Clear skies to swim a mile
The 25th Ebenezer Mile at the Mountain Yacht Club was an unprecedented success marked by one of the sunniest days ever as 354 swimmers joined in the challenge.
HAENERTSBURG – From the slick Haenertsburg Rotary organisation skills, to their entertaining and informative MC, Morris Stander, and finally to the clear as crystal voice of Amy Taylor who announced the winners.
The excitement began with the skirl of pipes from African Skye piper Ian Houston. Above, one could hear what sounded like the buzzing of a million bees, but it was the buzz of two drones that followed the swimmers’ progress in the water.
Onlookers perused the stalls to buy perfect Westfalia avocados, pancakes and other foods and drinks.
Letaba SPCA, with head honcho Ellie Potgieter and her volunteers, grinned broadly as they sold their record-breaking 400th meal for the animals. Rotarians on the barge worked hard to ensure correct procedure was followed during the Ebenezer Mile.
The winners of the Ebenezer Mile were:
Brandon Thysse (19) with a time of 00:39:03 and Sulé van der Merwe (18) with a time of 00:39:15. Sulé also won a floating trophy for setting a new record for women 14-30 years old which was previously 00:22:04.
Abdul Malick Railoun, another one of the competitors, was awarded a floating trophy for the fastest mile in 00:19:42.
Justin Winnan and Leon Roode also won prizes for swimming in all the events totaling 7,8 km.
Without the sponsors, this major event on the swimming calendar would not have been possible. Thanks go to Smit Garrun Insurance Brokers, Clemengold,Steven’s Lumber Mills, CallSave, ANB Investments, Du Roi Nursery, Kirk Group, MC Brokers, The Fruit Farm Group, Hollard Insurance, The Door Group, CJ Accountants, Applegrange Farm, MGM Motors (Landrover) Polokwane, NTK Tzaneen, Dr Ryszard Gorbaszewicz, Matumi Sawmills, Haenertsburg Hardware, Pot ‘n Plow, Tradesure Underwriting Specialists, Westfalia, Rodney Cooper Estates, Magoebaskloof Hotel, Mountain Café, Lepelle Northern Water, Powerade, Fabric & Curtains Tzaneen, Voltex Tzaneen, Mango Magic Dehydration, BB Motors Tzaneen, Magoebaskloof Canopy Tours and Mica/Lighthouse.
sue.ettmayr@gmail.com
