Surf lifesavers start the season with a splash in Sidmouth

Sidmouth Surf Life Saving Club started the season with a bigger splash than ever before on Saturday.

Membership has swelled to 100 with an intake in the youngest age group of eight and nine-year-olds, while older members are training to be qualified lifeguards.

And due to its continued growth, the club now runs two sessions every Saturday morning, at 9am and 12.30pm.

Club chairman Dave Manley said: “It was great to see out new members thriving in the conditions and also to see our maturing older members helping develop and encourage these inexperienced rookies.

“Given the large dropout that is seen in most sports when members become teenagers, particularly among females, it is pleasing to note that only three out of 85 of our members from last year have not signed up for the 2017 season.

“The club continues to be popular for both boys and girls, with a near 50-50 split.”

Older members are now supporting the qualified adult lifeguards with supervision of the younger children, giving them valuable volunteering experience.

The older members are also training to be qualified surf lifeguards and will be going through an intensive course over the summer with an examination date in September – which will test their lifesaving skills both in and out of the water.