Water Polo: Lyme Luggers splash to second spot

Lyme Luggers were also runners-up in the Mixed Novice competition to the Yeovil Spartans.

Rounding off the results Welsh Warriors claimed the ladies title with Hampshire runners-up.

The games saw over 130 players take part in the harbour on one of the pontoons on a floating pitch with spectators enjoying the action from the Cobb.

The South West region of Swim England Water Polo Association with Mike Coles provided a team of referees and Fred Fowler and Bridport Barracudas lent equipment as well as the pitch which they also set up.

Each winning team member was presented with a medal and the runners-up received a metal refillable water bottle, as well as discounted ice cream from sponsor Baboo Gelato.

Annie Hanbury, founder of Baboo Gelato, said: “We’re delighted to be sponsoring the championship for the second year running and watching it grow into such a prestigious event.

“The prize of a water bottle is part of our commitment to reduce single-use plastic and share our support of plastic-free Lyme Regis.”

The chair of Lyme Splash Karen Durham-Diggins was delighted to see so many players enjoying the event and thanked the volunteers for their help.

Durham-Diggins also revealed there are plans to form a Lyme Regis water polo team.

Karen Durham-Diggins, chair of Lyme Splash, said: “It was tremendous to see so many players of all ages enjoying themselves with a huge amount of support from their friends and family as well as locals and tourists.

“As ever our team of local volunteers made the day such a success.

“Not only is this event becoming a firm favourite in the Lyme Regis carnival calendar but also in the water polo community, where they rarely get to play in the sea.

“There are now plans being put in place to form a Lyme Regis water polo team and we hope to be able to announce more information shortly.”

The next Lyme Splash event is a 3.15k sea swim to Charmouth on Sunday, September 2 from 10.30am.