On the 28th of February 2015 some of South Africa’s top open water swimmers competed in the Bridge House Mile at the Berg River Dam in the beautiful Franschhoek Valley of the Western Cape in South Africa.
More than 600 swimmers took part in this year’s competition which in its third year, was organised by Glacier by Sanlam, Skybound Capital and Bao Capital Sarl. It was supported by the Princess Charlene of Monaco Foundation and WWF, in association with Speedo.
The day started with a 200m fun swim for beginners, followed by a competitive 200m for juniors, a 400m inter school’s race and a 400m beginners swim.
For the more serious swimmers there was the main event, the full mile, with the elite swimmers racing separately and was fiercely contested.
The day prior to the races, the Princess Charlene of Monaco Foundation ran a development learn-to-swim clinic at the dam.
The 48 children that participated in the clinic were all from YEA (Youth Empowerment Action) and Haute Cabriere Farm. The children had all been participating in a swimming development programme, ran by Colleen de Villiers, that started in October 2014. Out of the 48 children, 27 of the group gained the expertise and confidence to challenge themselves Saturday and took part in the development 200m fun swim event.
The Princess Charlene of Monaco Foundation’s ambassador, Terence Parkin (Olympic silver medallist), Amy Kleinhans (former Miss South Africa and Bridge House Mile patron), Ryk Neethling (Olympic gold medallist), Theodore Yach (extreme open water swimmer), Colleen de Villiers (swimming coach) and the Foundation’s local project manager, Dominique Donner Rodd all participated in the clinic and the following day encouraged the young development swimmers during the competition.
© Fondation Princesse Charlène de Monaco
More than 600 swimmers took part in this year’s competition which in its third year, was organised by Glacier by Sanlam, Skybound Capital and Bao Capital Sarl. It was supported by the Princess Charlene of Monaco Foundation and WWF, in association with Speedo.
The day started with a 200m fun swim for beginners, followed by a competitive 200m for juniors, a 400m inter school’s race and a 400m beginners swim.
For the more serious swimmers there was the main event, the full mile, with the elite swimmers racing separately and was fiercely contested.
The day prior to the races, the Princess Charlene of Monaco Foundation ran a development learn-to-swim clinic at the dam.
The 48 children that participated in the clinic were all from YEA (Youth Empowerment Action) and Haute Cabriere Farm. The children had all been participating in a swimming development programme, ran by Colleen de Villiers, that started in October 2014. Out of the 48 children, 27 of the group gained the expertise and confidence to challenge themselves Saturday and took part in the development 200m fun swim event.
The Princess Charlene of Monaco Foundation’s ambassador, Terence Parkin (Olympic silver medallist), Amy Kleinhans (former Miss South Africa and Bridge House Mile patron), Ryk Neethling (Olympic gold medallist), Theodore Yach (extreme open water swimmer), Colleen de Villiers (swimming coach) and the Foundation’s local project manager, Dominique Donner Rodd all participated in the clinic and the following day encouraged the young development swimmers during the competition.
© Fondation Princesse Charlène de Monaco