Province hosts first leg of gala series
The South African Grand Prix Gala Series 2016 is about to start, and this year, for the first time, Mpumalanga will host the first leg.
The country’s top swimmers, including Olympic medalists Chad le Clos and Cameron van der Burgh, are expected to take to the water of Van Riebeeck Park Swimming Pool in Mbombela on Saturday and Sunday.
According to Swimming South Africa, the country’s geographic isolation does not provide junior, youth, senior and elite swimmers with enough access to tough international competition.
The purpose of the Grand Prix is to provide senior elite athletes with additional local high level competition.
“As part of our long-term participant development program for 2016 and 2020, we have conceptualised the introduction of a South African Swimming Grand Prix to address the scenario of more high level competition for our local based athletes.”
The series is to comprise four two-day events, each to be hosted by a different SSA Affiliate. While the primary focus is on South African athletes, international swimmers would be able to compete.
“This would also allow for more South African athletes to experience tough racing conditions, in order to achieve their full potential.”
Approximately 100 of the top national standard and Olympic swimmers are expected to participate in the Mbombela event this weekend.
Aside from Le Clos and Van der Burgh, 2016 Olympic qualifiers Miles Brown and Aerton Sweeney are expected to participate. Ronel Bekker, who heads development at Mpumalanga Swimming, says it is an honour to be afforded the opportunity to host an event of this scope.
Emile van Veenhuyzen, president of Mpumalanga Province Swimming, notes that, should the event be a success, Mbombela will be able to host it again in the coming years.
The organisers invited everyone to attend the weekend sessions, and see Le Clos, “the fastest man in a swimming pool” in the flesh.
On both days the first-session heats will start at 12:00 and the finals at 18:00. Entry is R50 per person per session, a neccesity to cover the costs of hosting the event.
Mpumalanga Swimming is also hosting its Swimming South Africa training camp at Van Riebeeck Park until Friday January 8 where an estimated 90 swimmers will participate each day, and have the opportunity to train with the country’s top people.
The second leg of the Grand Prix Series will take place at Kings Park in Durban from February 5, the third leg at Newton Park in Port Elizabeth from February 19 and the final at Stellenbosch University from February 26. Enquiries: Ronel Bekker on bekker.ronel@gmail.com or 079-801-9209.
