A boost of nearly £11,000 for charities and good causes has resulted from the efforts of over 600 Boxing Day bathers in Tenby and further afield.

With 576 swimmers taking the plunge in Tenby, 32 splashing out in Virginia, USA, eight in Washington DC and six in Sydney, Australia, the Tenby Boxing Day Swim's medal total soared to its best ever.

In its 38-year history, the event - organised by the Tenby Sea Swimming Association and sponsored by FBM Holidays - has grown to be ranked as one of Britain's top festive highlights, and has raised more than £180,000.

Last Christmas's swim took place under blue skies, although stalwarts amongst the dippers claimed the water was the coldest ever. The huge crowd of spectators  contributed a record £2,664 to the bucket collection.

The event was spearheaded by Tenby's own global adventurer, Rosie Swale Pope, whose travels inspired the fancy dress theme of 'Around the World'. She was joined in the water by town Mayor, Clr. Mrs. Sue Lane, and Deputy Mayor, Clr. Mrs. Tish Rossiter, who paid their own tribute to Rosie by dressing as her lookalikes.

Rosie claimed yet another accolade at the recent swim presentation evening when she was awarded the shield for being the highest-sponsored swimmer for TSSA charities. The Idris Morgan cup for the highest sponsorship achievement overall went to Joost Geertman, who raised £1,035 for the Gareth Scotcher Trust Fund.

Eight-year-old Christopher Moir-Coe, of Pennar, won the new Sue Lane trophy for the highest-sponsored junior swimmer, after raising £170 for the Woodland Trust and the 3rd Pembroke Cubs.

The Goscar Oscar for the top sponsored group went to Penally's Basil Wood, Malcolm Meluish, Rebecca Baxter and Andrew Rochford, who collected £1,247 for the Harriet Davis Trust.

There were also a number of other superb fund-raising efforts, which were rewarded with Brass Monkey awards for groups and certificates for individuals raising over £100. Tenby Under 13s rugby collected £803 for new kit, Tenby Junior School's £702 will help towards its Year 6 London education visit, while Jane Hewitt, of Spittal, raised £660 for Spittal Church and the RNLI.

The five headline charities chosen by TSSA - Plant Dewi, Barnardo's Cymru, Sandy Bear and Friends, the British Retinitis Pigmentosa Society and the Tinkers Hill Bird of Prey and Swan Rescue Centre, Amroth - each received £600, while there was £100 each for the six organisations who contribute to the smooth running of the swim - St. John Ambulance, Tenby Rowing Club, Tenby Surf Lifesavers, Tenby Coastguard, Tenby RNLI and Pembrokeshire Paddlers.

• All unclaimed awards and certificates can be collected from the Fourcroft Hotel, Tenby. For a sponsor form for the 2009 Tenby Boxing Day Swim, or to see pictures from last year's event, visit http://www.tenbyboxingdayswim.co.uk">www.tenbyboxingdayswim.co.uk