Open Water Swimming
With spring well under way, the official open water swimming
calendar has been published by governing body, Swimming South Africa.
Enthusiasts have a bumper season to look forward to.
The well established format events coupled with some innovative actions
by affiliates and event organisers is sure to make the 2009 – 2010 open
water season a memorable one.
The program is well structured and allows all participants to follow
a concise pathway from development to the elite levels of this, the one
of the newest Olympic events.
Regionalised competition has taken on greater significance for the
forthcoming season and is planned to do so until at least 2012.
In the Gauteng region there is “The Elite Series” of events, in the
Eastern Cape, the highly successful SPAR Ocean Series, now entering its
fifth year, while the organisers of the Midmar Mile
have published a
list of seeding events. The affiliates in the Cape region are hoping to
have a “Coastal Series” encompassing Border, EP, WP and SWD. At the time
of going into press details were
still unavailable.
The re-introduction of the National Open Water Swimming squad system
is sure to excite many athletes as they strive to attain their
respective personal goals. The highlight for domestic competition will
be the third South African Open Water Swimming Championships.
The SA Open Water Championships begin on the 12th February 2010 at the
Midmar Dam where the 3km and 5km events will be contested on an
interprovincial basis. The 3km event will be open to masters and
disabled swimmers who meet the qualifying criteria and are registered
with the Federation.
By holding the 2010 SA Open Water Championships at the Halfway
Telkom Midmar Mile, this will afford many of the local swimmers a unique
experience with the opportunity to compete against an international
contingent of open water swimming athletes in a familiar environment for
the first time.
The 25km event will take place on the 15th February 2010 at the Midmar
Dam
The 10km event will be contested on the 17th April 2010 at the SA
National Aquatic Championships after the conclusion of the swimming
events.
This landmark decision will enable the foreign based athletes, all of whom are products of the system, the opportunity to return to South Africa and stake their claim for higher honours in the event which will conclude the championships.
While 2010 may see the soccer World Cup in South Africa, open water
swimming enthusiasts have the sixth World Open Water Swimming
Championships in Roberval, Canada, in July 2010 Pan Pacs in Irvine, USA,
in August 2010 to look forward to.
With this in mind and the sensational Chad Ho’s recent stunning bronze
medal performance at the 2009 Rome World Championships fresh in people's
minds, enthusiasts can look forward to some exciting and competitive
open water swimming in the months ahead.
EP Open Water Swim Series
Eastern Province Aquatics will host the first of several Open Water
Swimming events at the Marina Martinique, Jeffreys Bay.
The Open Water Series is sanctioned by Swimming South Africa and will
feature a 1km 3km 5km and 10km open water swim - see calendar below.
The Series, which is open to both registered and casual swimmers has an
entry fee of R60 per event and entries can be made on the morning of the
race or ideally online by clicking
here OR download an entry form
here.
EP Aquatics are looking to boost their open water swimming squads,
particularly in the older age group categories and would like to appeal
to everyone to support the event.
Please note that wetsuits are allowed but only registered swimmers who
are correctly attired with the FINA approved swimwear times will be be forwarded to Swimming South Africa database.
Race Day Information - 13 & 14 March 2010
PLEASE NOTE: Entries for all events CLOSE 15min before the scheduled
race start time. ALL swimmers who've entered online are to report for
registration at least 30min before the scheduled start times above to
get their number recorded.
A compulsory race briefing will take place at least 10 minutes before
the start and the scheduled start times above may be altered on the day.
Wetsuits will be permitted, but only swimmers wearing costumes and/or
FINA recognised swim suits will qualify for SSA times and/or prizes on
the day.
Age Group Categories:
10km Swim : Open
5km Swim : 14 - 39; Over 40; Over 50
3km Swim : 11 - 13; 14 - 39; Over 40; Over 50
1km Swim : 13 & Under; 14 - 39; Over 40; Over 50
Race Day Programme - 13 & 14 March 2010
| Event 1 | Saturday | 15h00 | 10km Mixed Swim No Entries on the day! |
| Event 2 | Sunday | 09h00 | 5km Mixed Swim |
| Event 3 | Sunday | 09h00 | 3km Mixed Swim |
| Event 4 | Sunday | 09h05 | 5km Beach Run |
| Event 5 | Sunday | 10h30 | Kids 500m Swim |
| Event 6 | Sunday | 10h45 | Kids 10 & Under Bank to Bank |
| Event 7 | Sunday | 11h00 | 1km Mixed Swim |
| Prize Giving will take place once the last swimmer is out of the water. | |||
Series Calendar
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Eastern Province Qualifying Criteria
Selection Criteria EP Open Water Swimming Squad
- An open water squad
consisting of a maximum of 6 girl and 6 boy swimmers
will be selected.
- The selectors are not
bound to make selections to ensure the squad consists of
12 swimmers.
- Swimmers will be part of
the EP open water swim squad for a two year period.
However, swimmers will only be part of the squad for one
year for the 09/10 swim season.
- Selection criteria for
the 10/11 swim squad will be based on performance,
swimming in sanctioned events and consistency at club
training.
- The open water squad
will be announced after the event being held at Jeffreys
Bay on 22 November 2009.
- The squad will attend
the WP Open Water Swim Champs being held in Cape Town on
05/06 December. The squad will also swim in other events
in Cape Town, George and Swim Challenge Series events
during the season.
- An EP OPEN WATER
SWIMMING TEAM will be selected to attend the SA Open
Water Swimming Nationals being held at the Midmar Dam in
KwaZulu Natal on Monday, 15 February 2010.
Qualifying times will have to be swum to be eligible. However, selection will not be based on qualifying times alone. Swimming in sanctioned events as well as consistency at club training will also form part of the selectors’ decision.
- An EP Masters Team will
also be selected to take part in the 3 km event at
Nationals as well as attend the WP Open Water Champs and
other events to be decided.
EP Squad Qualifying Criteria 2009 - 2010 Season
- Swim in 2 Ocean Racing
Series events prior to 22 November.
- Swim in at least one 5km
or one 3km event by 22 November.
EP Squad Qualifying Criteria 2010 - 2011 & 2011 - 2012 Season
- Swim in 2 Ocean Racing
Series events prior to 22 November.
- 3 x EP Open Water Swim
Series events.
- Attendance at other
events such as Redhouse River Mile, Marina Martinique
Mile.
- Attendance at training
camps and tours to swims outside the province.
- Times swum at the above
events will be taken into consideration for selection
purposes.
- A swimmer can be removed
from the squad by the selection committee for non
performance and not meeting the qualifying criteria
during the season.
- It will be the selection
committee’s prerogative to replace the swimmer or not
during the season in question.
- Should an up and coming
swimmer deserve selection to the squad during a 2 year
cycle, this selection will again remain the prerogative
of the selection committee.
- Only participation in the 3, 5 & 10 km distance events are considered when selecting the Eastern Province team to compete at the SA National Open Water Swimming Championships.
SA Open Water Swimming National Championships
National Open Water Qualifying Times
The list of qualifying times can be found by clicking here
The Ocean Racing Series
Started in January 2006, the Nelson Mandela Bay Ocean Racing Series
is one of the largest beachfront events in Africa and is unique to
Nelson Mandela Bay, Africa's water sport capital.
OPEN
TO
ALL, the Series offers an opportunity for open water swimmers, fun
runners, walkers and ocean paddlers to come together on a fortnightly
basis to take part in a world class fun event - without the requirement
of expensive equipment or specialist skills.
Come join thousands of like
minded people during Season 5. Race days are held mostly on alternate
Sunday mornings from October through to April 2010.
The Redhouse River Mile
The 2010 SPAR Redhouse River Mile, Africa’s oldest open water swimming
event, which is taking place over the weekend of 27/28 February is being
moved to Cannonville on the Sundays River due to dangerously high levels
of pollution in the Swartkops River.
“Not only the oldest, but still growing in stature with increasing entry
numbers year after year, the Redhouse River Mile has proved to be one of
the premium open water events on the domestic open water swimming
calendar.
There’s no doubt that this year’s event will live up to expectations and
continue to grow as well as a supported recreational open water swimming
event”, says Thian de Jager president of Eastern Province Aquatics.
The Midmar Mile
The Midmar Mile held at the Midmar Dam north of Pietermaritzburg in
Kwa-Zulu Natal is the world’s largest open water swimming event.
The
Midmar Mile draws thousands of competitors each year, both serious
international athletes and Olympic medallists to recreational swimmers.
The Midmar Mile swim gains its name from its location , The Midmar Dam
and its distance (+ / - one mile).
An unique feature of the race is that
while the distance covered is always a mile, depending on rainfall and
the water levels in the dam, the distance swum varies from year to
year. In years with poor rainfall, competitors are subject to the
infamous Midmar sprint start, a bedlam of bodies sprinting across the
muddy lake-shore and through the shallows until the water is deep enough
to swim.
The Sabrina Love Challenge
Sabrina Ocean Challenge 2009 is on! - Sponsored by Stonehage and
Discovery
27 & 28th of December 2009, Plettenberg Bay
Online entries for the 2009 Sabrina Love Ocean Challenge open from
October 1st 2009
Join the
Sabrina Love Ocean Challenge Facebook Group here
Who is going to ever forget Plett being blasted with hectic winds and
seas at last years Sabrina Love Ocean Challenge ? This may have forced
both the ocean swim and paddle to relocate to the Keurbooms River but
everything else went ahead as planned and best of all - mother nature
having a grumpy moment did not deter the day from being an absolute sell
out as a 1000 determined souls supported the incredible work the Sabrina
Love Foundation is doing for disabled kids in the Bitou Region.
Hot off the press: International wealth advisers Stonehage will be
joined by South Africa’s Discovery Health for the 2009 Sabrina Love
Ocean Challenge. The combined sponsorship from Stonehage and Discovery
Health will grow the event into a 2-day event with 7 different
disciplines. As in past years we guarantee that 100 % of your R 150.00
entry fee goes directly to the Sabrina Love Foundation.
What are the disciplines and the distances?
Sunday 27th December, Central Beach Plettenberg Bay
OCEAN SWIM: +/- 6 km (min. age: 12, unless swimming fit and accompanied
by an adult) - wetsuits are allowed!
The swim starts at Robberg Rocks and finishes at Central Beach. All
swimmers will be transported to the start venue in the morning. Swimmers
will be accompanied by the NSRI and safety paddlers with Shark Shield
Equipment.
OCEAN PADDLE: 15 km
(official category: singles; if you want to paddle in a double you can
do so, you will be timed and ranked, but don’t qualify for prizes)
The early Portuguese didn’t call this bay ‘Baia Formosa ‘ or the
beautiful bay for nothing. Paddling 15 km parallel to the coastline will
reward you with marvelous backdrops of the Outeniqua and Tsitsikamma
mountains. Start- and finish at Central Beach.
RUN: 10 km (defenitely less uphill than last year!)
A 10 km run through Plettenberg Bay’s scenic town - starting and
finishing at Central Beach.
And for the not so competitive:
BEACH FUN WALK: +/-3 km (no times taken)
Monday 28th December, Cape Nature at the Keurbooms River
SABRINA 1 MILE SWIM: 1 Mile in the Keurbooms River
25 km MTB: A scenic and challenging MTB ride through indigenous and
plantation forest.
SABRINA KIDS OF STEAL: A Duathlon for the younger ones (6-10 years). 1
km run and 100 meter swim. (no times taken)
What is the format and entry fees?
You enter up to 3 of the above disciplines and compete as an individual.
Cost:
Any 1 discipline = R 150 for adults
Any 2 disciplines = R 250 for adults
Any 3 disciplines = R 300 for adults
Children (12 and younger) = R 100 per discipline
Late entries (26th - 28th of December at Main Beach): R180 (13 and
older)/ R130 (1-12 years).
Entry fees go 100% to the Sabrina Love Foundation to help children with
physical disabilities.
How can I enter as an individual?
Enter online or come to Central Beach to our Sabrina Love Ocean
Challenge branded Trailer. Our trailer will be at Central Beach from
December 18 until December 26 and will sell entry tickets as well as
other beautiful Sabrina Love Ocean Challenge branded items. Come and
have a look and maybe find some nice Christmas presents that serve a
good cause - 100% of the proceeds go to the Sabrina Love Foundation.
Amongst other items there will be T-shirts, Caps, Beach Umbrellas, Beach
Balls and Beach Bats… Don’t miss it - there is limited stock!
How can I enter as a business?
Download the Corporate Entry Form (pdf, 40kb), print it out and enter
all your employees, family and friends and win a company breakfast at
Buffalo Hills. Once entered all the participants in any of the
disciplines, please fax or email the form to us! (Fax:0866517409 or
info@magneticsouth.net). Invoices on request available.
When is registration?
Registration will be on Saturday 26th of December and Sunday, the 27th
of December from 2 pm-7pm (venue to be confirmed).
What time do the races start?
27th of December
06:30am Run starts from Central Beach
07:30am 15 km Ocean Paddle starts from Central Beach
09:00am 6km Ocean Swim starts from Robberg Beach End (busses start
leaving Central Beach from 7.00am)
09:05am 3 km Walk starts from Central Beach
28th of December
07:00am MTB starts from Cape Nature, Keurbooms
12:00pm Sabrina Kids of Steal from Cape Nature, Keurbooms
02:00pm Sabrina Mile from Cape Nature, Keurbooms
How will the race be timed?
All participants will be timed individually. (Except the Fun Beach Walk
and the Sabrina Kids of Steal).
Where can we stay?
Contact Plettenberg Bay
Tourism for accommodation.
Any questions?
Please contact Christine on
info@magneticsouth.net
O W S Menu
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S A OWS Calendar 2009/2010 |
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SA Champs Qualifying Events |
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EP Selection Criteria 2009/2010 |
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Eastern Province Rankings
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SSA Selection Criteria 2009/2016 |
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S A National OWS Championships |
Upcoming Events
| 07 Mar | Ocean Racing Series Race 10 |
| 14 Mar | EP Swim Series Race 6 |
| 21 Mar | Ocean Racing Series Race 11 |
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