Newquay’s oldest sporting event made a splash on Sunday despite fears rain could ruin the event.

Locals and holidaymakers took part in various events at the Harbour Sports Day, which included swimming, surfboard paddling, sculling, canoeing and stand-up paddleboard races.

Members of Lusty Surf Lifesaving Club and Newquay Cormorants Swimming Club were among the competitors taking part.

Cups and medals were presented by councillor Ollie Monk, who had himself actively participated in several events.  

Roger Mansfield from the organising committee, said: “Despite the day dawning as overcast and intermittently raining the organisers stuck to their faith that it was better to do the event than postpone. 

“By 2pm the clouds rolled back and a three hour window of dry, sunny weather blessed the occasion. 

“Contestants, mainly local, lined up to compete in the sequence of water events, while the crowds of spectators filled the harbour beach and quays.

“This annual event is completely free to participants and spectators because it is based upon the past tradition of being a genuine aquatic community-happening made possible by the efforts of volunteers from within the town. 

“This has been practically supported by the efforts of Lusty Glaze surf life-saving club, the Rotary, the Lions, Radio Newquay, RNLI lifeguards, Fleet Medical and the harbour master.

“It turned out to be a lot of fun and laughter, especially with a final novelty adult canoe race, which involved so many capsizes that only one team managed to complete the course successfully.

"Spectators were roaring with laughter at the wet antics.

“The first event, the senior surfboard paddle race,  entered the water at 2pm to race out of the harbour mouth, around an offshore circuit of markers, before returning to the winners line marked on the harbour beach. 

“This was the biggest endurance event and the spread between the winner and the last man home was considerable.

“The next two hours offered a range of swimming events for children and adults, followed by a junior paddle races over the length of the harbour. 

“Some of the genuine harbour folk entertained the crowd with their sculling race, which involves moving a dinghy forward with the use of a single short oar at the stern.

“As the contestants and audience packed up to leave, the clouds came back over to block the sunshine as the drizzle returned. It had been a perfect window of opportunity for the success of this year’s Newquay Harbour Sports.”

Swimming results 

9/10 years  Girls :  

1) Ida Walker

2)  Seren McIntosh

3) Mckenzie Gibson.

 Boys :  

1) Eddie Monk

2) Charlie Harmes

3)Herbie Geen.

Men’s open      

1) Timmy Jones

2)Toby Row

3) Rowan McIntosh.

Parent and Child Relay

1) Amelia and Toby Row

2) Ida and Nick Walker

3) Sarah  and Rowan McIntosh.

Over-30s 

1) Leanne Follett  

2) Sarah Millatt  

3) Sarah McIntosh. 

Relay Teams

1st : Scarlett Holmes, Grace Parsons,  Amelia Row, Sarah McIntosh

2 nd  Cormorant mums

3rd Cormorant kids

Paddling results

Junior Boys  

1)  Rowan McIntosh 

2) Henry Allright   

3) Herbie Geen

Girls

1) Amelia Row  

2)  Seren McIntosh  

3)  McKenzie Gibson

Senior paddle board (offshore)

1) Toby  Row

2) Mark Harmes   

3) Nick Walker                          

Sculling race.          

1) Toby Row  

2)  Chris. Bennett

3) Wayne Row