The world’s largest open water swimming event, the Midmar Mile, have announced a three-year sponsorship deal with Kwazulu Natal based company aQuelle.

The swim takes place on Saturday February 12 and Sunday February 13 at the picturesque Midmar Dam near Howick.

Race Director Wayne Riddin confirmed the sponsorship this week.

“We have to thank aQuelle for coming on board with a three-year sponsorship."

“This will allow us to build up to our 40th anniversary in 2013 and hopefully break the World Record that we already have with the Guinness Book of Records.”

Entries for the aQuelle Midmar Mile will be opened in August where the organisers will follow the lead set recently by the Comrades Marathon -the intitial online entries will be open from the 1st August to the 30 September at a reduced fee. A maximum 20 000 entries will be accepted each year.