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Bay swimmer goes distance to win Open Water Challenge
Girl power came to the fore as Port Elizabeth's gutsy Rebecca Newman outgunned her male opposition to win the Eastern Cape's inaugural 25km open water championships.
It's definitely about challening myself and seeing how far I can push my body, said the elated 18-year-old Swimcats long distance swimmer this week, just days after winning the guelling swim held at Marina Martinique near Jeffreys Bay. 
The event was part of the Steers Marina Mile, which also featured a 10km, mile and double mile races in the holiday village's picturesque canals, where competitors in the marathon event swam 10 lamps of 2.5km each.
Rebecca completed the swim in a time of seven hours, 17 minutes and 15 seconds. Jeffreys Bay's Brenton Williams, who was the only other finisher in the five, came home in 7:53.14, while South African champion Tyron Venter pulled out of the race after six laps due to a shoulder aggravation.
"I am so chuffed at my win," Rebecca said, explaining that after completing anumber of 10km swims, she had been prepared to test her body on the longer distance. "I have quite a tough training schedule, but plenty of support from my family and friends. This race was mentally demanding because you have little other stimulus other that the water, your breathing and strokes."
Rebecca, who has just completed Grade 12 at Alexander Road High School, has accumulated a string of swimming and other sporting successes.
She was awarded school colours for swimming every year since 2006, having competed in a wide variety of swimming events of various distances, which included pool and open water races.
This year, among other achievements, she won the Winter Nando's Ocean Racing Series, came second in the Eastern Province 100 metre butterfly championships and achieved first, third and fourth positions in the Weekend Post Ocean Racing Series which is currently running.