Watersports enthusiasts from all over the country donned their wetsuits and took to the water at Stithians Lake and Newquay for the fifth annual British Colleges Sport Watersports Championships.

Hosted by Cornwall College, the national event was a test of endurance, concentration and ability for all involved.

Competitors battled their way through a series of gruelling heats to qualify for the finals in a range of activities: surfing, bodyboarding, surf lifesaving, windsurfing, sailing, kayaking and new this year stand pp paddle boarding.

Competitors came from Cornwall College, Exeter College, Richard Huish College, Truro & Penwith College and Gower College Swansea.

The day provided produced some very high levels of performance, which made the finals an exciting climax to the event.

The overall winners were Truro College, followed by Richard Huish College in second place and Cornwall College Camborne in third.

Charlie Whealer, a public services student at Cornwall College Camborne, said: “I was really excited about competing, I have kayaked but not sailed so I’m really looking forward to trying something new.”

Events took place at Stithians Lake and also at Tolcarne Beach and Fistral Beach in Newquay.

Russell Lawrance, Cornwall College director of sport, said: “This is the fifth year we’ve run this event and as ever we’ve had increased numbers, participation and events.

“Cornwall College staff have put in a great effort, adapting to ever changing conditions and lack of swell which meant some competitions at Tolcarne had to be moved to Fistral Beach at last minute.”

At the end of the day all winners were presented with trophies and prizes to take home with them.

A special thank was given to Max Hepworth-Povey of Errant Surf Travel & Instruction, who helped judge the surf competition and donated a first prize of professional video coaching sessions for the male surf champion, Shona Llewellyn from the Flowrider Cornwall who helped to judge and donated two free Flowrider Cornwall sessions as a prize for the female surf champion, the British Bodyboarding Club and the Pit Stop in St Merryn for donating brand new fins for the bodyboard champion and Fistral Surf Company who donated goodie bags complete with flip-flops and stickers for winners.