PLETTENBERG BAY SPORT NEWS - The Garden Route’s biggest annual family sporting event, the Sabrina Love Ocean Challenge presented by Discovery, promises two days of fun and outdoor sport this December for the thousands of entrants who will flock to Plettenberg Bay to participate.
Now in its 16th year, the event is a highlight on the picturesque town’s annual summer holiday calendar and this year’s Challenge is set to thrill and delight active families.
The 2018 Ocean Challenge will consist of eight events over two days and dates have reverted to 27 and 28 December due to popular demand.
The glorious locations - Plettenberg Bay and Crags - remain, with two stunning venues: Central Beach and the pristine Kurland Estate.
Day one will see the Ocean Challenge open water swim, surf ski, road and beach run, and family walk on Central Beach.
On day two, competitors and spectators will head to Kurland for the mountain bike cycle, trail run, and Kids of Steel Adventure Race.
The full programme is as follows:
THURSDAY 27 DECEMBER – Central Beach, Plettenberg Bay
6.30am: 10km Road and Beach Run – Longstone Park
7.30am: 15km Surf Ski Single & Double – Central Beach
8.30am: Fun Beach Walk – Central Beach
9.00am: 1 Mile Ocean Swim – Central Beach
FRIDAY 28 DECEMBER – Kurland Estate, The Crags
7:00am: 10km Trail Run
7.30am: 6km Trail Run
8.30am: 25km MTB Ride
10.30am: Kids of Steel Adventure Race (swim and run - age 6-12 years)
All money raised from entries goes directly to the Sabrina Love Foundation which cares for children with special needs in the Bitou area of the Garden Route.
Established in 2004 by Suzy and Tony Lubner in memory of their precious daughter who was born with a rare bone disorder, the Sabrina Love Foundation provides medical and professional support for children with special needs and their families, with a holistic programme for every child under its care.
Where possible, the children are provided with equipment and caregivers so that they can attend mainstream schools and integrate into everyday society. For those children requiring full-time care, a day care centre and school, Die Sterreweg, is fully equipped with therapeutic equipment, permanent trained staff, a cook following a delicious, scientifically designed menu, and professional occupational and physiotherapists. Die Sterreweg is recognised nationally as a centre of excellence and a model for other special needs centres.
The Foundation educates and provides coping skills to parents and creates awareness within the community about the need to integrate special needs children into society.
As the main fundraising initiative for the Foundation, the Sabrina Love Ocean Challenge has grown from just 25 participants in its first year to over 4,000 in 2017. Thanks to sponsorship from Discovery, 100% of entry fees go to the charity,
Designed for the average active family as well as top athletes in their disciplines, the event has attracted numerous celebrity sports stars over the years, including the Mocke brothers, Gary Player, Bruce Fordyce and Natalie du Toit.
This year, participants will race against three Sabrina Love Ambassadors and spectators will get the chance to watch Chad Ho, Dawid Mocke, and Chantel Nienaber in action.
Olympian Chad Ho is expected to claim yet another Sabrina Love Ocean title. He is current world champion in the 5km open water event and considered to be one of the fastest professional open water swimmers in the world, having won the overall series title at the 2010 FINA World Cup.
Dawid Mocke’s versatility and paddling prowess across the various paddling disciplines means that he is currently regarded as the best all-round paddler on the planet, with four World Series Championship titles under his belt.
Chantel Nienaber is one of South Africa’s top female trail runners and a well-known philanthropist. The woman who put pink Sabrina Love hot pants on the map will be guarding the front end of the race with her characteristic enthusiasm that makes her one of the country’s best loved trail running stars.
Online entries for all events will close at midnight on 25 December 2018. Entrants travelling from outside of Plett can collect their race packs on the morning of the event an hour before the start.
For more information about the Sabrina Love Foundation, go to www.sabrinalove.co.za. For event details and to enter, visit www.entrytickets.net/sabrina.
Set up a Support-A-Star profile online to raise funds for the Foundation’s special needs children whilst undertaking your challenge – your friends and family can be part of the magic by supporting your fundraiser! The brightest stars shine for the benefit of others.
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