A trio of sporting teams have been awarded for their charitable efforts after making a splash to support a special swimming group.

Norwich Evening News: Special Olympians award presentation after swimming challenge at The Marina centre, Yarmouth.Clare Winter with Martin Marsh (fastest swim)Special Olympians award presentation after swimming challenge at The Marina centre, Yarmouth.Clare Winter with Martin Marsh (fastest swim) (Image: ©Archant 2014)

The Great Yarmouth and Waveney Special Olympians (GYWSO) presented trophies to the top three groups that took part in its Challenge 100 relay event, which saw squads of sponsored swimmers take the plunge in aid of the group.

Norwich Evening News: Special Olympians award presentation after swimming challenge at The Marina centre, Yarmouth.Clare Winter presents Andy Symonds for the greatest money raised.Special Olympians award presentation after swimming challenge at The Marina centre, Yarmouth.Clare Winter presents Andy Symonds for the greatest money raised. (Image: ©Archant 2014)

The day of sporting action, held on International Disability Day last December, proved to be a great success raising £2,500. And in recognition of the efforts made by the charitable swimmers, GYWSO yesterday awarded the top three teams.

Staff from the Marina Centre were presented with the trophy for fastest time, completing their 100 lengths in a speedy 30 minutes and 56 seconds, officers from Great Yarmouth Police took the title for raising the most money, after adding more than £800 to the total pot, and members of disability group Centre 81 were handed the greatest achievement award.

Clare Winter, GYWSO chairman and coach, said: 'It was such a good day and this is just to say thank you.

'All the money raised will be going towards equipment for us to use in the Marina centre for disabled swimming, but everyone can access it.'

The club trains and teaches youngsters with disabilities and learning difficulties how to swim and moved into its new base at the Marina centre last year.

Since then membership has grown and it now hopes to make the Challenge 100 relay an annual event.

Dr Winter said: 'On the day we had about four or five more groups say they'd like to swim next year, so this will expand.'

PC Andy Symonds accepted the award on behalf of the two police teams that dived in for the relay, and said it was a 'nice surprise' to receive it.

'We really enjoyed the day and it was really enjoyable to raise so much money, all within the station,' he added.

Marina centre operations manager Martin Marsh was presented with the fastest time trophy, which he admitted his team was hoping to win.

He added: 'It's a great event and it was great to raise so much money, and we enjoyed hosting it. We loving having the Special Olympians here.'

The Marina centre is now working on plans to make the centre even more accessible by building a suite of disabled changing rooms, which GYWSO members have helped design.

? For more details about GYWSO visit www.greatyarmouthspecialolympians.cfsites.org