VENTER DOMINATES SERIES 1KM SWIM

Record numbers attended Sunday's aQuellé Ocean Racing Series with around 300 participants entered for the swim events alone.

While record numbers attended the 6th round of the aQuellé Ocean Racing Series on Sunday morning at Hobie Beach, Port Elizabeth, in near perfect conditions, the Series leaders are starting to dominate the leaderboard.

You Ian Venter claimed his 5th 1km Ocean Swim win to remain unbeaten this Season as over 500 entrants took part in the first race for 2016. Venter was followed in by Jeffrey's Bay's Seth De Swardt with Joshua Bellairs in 3rd place whilst in the ladies 1km division it was Kirsten Marriott who claimed gold from Amy Mardon and Natalie Ogden.  

The most popular event on the morning was the 2km Ocean Swim with 140 entries and this was won Daniel Jones with Josh McGrath in 2nd and Jarryd Cooke 3rd whilst Antonelle Saporta won the ladies division from About IT Triathlon Summer Series champion Liza Kingston with Masters swimmer Denise Bosman in 3rd place. Dylan Smith won the 3km Ocean Swim with Wayne Jones and Merrick Fairall placing 2nd and 3rd respectively. In the 3km Ladies Swim it was Rebecca Newman from Brigitte Melly and Delwen Henderson.

On the beach the action was just as hot with Dylan Finlay extending his lead in the overall 5km beach run standings with another fine victory ahead of Njabulo Khumalo and Samkelo Tetyana whilst Tara Sacke took the ladies beach run from Sanet Owen and Lindi Van Tonder. In the 5km Beach Walk it was Grobbie Grobler from Juan Slabbert and Andrew Armstrong with Maritza Craig winning the ladies race from Belinda Niemand and Emily Stemmett. 
 
Open water swimming action for this weekend moves to Settlers Dam in Grahamstown for the 3rd round of the Nelson Mandela Bay Aquatics EC Swim Series which takes place on Sunday morning (see www.ecswim.co.za for further information). The aQuellé Ocean Racing Series returns for Round 7 on Sunday 24^th January. See www.oceanracingseries.com for full results and Series information.