Sidmouth Young Surf Life Savers took on other clubs from around the South West at the Nipper (ages 8-13yrs) and Youth (13yrs plus) Devon Surf Lifesaving Championships last weekend in North Devon.

In challenging conditions of 3-4ft waves Sidmouth Surf Lifesaving Club’s teams excelled in a range of beach and ocean events.

Finishing third, in both the Nipper and Youth events - one place higher than last year, is another big step forward for the club which is now knocking on the door of beating the two ‘ big hitting’ long established clubs of Woolacombe and Saunton Sands - which both had three times the number of competitors of Sidmouth.

The Sidmouth teams brought home 45 medals, 23 of which were gold. The stand-out individual performances for the Nippers were George Manley and Will Bolton.

George won four gold, two silver and one bronze, winning the blue ribbon Golden Nipper event (a combination of swimming and board paddling) Bolton excelled on the beach winning the beach sprint.

These two competitors stepped up to the Youth Category on the Sunday and won a further six medals between them – four being gold.

In the youth event the combination of Josh Roberts and Finlay Morgan swept home in the U15 category with no less than 10 medals between them.

Both medaled in beach and water events with Josh winning the beach flags and Finlay winning the beach sprint.

Teaming up with Archie Rowe the boys won the board relay and medaled in the individual board race. Esmme Gregorious blew the field away in the U15 girls board race catching a set wave in to leave all her wake.

Our over 15 competitors also raised their game in the surf. Competing against older and more experienced competitors, Jack Gregorious and Louis Spalding came home second in the board rescue event.

Dave Manley of the Sidmouth Young Life savers said: “It really was another great performance by the whole team with most competitors bringing home medals and all contributing to the team’s overall placing.

“I am particularly proud of how well all our competitors did in the surf beating north coast clubs who get far more practice in such conditions.

“All our team members came of age and we can no longer be considered as a club that only does well in flat water.”

The overall experience sets the team up nicely for the British Championships being held at Holywell Bay, Cornwall, in August.