TAKING on the ‘Fowey Harbour Swim’ one pupil from Launceston College was first back in an impressive time of 27 minutes.

Fifteen-year-old Sam Hooper took part in the annual swim on Sunday, September 2.

He competed against more than 80 swimmers to swim from Town Quay in Fowey to Readymoney Cove and back — a distance of just over a mile.

Sam made it back in a time of 27 minutes, just ahead of his father Gary Hooper and well ahead of his mother Kathy Hooper and auntie Nicky Foulds, who also took part, as well as several experienced open water swimmers.

Sam said: “I really only wanted to beat my dad as last year he was second and I was fourth, but I was really pleased to have come in first before everyone else.

“I really like open water swimming and did it for the physical part of my bronze Duke of Edinburgh. I hope to do more swims next year as I will be 16 and can enter the adult ones.”

The event raises funds every year for the RNLI, and this year £1,000 was raised for the Fowey Lifeboat and the NSPCC. Fowey lifeboat crews and local kayakers provided support for the event, which was oen to all levels of swimmers provided they can swim a mile in open water.

Open water swimming has become popular recently and Sam swims regularly at Bude Sea Pool, at local beaches and events. Safety is a priority, so these and other events raise funds for the RNLI, so they can continue to keep beach users like Sam safe by providing support and education to the public.