ABOUT 1700 people took part in the sixth annual two-day Sabrina Love Ocean Challenge in Plettenberg Bay yesterday and Sunday, when international sports stars swam, paddled, cycled, ran and walked alongside holidaymakers.

Event director Mark Collins, of Magnetic South, said the number of entrants was almost double the 900 of last year.

“We believe this event will continue to grow, not only because of its great atmosphere and challenging events but also because it raises much-needed funds for a touching cause.”

Yesterday, Plettenberg Bay local and South African mountain bike champion Kevin Evans won the first 25km Mountain Bike Race in 56 minutes and 55 seconds, followed a second later by MTN Energade team-mate Jay Thomson. Christine Woods won the women’s division in 01:15:01, with Dawn Herbit second in 01:18:19.

Paralympic gold medallist Natalie du Toit watched from the sidelines as her competitor in Sunday’s 6km ocean swim, Olympic long-distance swimmer Chad Ho, took the honours in the one-mile swim in the Keurbooms Lagoon in a time of 19:53. All Africa Games medallist Dominique Dryding was second overall and first in the women’s swim with a time of 20:34. Du Toit was unable to participate due to an infection from a spider bite but signed autographs.

The Sabrina Kids of Steel duathlon, a 1km run and 100m swim challenge for children under 10, was an untimed event and drew 110 participants.

Central Beach was the setting for Sunday’s events where a 6km ocean swim saw Du Toit, and Ho head-to-head in perfect conditions. Ho beat Du Toit by 43 seconds in a time of 58:09 with Du Toit second overall and first in the women’s division in 58:52. Before the swim, Du Toit urged the other competitors to “have fun and remember the Sabrina Love message of hope”.

Olympic paddler and Plettenberg Bay local Michelle Eray won the women’s 15km surf-ski event in 01:16:54 and Steph le Roux won the men’s event in 01:12:05.

Comrades Marathon legend Bruce Fordyce hosted the 10km run – won by Marius Schechter in 42:01 and Michelle Williams in 46:38.

Fordyce said the course was well-balanced, with stretches of tar road, cross-country, beach and boardwalks.

The challenge is the main fund-raising activity for the Sabrina Love Foundation, established in 2003 by Tony and Suzy Lubner in memory of their daughter, Sabrina, who died at six from complications of a rare bone disorder.

The foundation supports children and families living with physical disabilities in the Plettenberg Bay region, mainly from disadvantaged communities.