Swimmers compete in mile swim

GRAAFF-REINET NEWS - On Sunday morning, 17 February, nine Union High School swimmers participated in the 95th annual Spar Sunday’s River Mile.

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The race is the oldest known open water swimming event in Africa and one of the oldest in the world. Event winners can be tracked all the way back to the first race which was won by Roy Gregory in 1924.

While the swim last year was exceptionally tough, the excellent conditions this year saw the Union swimmers slashing their times with an average of around 15 to 20 minutes all round.

As the incoming tide started pushing through, a field of 214 women took to the water in a flurry of splashing limbs. Following up on her success from last year, Hannah Bodenstein was Union’s first female swimmer home in a spectacular time of 20 minutes and 20 seconds.

Hot on her heels was Amber Binney who crossed the finish line a mere 2 seconds later, despite sustaining a gash to her foot in the process. Drew Dobinson followed shortly after with a time of 23 minutes, with Kelly-Page Scott, Brigette Oelofsen and Elia Railton all exiting the water in under 25 minutes.

The perfect conditions held as the group of 237 men began their race.

The pushing tide helped the swimmers set a blistering pace and Union’s three boys completed the race in good time - all crossing the finish line in under 25 minutes.

Mack Rubidge powered through the course in an incredible 18 minutes, while Damon Fouché and Schea Johnson finished in 23 and 24 minutes respectively.

Damon Fouché finished in 23 minutes.