Competition Wrap - 2025 aQuellé Midmar Mile
Our two New Zealand swimmers who competed at the 2025 aQuellé Midmar Mile over the weekend have excelled in South Africa. Louis Clark (North Shore – coached by Graham Hill) took out the men’s elite race and Ruby Heath (Neptune & Swim Dunedin – coached by Lars Humer) was on the podium in a close finish.
The duo had earned their tickets to the competition by winning their respective 5km national titles at the 2025 Apollo Projects New Zealand Open Water Swimming Championships held in Lake Taupo last month, thanks to an arrangement between our Head Coach - Olympic Graham Hill and race director Wayne Riddin.
Clark, who won the 5km event in Taupo in close finish, put his ocean swimming skills to good use once again in the rough conditions, admitting he was grinning broadly when he saw the waves in the dam on race day. He took the challenge to the strong pack of South Africans, surging ahead at 400m, 800m and 1200m points to claim the hotspot prizes and maximum amount of prize money available.
A group of six swimmers were still in contention for the world-renowned title in the final 400m of the race and it all came down to a frantic final sprint – Clark showing his experience to edge ahead and take the win in 19:07 in what was one of the closest men’s races in Midmar history. Henré Louw was runner-up after finishing just two seconds back with Matthew Caldwell third in 19:12.
Clark said he timed his race perfectly to help take the win.
“I got to about the last gate [1200m] 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 and it worked and I held on for dear life at the end so it was good.”
Compatriot Heath was a key player in a first at the event, tying for equal third in the women’s elite race. Heath was in second at the halfway point and third at 1000m, before an epic sprint to the line with 2022 champion Stephanie Houtman ensued for the bronze. The two crossed the line at exactly the same time (20:32) with the officials unable to separate them after reviewing the video replay, behind first-time winner and local Catherine Van Rensburg (19:49) and Callan Lotter (20:06).
Heath thoroughly enjoyed the race.
“It was amazing, choppier conditions than we would have hoped for but that’s open water swimming – you can’t dictate the conditions but this one is certainly going to be with me for a while and I hope to come back again next year and swim it again.”
Heath felt it was incredible to be part of the world’s largest open water competition.
“In New Zealand we don’t have anything like this. So to be here and witness this many people getting involved in open water swimming is really amazing and the level of competition is something next to none so it’s been a really great experience and I’ve really enjoyed it.”
Both Clark and Heath hope to return in 2026 after loving their experience in South Africa over the past week. The duo have been well looked after, having visited the nearby game park and been chauffeured around in a sign-written vehicle as the New Zealand champions.
Congratulations to Clark and Heath for their performances in South Africa and thank you to Wayne Riddin and his team for accommodating our swimmers at the 2025 aQuellé Midmar Mile.
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