The Longest Day Ocean Challenge Event

Last weekend, Sunday 14^th July, saw Sidmouth sea come to life and the beach awash with activity as the Sidmouth Surf Lifesaving Club hosted the 2019 ‘Longest Day Ocean Challenge’ event for the second time, following the success of last year’s event.

Gilbert Stephens Solicitors are kit sponsors for the Sidmouth Surf Lifesaving Club and are really pleased to be a part of this popular water sports event, which hopes to raise Sidmouth’s reputation as a water sports location and support the tourism business in the town.

It was an absolutely spectacular event this year which saw brave competitors aged eight to sixty battling it out in two separate challenges:

The Ski Race – a 15km long distance ski and Outrigger Paddler Race designed to challenge the experienced paddler but also provided an entry-level race for new or inexperienced paddlers.

The Board Race – an eliminator short course race in which each category got at least three races culminating in a knock out which made this a fun event for both experienced and new paddlers thinking about starting competitions.

To ensure complete safety and maximum fun at this great water sport event the three main water based organisations of the town, Sidmouth Surf Lifesaving Club, Sidmouth Lifeboat and Sidmouth Sailing Club provided in water support and water safety cover.

Sidmouth Surf Life Saving Coach, David Manley, says “it’s fantastic to have a Sidmouth based firm like Gilbert Stephens Solicitors support the club and our annual event. Having the firm as a 3 year sponsor means that we can plan ahead for the club’s development and expansion”.

This was also an exciting event for onlookers, who really made this event what it was, cheering the participants on from the beach and encouraging them every gruelling step of the way.

There was a Medal and Trophy ceremony held on the beach to recognise and congratulate the worthy winners.

Our Marketing Manager, Dana Mulligan, thoroughly enjoyed seeing both the competitive aspect of the day as well as the support of the community in making this event a success. She said ‘it was such a beautiful sunny day making it all the more enjoyable for spectators and less bracing for the participants. It was lovely to see the town getting so involved with lots of children enjoying the event which will hopefully encourage them to become members of this fantastic club’.

We look forward to supporting next year’s event and hope that it continues to go from strength to strength.