![[L-R]: Anna Davies, Katrina Brown and Elinor Jones enjoy the annual Porthcawl swim](http://news.bbcimg.co.uk/media/images/50579000/jpg/_50579974_010901970-2.jpg)
Feeling elfy: Anna Davies, Katrina Brown and Elinor Jones ignore freezing weather to take the plunge at Porthcawl on Christmas morning Hardy sea swimmers are taking the plunge into icy Welsh waters to shake off the Christmas cobwebs.
Among those hosting swims on Sunday at 1100 GMT are Tenby, Pembrokeshire, and Llanystumdwy FC, Gwynedd, on the Moranedd side of Criccieth beach.
But the Walrus Dip at Cefn Sidan near Pembrey, Carmarthenshire, was cancelled earlier for the first time in its 24-year history because of icy roads.
More than 600 swimmers turned out for the Christmas Day swim at Porthcawl.
“To have such a crowded beach, at this time of the year and in such harsh cold conditions goes to prove that some of our departed founder swimmers were looking down on us”
Nicola Willis Portchawl swim committee
Porthcawl organisers estimated that between 2,000 – 3,000 spectators watched their charity event.
The Porthcawl swim was in its 46th year, and among those who joined in was the mayor, Mary Emment-Lewis, as well as Victor Davies and Chris Hughes, who have each taken part more than 40 times.
‘Fantastic number’
Swimmers ranged in age from children to and one entrant of 84, Ken James, of Ogmore Vale, while many were in fancy dress.
Ian Stroud, of the swim committee, said: “Once again we have been grateful to all who supported our swim and the number of people that turned up was fantastic, considering the freezing conditions.”
His thermometer showed the temperature was -10C (14F) at 0900GMT on Christmas Day.
But despite the conditions, he said the number of swimmers “far exceeded our expectations”.
There’s no holding this Christmas Day swimmer back as icy Porthcawl waters beckon Nicola Willis, who chairs the swim committee, said: “To have such a crowded beach, at this time of the year and in such harsh cold conditions goes to prove that some of our departed founder swimmers were looking down on us and provided us with very sunny conditions for a swim that saw more people in the water than we thought possible, considering the snow conditions that have lasted for more than a week now”.
Meanwhile, Tenby has changed the name of this year’s even to the Big Red Swim to mark its “ruby” anniversary, with the focus of fundraising on the Ty Hafan children’s hospice.
Tenby Sea Swimming Association chairman Chris Osborne said he would be taking part for the first time in 20 years because it was “a special occasion”.
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