It was all excitement at the 37th Halfway Telkom Midmar Mile at the picturesque Midmar Dam resort in the most closely contested races in the events illustrious history. The ladies event saw crowd favourite and multiple champion Keri Ann Payne add yet another title to her trophy cabinet. The world 10km champion and Olympic silver medallist was content to let compatriot Katy Whitfield set the early pace with the entire British contingent dominating proceedings at the head of the field.

Whitfield claimed all three "hot-spots" at the 400m 800m and 1200m marks while British team-mates Payne, Olympic bronze medallist Cassandra Patton, the much improved Charlotte Wooliscroft and Sophie Casson held sway against the local challenge.

While Kathryn Meaklim and Rene Warnes were able to compete with their illustrious competitors it was the diminutive Nicole Brits who impressed with a high stroke rate despite falling off the pace in the closing stages of the race. With 250m to go it was the experienced Payne who picked up the pace and moved into the lead, a position she was to maintain in claiming her 6th Halfway Telkom Midmar Mile title in a time of 19:24 - just ahead of a game Whitfield who had to settle for silver after a brave effort in a time of 19:27.

The British contingent claimed the next three places with Patton (19:30) claiming the bronze ahead of Wooliscroft and Sophie Casson who were both credited with a time of 19:34.

Meaklim (19:40) headed the South African challenge when she secured 6th place followed by Warnes (19:55) and the promising Brits (20:05)

Brittney Cameron (20:57) and Megan Stephens (21:33) completed the top ten in an event that was dominated by the international visitors.

With a host of international competitors lining up to take on South Africa's finest open water swimming competition, it was the dynamic Chad Ho who headed the chasing pack out from the gun in the final men's race.

The Cape Town duo of Heerden Herman and Danie Marias headed the chasing pack which included defending champion Riaan Schoeman, former champion Shaun Dias, the German duo of Alexander Studzinski and Christian Reichert through the first two "hot-spots" at the 400m and 800m marks.

It was at that point that Schoeman and Studzinski made their move and eased passed Herman and Marais and matched the determined Ho stroke for stroke. Schoeman edged ahead at the 1200m mark to take the final "hot-spot", while Great Britain's Daniel Fogg and local lad, Myles Brown surged toward the leaders.

With 200m to go the leading group of six swimmers were in an extended line matching each other stroke for stroke. Schoeman again surged, Ho and Studzinski responded while Fogg seemed to effortlessly move into contention. Coming into the slipway it was Fogg who held a slight advantage, with Ho bringing in a massive lick to move up onto his shoulder.

As they entered the shallows, Fogg stood up first slightly ahead, but Ho's Midmar mile experienced allowed him surge over the line to claim victory by the slightest of margins. Ho claimed his title in a time of 18minutes 39seconds with the British ace being credited with 18:40.

The battle for the minor placing saw Schoeman (18:42) edge Studzinski (18:43) in another close call with Brown heading in the chasing pack in a time of 18:45.

The talented Shaun Dias followed in 18:51, a massive effort when one considers that it was his fourth mile of the weekend, well ahead of his Seagulls team-mate Chad le Clos (18:57).

Another German, Christian Reichert, placed 8th ahead of Tom Allen from Great Britain. Both athletes were credited with a time of 19:00 while early contender Heerden Herman claimed 10th place in 19:02 - completing the closest race ever for the top 10 in the 37 year history of the world's biggest open water swimming event.

So as the curtain comes down on yet another highly successful Halfway Telkom Midmar Mile, and the City and Kwazulu Natal can reflect with much contentment on what was without a doubt the most exciting event in the race's illustrious history.