Over 550 Boxing Day bathers took the traditional festive plunge in Tenby to make the 37th annual dip one of the most colourful spectacles in its history. Thousands of spectators poured into the town and lined every viewpoint overlooking the North Beach to cheer on the brave men, women and children - plus a few pet pooches - as they stampeded into the sea at the crack of a starting pistol and maroon. This year's fancy dress theme of 'Children's Favourites' saw Hagrid, Noddy, Robin Hood, Snow White and Three Blind Mice amongst the dippers. Others decided that the temperature of 10 degrees was positively tropical after the previous week's wind-chill, and opted to take to the water in bikinis and bathing costumes, with some of the biggest cheers reserved for 72-year-old Peter Nash, of Pembroke Dock, who paraded down the beach in his Borat bathing suit! Raft, canoe, dinghy, longboat and sailing races preceded the stampede of swimmers for the sea, with Tenby's inshore and all-weather lifeboats launching to greet the brave bathers, HM Coastguard on standby at the water's edge, while St. John Ambulance and Tenby Surflink representatives patrolled the beach. There was also a flying visit from a Sea King helicopter, out on exercise from RAF Chivenor. Twenty canoes from the Pembrokeshire Paddlers took part in the canoe race, which was won by Jonathan Orchard, while winners of the raft race - sponsored by Chevron, Pembroke Refinery - were Wross, Jimmy, Tommy, Max, Dai and Ky's team, who saw off the challenge of four other rafts to pick up the prize of free flights to Prague for every member. All the swimmers - some from as far afield as Melbourne, Sydney, Perth, and North Carolina - received commemorative medals for their bravery, but anyone who took part in the dip, and has not yet received their medal, is asked to call into the Fourcroft Hotel to collect one. And while most were in and out of the water in a flash and racing back up the beach to warm-up around the warming bonfire and sample the hot soup served by Tenby and Saundersfoot Lions, swim stalwart Chris Page, who was raising money for various charities, including Hope, Ty Hafan and Diabetes UK, was brave enough to stay in the chilly water for 31 minutes, beating her personal best record of 30 minutes. "The secret is not to get your hair wet," said Chris. "As long as I can remember, I have been the last out." Winner of the best adult individual fancy dress was China Fish, of Narberth, who was raising money for Holly and the Muscular Dystrophy Fund as Holly's Circus Side Show, while winners of the best mixed group were the Lewis family from Lawrenny as Noddy and Friends. Loren Bowen, as Harry Potter, took the best individual child prize, while Tenby Junior School as Tenby Junior Sweets picked up best children's group, while best adult group was won by the Nutty Nine Nativity. Fancy dress prizes were sponsored by Tescos, Pembroke Dock, New Hedges Mini Market, the Buccaneer and Tenby Cinema. Also contributing to the smooth running of the event was local DJ Steve Briers, who was on hand to give his usual festive commentary. The Tenby Boxing Day Swim is sponsored by FBM Holidays and organised by the Tenby Sea Swimming Association (TSSA). Said TSSA chairman Chris Osborne: "The weather was excellent, and we welcomed a fantastic turnout of swimmers and a massive crowd of spectators, who all contributed to that special Tenby Boxing Day Swim atmosphere. "We are particularly grateful for the reassuring presence of HM Coastguard, the RNLI, St. John Ambulance and Tenby Surflink, with whom we have developed a strong working partnership over the years." Tim Brace, of sponsors FBM Holidays, described the spectacle as 'fantastic'. "There is a very big market for people visiting the area at Christmas, whether for holidays or to see family and friends, and the swim is an important part of the unique package that Tenby is able to offer," he said. The headline charities for the swim are the Gareth Scotcher Trust Fund, the Paul Sartori Foundation 'Hospice at Home', Diabetes UK and Macmillan Cancer Support. Over the years, the event has raised around £160,000 for charity and once swimmers have collected all their money, they are urged to 'phone the event's dedicated sponsorship hotline on 07807 628232 and leave a message with their contact details, their chosen charity and final total. Remember, there are trophies for the top sponsored adult and junior swimmers! And across the pond, there were also Boxing Day Swim medals presented in the USA, thanks to Tenby's sister swim in Virginia Beach, which had a James Bond fancy dress theme. It has been organised for several years by Tenby plunge veteran Dai Roberts, who is stationed in the States with the NATO forces.
