SOUTH African open-water swimming sensation Chad Ho once again rewrote the aQuellé Midmar Mile record books after he swam to his fifth successive victory, while American Ashley Twichell narrowly edging out Brit Keri-anne Payne by just two seconds to win the ladies race.

It was the closest finish ever in the race, as Ho just pipped regular rival Troyden Prinsloo at the line. Last year, Ho became the first person in the event’s history to win four back-to-back titles, and after yet another enthralling clash with Prinsloo this year, stretched his remarkable record by one, causing some to call him the Fordyce of the Midmar Mile.

“I think I gave some people a bit of a heart attack towards the end there but I’m really happy to have taken the win,” said an elated Ho.

In the ladies race American Ashley Twichell confirmed her intention to defend her title in 2015. “I love this race. With the amount of travelling I do I have to pick and choose which races I focus on. This one is pretty far away from home but it’s one of my favourites,” said Twichell.

Payne opted to approach the 2014 race a little more socially before working hard in 2015 in preparation for the Rio Olympics, and chose to take on the 8 Mile Club charity challenge instead of focusing all her energies on the women’s title race.

uMhlanga’s Michelle Weber was the first local lady across the line. “When I said before the event I might finish in the top five, I didn’t know whether I actually even had it in me so I am just so stoked that I came third behind Ashley and Keri-anne who such great competitors,” said Weber.