Saundersfoot's hardy New Year's Day swimmers have splashed their way into the fund-raising record books. The best ever turnout of 865 dippy dippers - many in colourful fancy dress costumes - raised a staggering £28,524 for charity. At the annual presentation evening, held at the village's St. Brides Hotel, last week, cheques were handed out to all 47 beneficiaries of the 2008 dip, while various awards were presented to swimmers. Macky Brace from New Hedges won the coveted Betty Duncan award for the highest sponsored swimmer. Macky raised £2,500 for the autistic unit at Pembroke School where his grandson Jamie attends. A further donation of £200 was also given from swim funds, making a grand total of £2,700 for the unit. Other main recipients of cheques this year were Saundersfoot CP School - £2,250, Cancer Research, Breast Cancer, Macmillan and Cancer Research - £2,000 each, Diabetes Wales - £1,200 and Wales Air Ambulance - £1,000. Blue Tit group awards were presented to Pembroke RFC Under 16s, Stepaside Coachworks, Wogan Guest House, Macmillan, Whitland RFC junior section, Brian Jones and family, 4th Lamphey/ Pembroke Scout Group, Tenby Glass, the Taylor family from Hereford (who travelled down for the presentation evening), Pembroke School, Harbourlight Guest House, Haulfryn Girls, Royal Oak, Chemist, Captain's Table, PSRU Under 15s, the Edwards party, Lupus, and Saundersfoot School. Saundersfoot School who donned Roman costumes for the swim also received a large photograph - designed by Signbox. And there were special mentions to for photographer Gareth Davies who has covered every single swim, Dewi Jones, who like Martyn Williams, the chairman of the event organisers, has only missed one swim, Wogan Guest House, who won the best fancy dress group and received 10 tickets for a box at Bath Race Course, Oakwood, who donated tickets for fancy dress prizes, and, of course, the hardy quartet of Chris Williams, Mick Hamilton, Gethin Evans and John Joseph, who have taken part in every one of the 24 swims. Martyn Williams, chairman of event organisers, Saundersfoot Festivities, was delighted with the total raised. "We are £3,000 up on our previous record total and I know for a fact that several thousand pounds which was raised by swimmers has been given to the charities by them direct. "We've had an influx of younger members on the committee which has generated new ideas for fund-raising and marketing." This year's swim was backed by Ospreys and Wales rugby internationals Brent Cockbain, Ryan Jones and Lee Byrne, who joined forces with the organisers in their promotional campaign. They were captured wearing their New Year's Day polo shirts and their picture was seen regularly throughout the county on the rear of a Silcox bus. One person who spotted the advertising splash was Clare Parry, who designed the swim's logo when a pupil at Pembroke School in 1984. She has now been asked by the committee to nominate a charity of her choice to benefit from next year's swim. There were new medals for all the swimmers, while the village went red hot for the swim's own beer label 'Chilly Pecker', and the ever-popular polo shirts once again became the most sought-after clothing item in Saundersfoot. The swim was also live on Radio Pembrokeshire. At the presentation evening, Martyn thanked main sponsors Oakwood, as well as other sponsors, Powells Cottage Holidays, Westcoast Fireworks, Silcox, Sands Nightclub, Pembrokeshire Financial Services and Neil Finlay Car Sales. He also thanked all the pubs in the village who had purchased the official swim t-shirts, and paid tribute to the RNLI, HM Coastguard, St. John Ambulance, Tenby Surf and Rescue and Tenby Fire Brigade, who provided safety cover for the event. Further thanks went to Roger Hayes, Chris Williams, Roger Stephens, Dave Young and 'Butch' for preparing the beach; Peter and Sue Williams and local councillors for presenting the medals, DJ Benny Bond (Kevin Lloyd) and Evans Newsagents for collecting sponsorship. Saundersfoot Festivities is busy already planning the 2009 dip which will be the swim's 25th anniversary. A top celebrity will be in attendance, but their identity is being kept under wraps by organisers for now. The theme is 'silver' and it will be called the 'Silver Swim'. Sponsor forms are already available at Evans Newsagents. Special commemorative t-shirts are also being made. Anyone who would like further information is asked to contact Martyn on 813039 or visit http://www.saundersfootnyds.co.uk">www.saundersfootnyds.co.uk.