Kingsbridge Estuary Rotary Club celebrated the 20th anniversary of the annual Swimarathon raising thousands for charity and swimming about 6000 lengths across the afternoon.

Swimmers from across the South Hams took to the water at the Quayside Leisure Centre on Friday, October 13, which proved to be luckier than superstition suggests.

The estimated pledges at the moment have added up to an astonishing £8,000 with the final amount to follow shortly once all the money has come in.

The traditional rivalry between the Kingsbridge Kingfishers Swimming Club and Bantham Surf Life Saving Club was prominent; entering 78 swimmers and raising an amazing combined total of £2000.

Collectively the five teams from both the KKSC and the BSLSC swam an incredible 1526 lengths, with the KKSC team ‘Aqua Babes’ swimming to victory on the day with 204 lengths.

Jo Lawrence, organiser of both the BSLSC and the KKSC teams expressed a special thanks to the Rotary Club, “who work so hard every year to make this fantastic event such a resounding success.”

Salcombe Rowing Club PM succeeded at pledging the most money out of all teams competing with £488. A great fundraising effort was also made by the Kingsbridge Sea Scouts who pledged £325 and all the primary schools managed to raise around £200 each.

All proceeds either through pledges or later donations are being split between two charities this year-Devon Air Ambulance and Home Start, a leading family support charity. Its volunteers help families with young children deal with challenges they face and help support parents who learn to cope, improve their confidence and build better lives for their children.

For teams swimming for a school, club or a similar organisation the proceeds raised will be split between their funds and the Rotary Clubs chosen charities.

The organiser, Norman Hore has expressed his pleasure with the, “cooperation of the organisers and the positive attitude from everyone on the day.”

Being his first year organising the event, Norman was thrilled with the amount of, “smiles and laughter” he saw throughout the day from children and adults competing.

“The club was excellent and very supportive of the event making it a very positive activity and very good fun.”

He admitted that this year he had mainly focussed on schools getting involved, but next year he would like to encourage more adults to get involved creating more and more teams.

"This year we are celebrating the 20th anniversary of the Swimarathon.  This event has raised £150,000 in that period for a wide range of good causes.  I would like to thank everyone who has taken part in this year’s event, as well as all those who have sponsored the participants, for making it such a success", said Steve Kerr, President of Kingsbridge Estuary Rotary.