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31 January 2011
A Cool, Cool Summer |
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Umhlanga really was the coolest place to be from the 11th to the 23rd of December 2010. It was at this
time that Umhlanga Tourism’s fifth Summer Carnival took place in the Umhlanga Village, at Main
Beach and on the Millennium Stage. Apart from the usual beach games and challenges, the 2010
Summer Carnival boasted a number of firsts. These included the Umhlanga Summer Carnival Trail
Run and the Lizzard Summer Surf Challenge, with both events being well-attended. Other events
included the very popular Carols by Candlelight evening, the lovely-to-look-at Miss Umhlanga
competition and the entertaining-as-ever Street Party. | |
Let’s take a look at the highlights: | |
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Dorothy Leversha (far right) attended the
Carols by Candlelight evening held on 20th
December in Granada Square, Chartwell
Drive. The HOGs (Harley Owners Group),
attended the event, as they always do,
creating a sensation with their rumbling
engines amongst the more than 250
attendees. Dorothy was a little more taken
than most and, at the grand old age of 83,
hopped on the back of Danita Lowes’
immaculate bike and was taken for a spin.
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Dorothy, who celebrated her birthday on 15th December (and who had recently had a hip
replacement), was “hyped”. She said, “I felt like the queen!” The Pinetown resident, who was
visiting her daughter in Umhlanga at the time, went on to say: “People mustn’t give up on their
dreams. When I turned three in 1930 in England my mum thought I would like to visit the ponies
as a birthday treat. Instead I asked for a ride on my dad’s Harley. So I did. And now I got to
ride a Harley again – 80 years later!” _________________________________________________________________________________ | |
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There were others who also enjoyed the Carols evening. The children who attended got to see Santa. And many children who didn’t attend benefitted too. Three trolley loads of gifts were collected on the evening and delivered, via Rotary, to Igamaelihle Children’s Home, destitute families helped by God’s Plan Church in Waterloo, Hlalanathi Créche in Kwa Mashu and Sindizele Créche, also in Kwa Mashu. |
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The Lizzard Summer Surf Challenge, held at Main Beach 11th & 12th December, attracted a record 200+ surfers. Lizzard Marketing Manager, Gavin Roberts, put it down to “a really good venue where surfers, their families and spectators feel safe. The beach and facilities are clean...” The event was unique in that it catered for U10 surfers right up to masters and vets, and people flew in from other parts of the country to compete. |
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Umhlanga’s first-ever Trail Run was held on 19th December and attracted 150 entrants. This unique type of race had runners slogging through bush, fynbos and sugar cane, and along dirt trails and the beach. Race sponsors, Salomon, put it this way: “for sixteen thousand metres shall ye wander up and down footpaths and byways”. Despite being “not an undertaking for the faint hearted” enthusiasm reined and another Trail Run is being planned for the near future. |
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The Miss Umhlanga competition, held 13th to 23rd December, has grown over the years and winners now gain automatic entry into the semi-finals of the next Miss SA Competition.
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| Castle Lite Chill Zone Street Party 23rd Dec | Beach & Stage Activities |
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All in all, despite some overcast weather, this was one of Umhlanga Tourism’s best Carnivals ever to take place, said Peter Rose, chairman of Umhlanga Tourism. Photographs courtesy of: Kelvin Trautman, Cindy Schmitz, Jade Lee. Sponsors: SAB, ABI, eThekwini SPU, Wozani Africa, Lighthouse Property, Granada Square, Ola Ice Cream, SAMSA, Street Traders. Prizes: Polished Body Spa, Beverly Hills Hotel, Umhlanga Sands Lifestyle Resort, Spur, Garden Court Marine Parade, Buxton’s La Cave Liquors, Cabana Beach Lifestyle Resort, NAA, Caledon Hotel & Spa. Winners of the Sharks Board competition: Leeann Govender and Melanie Wright. | |
All the very best for 2011. | |