YOUNG surf life savers from clubs across Cornwall took the plunge to take part in a prestigious annual competition.

More than 600 nippers competed in the Cornish Beach Championships held at Carlyon Bay on July 12 and 13. The challenging competition put the children to the test in various events including swimming, board racing in the sea, flags, sprints and a gruelling one-kilometre beach run.

A young competitor taking part in the flag event ( )

Hayle Surf Life Saving Club won the event, with Portreath Surf Life Saving Club in second and Holywell Bay Surf Life Saving Club in third.

The Holywell Bay SLSC nipper team ( )

Steve Peck, the chairman of Holywell Bay SLSC, said: “: “Huge thanks as ever to the coaches who work so hard to make the event happen, Carlyon Bay SLSC for hosting a great event, Surf Life Saving GB for running things so smoothly, all our parents who helped run things on the day, and the nippers who showed incredible resilience, team work, kindness and most of all had heaps of fun.”