WALRUS DIP COLOURFULLY WRAPS UP CHRISTMAS

Christmas will be a wrap in Carmarthenshire with a dash into the sea at Pembrey’s Cefn Sidan beach on Boxing Day.

Panto season comes alive on the beach with Santas and Sumo wrestlers  and all kinds of fancy dressers including Pantomime dames and even bikini beauties and brave mankini clad hulks making a dash for the freezing waves.

This year’s is the 31st annual charity fund raising Walrus Dip that over the years has seen hundreds of thousands of pounds raised  for charities ranging from the west Wales children cancer charity LATCH to the British Heart Foundation.

Last year, everyone from a 79-year-old Old Father Time to a Santa clad baby in its mum’s arms tip toed into the water in Pembrey.

King Canute, Batman and Robin and Sumo wrestlers were also spotted at the event.

Park manager Rory Dickinson said: “This is one of the most colourful and fun events of the year when everyone lets their hair down and takes the plunge for a good cause.

“There is a fantastic atmosphere whatever the weather because all the brave dippers have an army of supporters who flank their route to the frothing sea.

“It just seems to be the traditional thing to do for the brave and hardy to shake off the excesses of Christmas Day feasting and it has been described as Pembrey’s Christmas ‘hair of the dog’.”

As the event, which was established in 1984, prepares to mark its 30th anniversary this Boxing Day, Carmarthenshire Council’s Chairman Peter Hughes Griffiths will be signalling the countdown to the dash and bravely taking part himself.

The RNLI will be on hand again this year alongside St John’s Ambulance.

Mr Griffiths will also be handing out certificates to the chilly participants at the Ranger Station close to the main entrance to the beach.

John and Debbie Price from Llanelli star every year entering the water in top hat and tails and even taking an ironing board into the water in a pop group Queen spoof.

Mr Price said: “We are never short of ideas and try and come up with something daft every year.

“We love it and so does everyone else. It sets the seal on Christmas for us.”

Participants are being urged to arrive by 10.30am this year after to avoid congestion at the entrance to Pemnbrey Country Park. Admission is free. The Walrus Dip takes place from 11am.

Only two years since its inception in 1984 has the Walrus Dip been abandoned-once because of an oil spillage and another occasi9on when the sea froze over. But it did not stop the intrepid completing their mission for theor charities.