39 minutes.
The club’s 14 to 30-year-old swimmers were next to make a splash. The participants were Bianca Janeke, who finished in a time of 24:14 minutes and Pieter Steinmann, who finished in 33:22 minutes.
Two of the club’s swimmers took part in another race – a 1,5 km swim at the Benoni Sailing Club at Homestead Lake on Sunday, 27 January.
Bianca Janeke finished in a time of 28:35 minutes and Minke Rheeder in a time of 38:38.
‘All our swimmers did what was expected of them and made our coach, Oom Gerrie very proud. The last training event for the Midmar Mile will be at Buffelspoort Dam on 3 February,’ says Freese.