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SA Rugby Legends Take On The Ushaka Beach Challenge

On Sunday the 10th of May UShaka Surf and Adventures hosted teams from ELAN Group, Jeep Apparel, The Natal Mercury and SA Rugby Legends in a beach activity duel. The teams included a number of top sports stars and celebrities including Ryk Neethling, Jenna Venter, Derek Watts and Breyton Paulse.

Activities included surfing, beach flags, kayak race and stand up paddling.

Competition was fierce from the first activity, the beach flags, which came down to the wire with former world's fittest women and wife of Spingbok rugby star Jenna Venter holding her own against the guys but getting knocked out in the 3 way final by Ryk Neethling and Gary Stewart. It was Gary who edged Ryk for the honours with Team Elan easily taking overall team prize on the flags.

In the kayak race the superior skills of the Jeep team which included Barry Lewin, Stephanie Kruger, Michelle Eray and Michelle Eder. The teams battled one another on an out and back course. A strong wind and moderate size surf made the paddle out and around the Spirit of Elan Catameran challenging to say the least. A number of teams came short negotiating the surf but the Jeep team was too strong for the others

The unique surfing competition was run on a length of ride basis. The team that scored the most time up and riding won the overall prize. It was a tough session with many strong rides recorded including one of 16 seconds by Jane Brewer of team Mercury. Once again Jeep Apparel showed strong surf skills and narrowly edged out the strong Elan team despite excellent surfing by the Ryan Brennan and Ryk Neethling from the Elan team.

The final event of the day was something special. Stand Up paddling is a growing international water sport that is relatively new to South Africa. The teams competed on the uShaka Canals on a relay out and back course. Despite strong competition from team Team Jeep, it was the South African Rugby Legends team who proved most adept at adapting to this challenging sport.

Overall Team Jeep apparel took the honours by one point from Team Elan with Rugby Legends edging team Mercury for the minor placings. It truly was an epic close-fought battle of water sport skills. We look forward to the 2010 challenge.