Day: 20 Feb 2023

Sixteen Union swimmers – many of whom were newbies – participated in the 99th annual 𝗥𝗜𝗩𝗘𝗥 𝗠𝗜𝗟𝗘 at the Sundays River Cannonville Slipway this Sunday morning, 19 February, joining hundreds of other swimmers who competed in this year’s edition of Africa’s oldest open-water swimming event.

All our swimmers successfully completed the 1,6 kilometre swim in good spirits and in good time, with our last competitor crossing the finish line in the 35th minute.

The results are as follows:

Union Preparatory School, Graaff-Reinet swimmers:
• Grade 3 learner 𝗖𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗲 𝗗𝗮𝘃𝗲𝗻𝗽𝗼𝗿𝘁 finished the Ladies’ Mile 70th overall and 23rd in the 14 Years and Under category.
• 𝗔𝗹𝗹𝗶𝘀𝗼𝗻 𝗚𝗶𝗹𝗳𝗶𝗹𝗹𝗮𝗻 (Grade 4) crossed the finish line 78th overall in the Ladies’ Mile and 26th in the 14 Years and Under category.
• 𝗞𝗹𝗮𝗿𝗮 𝘃𝗮𝗻 𝗝𝗮𝗮𝗿𝘀𝘃𝗲𝗹𝗱 (Grade 4) came in 83rd overall and 27th in the 14 Years and Under category.
• 𝗘𝗺𝗺𝗮 𝗕𝘂𝗿𝗴𝗲𝗿 (Grade 4) finished 87th overall and 30th in the 14 Years and Under category.
Well done to Grade 4 learner 𝗗𝗮𝗻 𝗗𝗮𝘃𝗲𝗻𝗽𝗼𝗿𝘁 who finished the Men’s Mile 50th overall and 12th in the 14 Years and Under category.

Union High School, Graaff-Reinet swimmers:
• 𝗚𝗲𝗿𝗱𝗮 𝗖𝗹𝗮𝗿𝗸𝗲 came in 46th overall in the Ladies’ Mile and 17th in the 14 Years and Under category.
• 𝗦𝗮𝗺𝗮𝗻𝘁𝗵𝗮 𝗚𝗶𝗹𝗳𝗶𝗹𝗹𝗮𝗻 finished 77th overall and 25th in the 14 Years and Under category.
• 𝗠𝗶𝗹𝗲𝘆 𝗕𝘂𝗿𝗴𝗲𝗿 ended the race 85th overall and 28th in the 14 Years and Under category.
• 𝗥𝗲𝗯𝗲𝗰𝗰𝗮 𝗖𝗼𝗽𝗲𝗺𝗮𝗻 finished 69th overall and 22nd in the 14 Years and Under category.
• 𝗠𝗲𝗰𝗼𝗹𝗶 𝗩𝗼𝗿𝘀𝘁𝗲𝗿 crossed the finish line 47th overall in the Ladies’ Mile and 18th in the 14 Years and Under category.
• 𝗧𝘆𝗿𝗮 𝗕𝗶𝗻𝗻𝗲𝘆 finished 64th overall and 26th in the 15 to 29 Years category.
• 𝗕𝗿𝗶𝗴𝗲𝘁𝘁𝗲 𝗢𝗲𝗹𝗼𝗳𝘀𝗲𝗻 finished 65th overall and 27th in the 15 to 29 Years category.
• 𝗠𝗮𝘅 𝗣𝗿𝗶𝗰𝗲 came in 111th overall and 42nd in the 15 to 29 Years category.
• 𝗝𝘂𝗱𝗲 𝗟𝗮𝗻𝗴𝗺𝗲𝗮𝗱 came in 120th overall and 46th in the 15 to 29 Years category.
• 𝗔𝗝 𝗩𝗶𝗰𝘁𝗼𝗿 came in 121th overall and 47th in the 15 to 29 Years category.
• 𝗗𝗮𝗻𝗶𝗲𝗹 𝗠𝗮𝗿𝗮𝗶𝘀 finished 63rd overall and 28th in the 15 to 29 Years category.

Well done to UPS swimming coach, Mrs 𝗡𝗮𝘁𝗮𝗹𝗶𝗲 𝗗𝗮𝘃𝗲𝗻𝗽𝗼𝗿𝘁, who claimed 1st place in the 35 to 39 Years category. We also extend our thanks, once again, to Mrs 𝗞𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗲 𝗚𝗶𝗹𝗳𝗶𝗹𝗹𝗮𝗻, who swam behind our youngsters to make sure they crossed the finish line safely and to Mr 𝗠𝗲𝗹𝘃𝗶𝗻 𝗞𝗶𝘁𝗰𝗵𝘂 who transported all safely to and from Colchester.

𝙏𝙝𝙚 𝙨𝙘𝙝𝙤𝙤𝙡 𝙞𝙨 𝙚𝙭𝙩𝙧𝙚𝙢𝙚𝙡𝙮 𝙥𝙧𝙤𝙪𝙙 𝙤𝙛 𝙩𝙝𝙚𝙨𝙚 𝙨𝙬𝙞𝙢𝙢𝙚𝙧𝙨 𝙛𝙤𝙧 𝙩𝙝𝙚𝙞𝙧 𝙥𝙖𝙧𝙩𝙞𝙘𝙞𝙥𝙖𝙩𝙞𝙤𝙣 𝙞𝙣 𝙩𝙝𝙞𝙨 𝙚𝙫𝙚𝙣𝙩, 𝙚𝙫𝙚𝙣 𝙢𝙤𝙧𝙚 𝙨𝙤 𝙤𝙛 𝙩𝙝𝙚 ‘𝙣𝙚𝙬𝙗𝙞𝙚𝙨’ 𝙬𝙝𝙤 𝙚𝙣𝙩𝙚𝙧𝙚𝙙. 𝙒𝙚 𝙖𝙧𝙚 𝙖𝙡𝙨𝙤 𝙜𝙧𝙖𝙩𝙚𝙛𝙪𝙡 𝙩𝙤 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙢𝙖𝙣𝙮 𝙥𝙖𝙧𝙚𝙣𝙩𝙨 𝙬𝙝𝙤 𝙟𝙤𝙞𝙣𝙚𝙙 𝙪𝙨 𝙛𝙤𝙧 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙙𝙖𝙮.

Of course, a River Mile outing wouldn’t be complete without a visit to the Nanaga Farm Stall, where the learners and accompanying members of staff enjoyed the tasty home-made pies and roosterkoek on offer, before hitting the long road home.