Hollywood Good

More than 16 000 swimmers are expected to take to the water this weekend in the Halfway Toyota Midmar Mile, recognised by the Guinness Book of Records last year as the largest open-water event of its kind.

Race director Wayne Riddin said this year's event, the 37th edition of the race, would see the strongest collection of international competitors challenging the country's top open-water swimmers at Midmar Dam in the Midlands.

Ridden said the British team arrived on Thursday and the German team would arrive on Friday afternoon.

"The international swimmers will definitely be competing for the top 10 positions in both the men's and women's races and it will be very hard for our local swimmers to top them."

With more than 14 500 entries processed by yesterday afternoon, Riddin said he was confident the final number would top 16 000, spread over the eight races tomorrow and Sunday.

"We are expecting more than 3 000 late entries, which will take the number of swimmers above 16 000."

A highlight tomorrow will be the inaugural Double Mile Swim (3.2km), sponsored by Sportsguide and aimed at triathletes training for the Ironman SA 2010 in Port Elizabeth in April.

The speciality race permits the use of wetsuits.
Deaf Olympian Terence Parkin will attempt to swim each of the eight main events both ways, making eight Double Miles, as a fundraiser for the St Vincent School for the Deaf in Gauteng.

Riddin said there would be plenty of entertainment on offer at the event