The presentation evening for the 2017 Saundersfoot New Year’s Day Swim was held at the St. Brides Spa Hotel last week.

Saundersfoot Festivities thanked all swimmers, sponsors, commercial sponsors and helpers for contributing to the magnificent £43,400 raised by the swim.

The money raised by the swimmers benefited over 56 charitable and worthy causes. The generosity of the commercial sponsors ensured that every penny raised was donated to charity.

Among the recipients were a number of charities that received at least £1,000. They included the Wales Air Ambulance, Cancer Research, HOPE, Breast Cancer Care, Fishermen’s Mission, Teejay (Black Mountain Chapter Wales) and the Dai Rees Foundation. Narberth RFC Under 12s were presented with a cheque for £900. The highest cheque of £2,300 was presented to Macmillan.

Main guests at the presentation were Nicola Hirst and Martin Wickham (Powells Cottage Holidays - main sponsor), Dennis Evans (Mayor of Pembroke) and Mayoress Rita Evans, Simon Hart MP and Sue Boughton-Thomas (chair, community council). The guests helped to present the numerous certificates, awards and cheques.

Winner of the Betty Duncan Cup for the highest sponsored swimmer was Dennis Evans, who raised a fantastic £1,250.

Best group fancy dress winners were The Malin House Hotel for their tremendous Trojan horse. Mick Booth won the Best Individual fancy dress and the Mulberry Restaurant were presented with The Cold Cup for their winning efforts in the very entertaining fancy dress horse race.

During the presentation, Martyn Williams took time to thank everybody who was involved in making the 33rd swim the event that it was, namely all the emergency services, safety personnel, stewards, bucket collectors and sponsors.

Saundersfoot Festivities would like to thank St. Brides Spa Hotel for their hospitality and continued support.

In the 33-year history of this event, it has raised over £500,000

Plans are well underway for the 2018 NYDS.

For further information about the 2018 swim, please keep an eye out on the swim website www.saundersfootnyds.co.uk or follow Charlie Shivers on Facebook and Twitter.

2017 Swim Sponsors: Powells Cottage Holidays, N. D. Toy and Partners Ltd - ‘Your Financial Solutions Partner’, Scaffold 2000, Sunnyvale Holiday Park, Tees R Us, Tojaz of Saundersfoot, Princes Gate Spring Water, Elston Construction, Folly Farm, Edwards Coaches, Sue’s Pantry, Saundersfoot Pleasure Boats, 1 Formula Fitness, Tenby Glass, Synter BMW, Lewis, Lewis and Co Ltd, Neil Finlay Cars and Pembrokeshire Tyres.