Spreading love around

PLETTENBERG BAY NEWS - This year's popular annual Sabrina Love Ocean Challenge was the biggest and most successful edition to date with nearly 3 000 entries over the three days between 27 and 30 December 2019.

And it was not only action on the sports front, but participants managed to raise close to R1-million for the Sabrina Love Foundation.

These funds will go towards caring for children with special needs in the Bitou area of the Garden Route.

Eleven events had participants running, paddling, swimming and cycling at Plettenberg Bay's Central Beach and the beautiful Kurland Estate just outside the coastal holiday town.

This year saw the trail runs and MTB races split over two days and the introduction of two new events to get participants moving more. A 21km trail run and a 45km MTB race, through the pristine forests and fynbos landscapes of Kurland Estate, both proved immensely popular. People turned out in their droves to support these events as well as the 10km beach and road run, the Splash & Dash paddling challenge, the beach walk to the Sabrina wishing well, the 1 mile ocean swim, the 6km and 10km trail runs and the Kids of Steel adventure trail run.

Sabrina Love Foundation ambassadors from around the country were in Plett to support the events with Olympic swimmer Chad Ho competing in the ocean swim, trail runner Chantel Nienaber coming second in the new 21km trail run, Dawid Mocke and his son Sam winning the Splash & Dash, and XTERRA world champion Bradley Weiss coming second in the 10km beach and road run.

Owners and founders of the Sabrina Love Foundation, Tony and Suzy Lubner, said they loved the new formula. "Splitting the trail running and mountain biking events over two days gave participants the opportunity to do both events," said Tony. "It is always lovely to see family members walking and running together and collecting their Sabrina medals at the finish line.

"We were very fortunate with the weather and every single event ran seamlessly. For me, the most important thing was having so many people on the beach and at Kurland that just get what this event is all about and the impact that it has not only on our kids with disabilities, but on our entire community."

Participants in the Splash & Dash paddling challenge.