The contest, the world’s largest open water swim, took place on 9 and 10 February. It consisted of a total of eight events, each of one mile, or 1,6 km long. They were divided between the two days.
Event one started at 08.15 on Saturday and was for swimmers taking part in the Graeme Pope-Ellis Biathlon, the Ironman or Ironwoman, disabled swimmers or those aged 71 or older.
To qualify for the Ironman/Ironwoman event, swimmers must have completed the 2018 Comrades Marathon and Dusi Canoe Marathon before taking on their Mile to round off their accomplishment. Annalisa Freese (Comrades Biathlon) completed this event in a time of 37:39 min.
Event two, the family relay, took place at 09:45 and the whole Carletonville team took part. Their times are Aaliyah Mabanga (42:33 min), Anja Kruger (44:43 min), Annalisa Freese (35:14 min), Ben van Niekerk (38:58 min), Caitlin Doran (29:39 min), Christophel Grove (56:36 min), Chrizelle Velloen (38:58 min), Divan Grove (27:44 min), Gerrie Grove (49:20 min), Kealeboga Khoza (30:07 min), Luyanda Mbadamana (42:12 min), Marisan Grove (44:44 min), Markus Homan (34:57 min), Mieke Grove (49:19 min), Olerato Maphangela (42:35 min), Rameez Mabanga (32:55 min), Sharlene van Niekerk (36:30 min), Sonja Kruger (51:35 min).
The final event of the day started at 12:15. This non-company relay was the perfect event for groups of friends. Ben van Niekerk completed it in 39:28 min, Bianca Janeke in 31:38 min; Diwan Wolfaardt, 35:12 min; Sharlene van Niekerk, 38:02 min and Tiaan Wolfaardt, 40:03 min.
Sunday morning kicked off with the swim for girls of 13 years and younger and women of 31 years and older. The results are Aaliyah Mabanga (44:43 min), Annalisa Freese (33:42 min), Minke Rheeder (40:25 min), Olerato Maphangela (43:27 min) and Sharlene van Niekerk (34:17 min).
At 09.45, it was the race for boys of 13 and younger and men of 31 and older. The results are Ben van Niekerk (39:20 min), Carsten Holfelder (33:57 min), Christophel Grove (59:01 min and Luyanda Mbadamana (36:24 min).
The competition reached fever pitch at 11:00 when the girls and women between 14 and 30 started their fast-paced stroke across Midmar Dam.
The results of this event are Bianca Janeke (29:09 min), Caitlin Doran (26:51 min) and Chrizelle Velloen (37:06 min). The finale of the weekend was the event for boys and men between 14 and 30 years old, which started at 12.15. It was completed by Divan Grove (30:07 min), Kealeboga Khoza (30:10 min), Markus Homan (33:14 min), Pieter Steinmann (41:10 min), Rameez Mabanga (31:30 min), and Diwan and Tiaan Wolfaardt in a time of 35:17 min.
Caitlin Doran, Chrizelle Velloen and Bianca Janeke showed their skill during the event.
