3 Beaches Challenge will highlight Bay beachfront

NELSON Mandela Bay ocean swimmers, surf-ski paddlers and surf lifesavers are in for a treat on Sunday when hundreds of them are expected to take part in the City Lodge Hotels group 3 Beaches Challenge. Top EP triathlete and undefeated 3 Beaches women's champion, Liza Bright, is the favourite for Sunday morning as she is in top shape at the moment. Bright, who won in 2012 and last year, has had a great season so far which also saw her defending her unbeaten status in the December sprint distance About IT Triathlon Summer Series. Among the favourites for the men's title this year will be Bright's 32GI team partner Michael Kingston. The event starts from Pollok Beach at 9am and will see teams and individuals taking part in a four-stage race stretching between Pollok and Kings beaches. "We have three different categories, for the swimmers, surf lifesavers and paddlers," event organiser Mike Zoetmulder of Zports said. "We are offering something different to bring all water sport codes together while showcasing the beachfront." The swimming category includes individuals and teams of two or four participants. A number of top triathletes and ironman contenders have entered in the individual category, which will see them covering the 3.2km swim between Pollok Beach and Kings Beach, coming ashore at Hobie Beach and Humewood Beach before coming out at Kings Beach and running the 3km stretch back to Pollok. Zoetmulder said the objective of the event, which has been backed by the City Lodge Hotel group since inception in 2012, was to have a competition which offered diversity for the marine sportsmen and also highlights the magnificent beachfront which Port Elizabeth had. He said the challenge was also perfectly positioned to help those who would take part in the Ironman competition on April 6. More than 100 participants have already entered for the event and organisers have confirmed that the first 120 finishers will each receive a finishers' medal and a finishers' pack courtesy of News Cafe.