Prizes galore at 16th Mile
FANTASTIC prizes are up for grabs for both competitive and leisure swimmers at this year’s Merrifield Mile, powered by feature sponsor Nedbank, taking place at Wriggleswade Dam on Sunday, March 4.
Generous sponsors have lined up to ensure winners in their categories are rewarded, either in cash or vouchers, and lucky draw prizes include a children’s bike from Cycle HQ and a Stand Up Paddle (SUP) package, from Aqua Marine Africa, valued at R10 000. And there’s an extra race – the TerraForce 250m, for swimmers over the age of eight – added to the day’s proceedings, so there are even more chances to win big.
For the competitive swimmers, Nutriwell has donated R8000 in cash prizes for the winners in the 500m Dash and 1.6km Mile event. The overall winning male and winning female in the Mile will receive R2000 each, the runners up will receive R1 000 each. In the Dash, R500 will be awarded to the overall senior men and women winner, and R500 each to the overall junior girl and boy winner. TerraForce has sponsored cash prizes for the junior and senior winners in the TerraForce 250m event.
All swimmers stand a chance to win amazing prizes at the lucky draw that takes at the dam place after the events. In addition to the bicycle and SUP, there are vouchers from Vincent Park and Sportsmans Warehouse, travel vouchers from Let’s Travel and Kat Leisure, watches from Dennis Collins, hampers from Ola, and a rain tank from Eco Tanks.
There are also two prizes for the school with the most entries, both at primary and high school level.
“Our generous sponsors have definitely come to the party and swimmers, fast or slow, stand a good chance of walking away with something amazing for their efforts,” Merrifield Mile organiser and Merrifield marketing manager Tracey Mangold said.
In addition to the fastest men and women in the water, category winners will receive prizes in vouchers to the value of R500. These vouchers have been sponsored by Vincent Park Shopping Centre and Sportsman’s Warehouse.
There are four events on offer – the flagship 1.6km Mile, the 500m Dash, the Spur Splash for children 8 years and under, and the brand new TerraForce 250m, for swimmers 8 years and older. Entries are open and available online at
www.merrifieldmile.co.za, and can also be done at Cycle HQ, Sportsmans Warehouse and at Merrifield School. Online entries close on Friday, 2 March, at noon. Swimmers can register and enter at the school on Saturday, 3 March, between 9am and 1pm, and at the dam on the day, but will pay a late entry penalty. Entries cost R110 for the Dash, the Mile and the TerraForce 250m, and R80 for the Splash, or R150 late entry. Swimmers receive a T-shirt, swimming cap, timing chip and goody bag.
Wriggleswade Dam is located 65km outside East London off the N6, and swimmers and spectators should aim to arrive around 9am, with the events starting from 11am. The event is organised and hosted by Merrifield Prep School and College.