SA’s Van Rensburg takes Midmar on debut as Kiwi Clark wins sprint thriller
For the first time in Midmar Mile history, there was a tie for third in the women’s race
10 February 2025 - 15:02
byKarien Jonckheere
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Catherine van Rensburg wins the 2025 aQuellé Midmar Mile in Howick, KwaZulu-Natal on Sunday. Picture: DARREN STEWART
Catherine van Rensburg ensured there was an SA winner at this year’s aQuellé Midmar Mile, claiming top honours in the elite women’s race, while New Zealander Louis Clark edged out the local contingent in a thrilling finish to take the men’s title.
Competing in her first Midmar Mile, Van Rensburg led from the start, pulling away from the pack with teammate and lane-mate at Tuks Callan Lotter.
The duo battled choppy conditions to remain in front and it was Van Rensburg, who had reached all three hotspots at the 400m, 800m and 1,200m marks just ahead, who made the decisive move in the final metres to cross the finish in 19min 49sec to take the title.
Lotter was second in 20:06 and, for the first time in Midmar Mile history, there was a tie for third with 2022 champion Stephanie Houtman and New Zealand swimmer Ruby Heath crossing the finish in the same time of 20:32. Officials were unable to separate them even after reviewing video footage.
“This is my first Midmar race so I’m happy with it,” Van Rensburg said. “The conditions were a bit choppy but I just pushed through.
“Callan and I are best friends so we swim together the whole time and we just tried to push each other to see how far we could get.”
Lotter added: “It was quite tough with all the waves — you could hardly see where you were going so I was just trying to follow Catherine the whole way.”
Heath’s Kiwi compatriot Louis Clark took to the water in the elite men’s race. The duo had earned their tickets to the Midmar Mile by winning their respective 5km titles at the New Zealand national open water championships, thanks to an arrangement between race director Wayne Riddin and former SA national coach Graham Hill, who is now New Zealand’s Olympic coach and also a former winner at Midmar.
Clark, who is a world champion in life-saving, put his ocean swimming skills to good use in the rough conditions, admitting he was grinning broadly when he saw the waves in the dam. He took the challenge to the strong pack of South Africans, surging ahead at the 400m, 800m and 1,200m marks to claim the hotspot prizes.
A group of six swimmers were still in contention for the title in the final 400m of the race and it all came down to a frantic final sprint — Clark showing his experience to take the win in 19:07 in one of the closest men’s races in Midmar history.
Henré Louw was runner-up, finishing just 2sec back with Matthew Caldwell third in 19:12.
“I got to about the last gate [1,200m] and thought, ‘I’m feeling pretty good, I think it’s time to go’, so I put the foot down and tried to leave everybody. It worked and I held on for dear life at the end,” Clark said.
Louw said it was a “tough race and a lot of fun”.
“My tactic was to go out strong and try to stay in front but Louis had a really good tactic. He stayed in the slip well so it was competitive in tough conditions.”
Earlier, two-time Olympic gold medallist and 2023 Midmar champion Sharon van Rouwendaal decided to swim in the 31-40 age category rather than in the main race, winning easily in 20:15.
There were several milestones celebrated as Gary Albertyn completed his 20th Midmar Mile, winning the men’s 51-60 age category.
Also receiving a rousing welcome on the banks of Midmar Dam was 87-year-old Paul Chalupsky, the oldest finisher of the race, who swam his first mile with his son Oscar, the 12-time world surfski champion and cancer activist.
Support our award-winning journalism. The Premium package (digital only) is R30 for the first month and thereafter you pay R129 p/m now ad-free for all subscribers.
SA’s Van Rensburg takes Midmar on debut as Kiwi Clark wins sprint thriller
For the first time in Midmar Mile history, there was a tie for third in the women’s race
Catherine van Rensburg ensured there was an SA winner at this year’s aQuellé Midmar Mile, claiming top honours in the elite women’s race, while New Zealander Louis Clark edged out the local contingent in a thrilling finish to take the men’s title.
Competing in her first Midmar Mile, Van Rensburg led from the start, pulling away from the pack with teammate and lane-mate at Tuks Callan Lotter.
The duo battled choppy conditions to remain in front and it was Van Rensburg, who had reached all three hotspots at the 400m, 800m and 1,200m marks just ahead, who made the decisive move in the final metres to cross the finish in 19min 49sec to take the title.
Lotter was second in 20:06 and, for the first time in Midmar Mile history, there was a tie for third with 2022 champion Stephanie Houtman and New Zealand swimmer Ruby Heath crossing the finish in the same time of 20:32. Officials were unable to separate them even after reviewing video footage.
“This is my first Midmar race so I’m happy with it,” Van Rensburg said. “The conditions were a bit choppy but I just pushed through.
“Callan and I are best friends so we swim together the whole time and we just tried to push each other to see how far we could get.”
Lotter added: “It was quite tough with all the waves — you could hardly see where you were going so I was just trying to follow Catherine the whole way.”
Heath’s Kiwi compatriot Louis Clark took to the water in the elite men’s race. The duo had earned their tickets to the Midmar Mile by winning their respective 5km titles at the New Zealand national open water championships, thanks to an arrangement between race director Wayne Riddin and former SA national coach Graham Hill, who is now New Zealand’s Olympic coach and also a former winner at Midmar.
Clark, who is a world champion in life-saving, put his ocean swimming skills to good use in the rough conditions, admitting he was grinning broadly when he saw the waves in the dam. He took the challenge to the strong pack of South Africans, surging ahead at the 400m, 800m and 1,200m marks to claim the hotspot prizes.
A group of six swimmers were still in contention for the title in the final 400m of the race and it all came down to a frantic final sprint — Clark showing his experience to take the win in 19:07 in one of the closest men’s races in Midmar history.
Henré Louw was runner-up, finishing just 2sec back with Matthew Caldwell third in 19:12.
“I got to about the last gate [1,200m] and thought, ‘I’m feeling pretty good, I think it’s time to go’, so I put the foot down and tried to leave everybody. It worked and I held on for dear life at the end,” Clark said.
Louw said it was a “tough race and a lot of fun”.
“My tactic was to go out strong and try to stay in front but Louis had a really good tactic. He stayed in the slip well so it was competitive in tough conditions.”
Earlier, two-time Olympic gold medallist and 2023 Midmar champion Sharon van Rouwendaal decided to swim in the
31-40 age category rather than in the main race, winning easily in 20:15.
There were several milestones celebrated as Gary Albertyn completed his 20th Midmar Mile, winning the men’s 51-60 age category.
Also receiving a rousing welcome on the banks of Midmar Dam was 87-year-old Paul Chalupsky, the oldest finisher of the race, who swam his first mile with his son Oscar, the 12-time world surfski champion and cancer activist.
2025 Midmar Mile results
Top 10 women:
Top 10 men:
Midmar Mile media
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