News Headlines

The 2011/12 open water swimming Series is launched with the announcement that Cirrus Healthcare Products will be the Title sponsor for the 2011/12 Season. The Cirrus Bio-Ears Swim Challenge Series will consist of 5 race weekends between October 2011 and April 2012 and includes the EP OWS Championships at the end of January. aQuellé will be the hydration sponsor for the Series whilst Eco car and van hire will provide logistical support.

Jessica Roux was the swimming sensation at the 2011 EP Open Water Swimming championships held at Marina Martinique over the weekend, claiming gold in both the 10km and 5km events. The EP 10km championships was not without drama as early leader and pre-race favourite, Chris van de Sande, withdrew after 6km. Van de Sande who held a narrow lead over Roux and visiting Gauteng swimmer Zoe Venter, complained of a tight chest and breathing difficulties which forced him out of all championship races over the weekend. Roux fought off a brave challenge from Venter, eventually dropping her after the 6km mark and extending her lead throughout to win in a very fast the 10km in a time of 2hr 07min and 2 secs from Venter with Michael Marais, the leading male swimmer, in 3rd place and claiming his 2nd successive 10km Mens title.

Roux's 5km Jeffreys Bay News Swim was similar to the 10km, leading from the front and holding off the Venter challenge to win in 1hr 4min, 40 seconds ahead of Venter with Roux's younger brother, Jonathan taking the men's EP 3km title in 1hr 5min from Marais and Border swimmer Edward Johannisen whilst Lise-Mari Goosen got the bronze in the ladies division. The Jones brothers, Wayne and Jason dominated the 3km Cirrus Swim with Wayne winning in 39min 9sec from older brother Jason with Johannisen claiming 3rd place whilst Jamie-Lee Schlemmer won the ladies race finishing in 6th place overall in 39min 54sec. Goosen placed second and Caro de Jager 3rd.

Unofficial shorter distance races were also held over the weekend with Schlemmer winning the 1km Training Edge Gym swim from De Jagern and Jeffreys Bay swimmer Seth de Swart whilst the locals dominated the 500m swim with Marius du Toit winning from Danie and Pieter Ellis. Rebecca Baard won the girls 500m race from Michelle Strydom and Elze Cilliers. In the kids Bank to Bank swim for the 10 and under's, it was Tristan Zoetmulder from Kaylyn Wooding and Jan-Daniel Cilliers.

In the Cirrus 3km swim, Keenan April took line honours in (41:28), followed by Kurt Van staden (41:56) and JC Van Wyk (44:34) whilst Tarryn Els (44:15) won the ladies race from Caro De jager (44:46) and Anze Zeelie (44:46). The top 8 men and top 7 ladies all qualified with the required standard of 50min and 52min respectively whilst 65 year old Elsa Craig swam another SA Colours qualifying time for the 60 and over Masters age group when she finished 19th overall in a time of 55min 04sec.

Nick Reen took the 1km gold medal in a time of 15:38 from Jesse Hillhause (16:22) and Ludeke Niehaus (17:32) whilst Nepo Ntsono (16:25) took the girls 1km title from Stephani Le roux (16:37) and Anja Franzsen (18:46).

Despite windy and wet conditions at Marina Martinique in Jeffreys Bay this morning, there was a great turnout for the 3rd round of the EPA Swim Challenge Series.

In unstoppable form at the moment is Grey High School's Chris van de Sande who absolutely dominated the Jeffreys Bay News 5km Swim, leading from start to finish over the 5 laps. Van de Sande's time of 1hr 6 min was well within the SA qualifying time of 1hr 15min. Also within the qualifying times were 2nd placed Andrew Fisher (1hr 7min) and 3rd placed Hanre Barnard (1hr 8min) whilst the top 5 ladies all finished within their qualifying standard of 1hr 10min, being led by Lise-mari Goosen (1:10:01), Rebecca Newman (1:10:44), Chrislie Niehaus (1:11:31), Chane De jager (1:16:09) and Danielle Fourie (1:18:55).

Once again Chris van de Sande showed the great form that he is in this season with an uncontested win in the Jeffreys Bay News 5km Swim at Round 2 of the EPA Swim Challenge Series on Sunday. On the Saturday Michael Marais kept his unbeaten streak in the 10km distance with Rebecca Newman in 2nd and Brenton Williams in 3rd place. Full results on the Results page.

The open water swim season in the Eastern Cape got off to a flying start at Marina Martinique this month when no less than 19 swimmers posting South African national qualifying times.

Springbok open water star Jessica Roux led the charge by swimming under 63 minutes in the 5 Km swim. Up and coming girl swimmers Lise-Mari Goosen and Chrislie Niehaus also swam 5 Km qualifying times.

Defending Marina Mile Champion Chris Van Der Sande continued his winning ways in the 5 Km, followed by Michael Marais, Jonathan Roux, and newcomer to open water Hanre Barnard all of whom also posted early season qualifying times.

In the 3 Km event medal winner at this year's SA Champs Wayne Jones got off to a good start and recorded a qualifying time as did younger brother Daniel.

In the Masters section, Medal winners at SA Champs. JC Van Wyk and Brenton Williams also got early season national qualifying times asd did Sanmari Woithe, Russel Tucker, Richden Jute and Denise Bosman. Ralph West who has just got back into the water following a shoulder injury was just outside the 53 minute barrier.

The next open water swim is the Gamtoos River Mile which takes place at the Ferry Hotel on Sunday. Online entries can be completed at http://www.xt-festival.co.za

Source: www.jbaynews.com

The Kouga Swim Club will be holding training swims every Friday afternoon at Marina Martinique. These sessions are open to non Club members. The 4 Pm session, which takes place at the LaCaribe flats will focus on technique and basic fitness while the 5 Pm session will be in the form of a long swim through the canals. Costs are R 50 per session and swimmers doing the 4 Pm session may stay for the 5 Pm at no additional cost. Email kougaswim@vodamail.co.za for more information.

17 year old Chris van de Sande proved too strong on the weekend, winning both the 5km (1:01:52) and Cirrus 3km (36:31) swims at the weekend.

5km Champions were van de Sande (open men), Jessica Roux (open ladies), Brenton Williams (40 - 49 Men), Russel Tucker (50+)

3km Champions were van de Sande (open men), Lise-Mari Goosen (open ladies), Daniel Jones (boys u13), JC van Wyk (40 - 49 Men), Sanmari Woithe (40 - 49 Ladies), Russel Tucker (50+ Men), Denise Bosman (50+ Ladies).

1km Champions were Wesley Weihahn (open men), Tarryn Els (open ladies), Seth de Swardt (boys u13), Els (girls u13), Neil Torrange (men 40 - 49) and Caroline Els (ladies 40 - 49).

500m champions were Pieter Ellis (boys) and Chantelle O'Kennedy (girls).

Michael Marais and Jessica Roux showed why they are the EP 10km champions with another excellent swim over the weekend, Marais winning the 10km in 2hrs 9min and Roux in 2hrs 12min.

Jessica Roux remained unbeaten in open water swimming in the Eastern Cape over the weekend when she won the women’s 10km and 3km swims at the inaugural Eastern Province Open Water Swim Champs held at Marina Martinique.

Michael Marais won the men’s 10 K event with both Roux and Marais recording South African national 10 K qualifying times. After the race Roux said the swim was tough but she was happy with her time and was looking forward to the South African National Championships that will be held in Durban in April.

It was a busy Sunday morning for the Roux family at the 4th round as they dominated the morning’s proceedings.

Eldest sibling Jessica Roux led the 5km swim from start to finish to remain unbeaten in the ladies category of the 5km event whilst younger brothers Jonathan (3km) and Matthew (Kids 10u) also enjoyed unchallenged victories.

Rebecca Newman placed 2nd in the 5km ahead of Kouga Swim Club Coach, Brenton Williams.

JC van Wyk and Richden Jute took Men's 2nd and 3rd in the 3km with Chrislie-Thandi Niehaus winning the ladies race from Tammy Geyer and Francesca Pedrosa.

Dominic Greef continues to dominate the 1km swims with another fine win from Brad Moolman and veteran swimmer Brenton Williams. In the ladies 1km race it was Tammy Geyer from Francesca Pedrosa and Caro de Jager.

Christopher van de Sande and Jessica Roux dominated Round 3 of the Series held at Marina Martinique on Wednesday with unchallenged wins in the 3km and 1km distances.

Full results available from the results tab.

Young EP swimmer Chris van de Sande showed that he's back in top form with some excellent Swim SA qualifying times in the 3km and 5km distances on Sunday despite losing his swimming googles have way through the race. Byron Lockett and Michael Marais won the remaining medals in the Men's 5km race whilst Jessica Roux won the ladies 5km from Rebecca Newman.

Kouga Express newspaper, based in Jeffreys Bay and part of the Media 24 stable has announced a R150,000 media sponsorship of the inaugural EP Open Water Swim Series.

This coverage will effectively give the series, and open water swimming a huge boost not only in the Kouga region, but the entire Eastern Cape as the sponsorship will include news on all open swim events in the province. Make sure you collect your complimentary copy of the Kouga Express at all the events at the Ocean Racing Series as well as the EP Open Water Swim Series.

Tavcor VW in Port Elizabeth has confirmed their support of open water swimming in the Eastern Cape by backing the Eastern Province Open Water Swimming Series this season.

The Kouga swim club will be holding a training session at 15h15 on Friday 23rd Oct if anyone would like to test out the course for Sunday's race. Meet at the Start/Finish area at 3pm or contact Brenton Williams on 083 549 6795 for further information

The new Eastern Cape open water general purpose website has been launched to give interested swimmers up to speed with what's happening on the open water scene in Nelson Mandela Bay