BUDE Surf Life Saving Club enjoyed a very successful British Surf Life Saving Championships in Exmouth at the end of August, with the Masters coming away as National Champions.

This annual contest sees teams from all over Britain but mainly South Wales, Devon and Cornwall come together to compete in a variety of surf life saving related races.

The competition comprises several water events including individual surf swimming races, board and surf ski races and oceanman/woman races as well as varied beach events.

Pairs and team events include board rescue races, races using surf craft and beach relays.

A record is kept of all positions in races with points being awarded for the top 16 competitors in each event. Points are accumulated so that every team member taking part can contribute to the team’s overall score.

Bude Surf Life Saving Club (SLSC) took teams to compete in the Masters (age 30+), Youth (13-19) and Nippers (Seven-13) competitions.

Events were held over six days and required the support of coaches, parents and helpers in managing and helping to officiate.

The week started with the Masters championships. The conditions were challenging as the very wet and windy weather had whipped up the surf and caused the water to be brown and murky.

Bude Masters team comprised 15 women and 13 men. Both the men’s team, captained by Paul Diffey, and the women’s team, captained by Nic Hammond, won their aggregate point scores with the women retaining their title from last year. This resulted in Bude SLSC being overall victors coming top out of 24 teams with an amazing 600 point margin. Bude SLSC competitors won 18 gold, 31 silver and 19 bronze medals. Some competitors didn’t win medals but came high in the rankings so they added many points to the overall aggregate score meaning everyone contributed to the win.

Club Captain, Stephanie Clark, said she is delighted and very proud of the fantastic achievement of Bude SLSC being National Masters Champions for the first time.

The 21 member Bude Youth team came 11th out of 28 with five gold and four bronze medals.

Some of the Bude team were competing against more experienced people nearly two years older which is very significant at that age.

Junior Team Coach and Manager, Simon Hammond, said they will build on this experience and this has given people confidence for future events.

At the end of the week it was the Nippers turn. Although parents had had to brave camping in extremely muddy conditions, the surf had died down from earlier in the week leaving calm conditions for the youngest section of Bude SLSC to do well.

30 clubs took part and Bude competitors won two gold and three silver medals. Bude’s competitors were excited to compete and there was great camaraderie amongst the group.

The determination of each person throughout the age range of seven to over 60 to do their best contributed to a fantastic team spirit.

Bude SLSC is very proud of the way everyone cheerfully participated even when feeling apprehensive and the way everyone supported and encouraged one another.

The club is lucky to have several highly skilled and well-qualified coaches who give up their time voluntarily each week in training all sections so that people are capable of competing at this high level.