IT'S SHORELINE CHALLENGE TIME AGAIN
The map on the back of the Shoreline Challenge commemorative T-Shirts has inspired organiser Dave Halle to extend the concept. Last year, Dave came up with the idea of holding a series of beach walks that would see participants walking the entire length of the Hibiscus Cost, from Hibberdene to Port Edward.
The Hibiscus Shoreline Challenge, as it was called, was a huge success. Up to 380 walkers joined each individual walk and nearly 200 people earned their T-shirts by completing all of the walks. Entrance was a R10 donation which bought walkers a ticket in a lucky draw competition. Three walkers won lovely weekend breaks, sponsored by various organisations.
By buying these tickets, walkers raised over R20 00 for local conservation and the National Sea Rescue Institute (NSRI). Conservancies and NSRI stations also raised substantial amounts by selling refreshments at the end of each walk.
The T-shirts were sponsored by Ugu South Coast Tourism and the map on the back showed the whole Ugu coastline. Now Dave is challenging all last year's challengers to live up to their shirts. The Shoreline Challenge 2010 will fill in the gap in the map by covering the area between Scottburgh and Hibberdene. Fittingly, it will end in Scottburgh, a town that is celebrating its 150th birthday this year. That way, challengers will be part of the celebrations.
The 2010 challenge will comprise three beach walks, each about 12km in lengh. They will be held every second Sunday, to coincide with low spring tides, over a period of five weeks. The first leg was from Hibberdene to Mtwalume on Aprol 11 at 7.30am. Mtwalume Ratepayers' Association hosted the walk. The Second leg, from Mtwalume to Pennington, took place on April 25 at 7.30am. Pennington Conservancy hosted it.
The third and final leg is from Pennington to Scottburgh on May 9 at 7.30am. It will be hosted by Ezemvelo KZN Wildlife Honorary Officers. Entrance is one again a R10 donation and the hosting organisations will receive the proceeds. This year there are some wonderful lucky draw prizes. These include a weekend for six people at Seaglen Dunes in Munster, a weekend for nine people at Rockhaven Lodge at Montezuma Ranch, a weekend for two people at Botha House in Pennington, a meal voucher for two at Selborne Golf Estate in Pennington and a meal voucher for two people at Selborne Golf Estate in Pennington and a meal voucher for two people at Impithi Beach Kiosk in Pennington.
Walkers must retain their tickets which will go into the lucky draw at the end of the series. Winning tickets will be drawn at the closing function, at the starting point of the third walk, Pennington's Impithi Beach Kiosk, between 11am and noon. Tickets holders must be present to receive their prizes.
Tickets have once again been sponsored by the South Coast Herald. Halfway Toyota offered a valuable shuttle service between the start and the finish of each leg of the Hibiscus Shoreline Challenge last year.
The company will lend its support to the 2010 challenge by providing this valuable service again.Each leg will take place whatever the wather-unless very exceptional rain causes flooding of the rivers.
Everyone is welcome to take up the 2010 Shoreline Challenge.
