It was a crazy idea that could have easily gone belly up – or indeed been a big flop. But the first Porthleven Charity Belly Flop Competition made only a splash when it took place this week.

Held out of Porthleven’s newest café, The Mussel Shoal on the Harbour Head, it saw competitors competing to perform the biggest and best belly flop into the water.

There were plenty of contenders, as grown men threw themselves into the harbour water in many flamboyant styles.

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Judged to be the winner on the night, however, was nine-year-old Savannah Winter, whose simple flat fall resulted in one of the biggest splashes of the night and unanimous scores of tens from the judges, watching from a dinghy.

She won a meal for four at The Mussel Shoal, while Jamie Osborne and Jay Rowe each won a bottle of Coyaba Rum.

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Nine-year-old Savannah Winter was the winner. Photo: Kathy White

Profits from the event, of £344, are to be donated to Porthleven Christmas Lights.

Kelvin Batt, from the café, said: “We had a great evening.”

The organisers have thanked everybody who went along to watch, take part, judge and work at the event.

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The café, set up in one of the wooden huts installed by Porthleven Harbour and Dock Company, sells, mussels, squid and chowder, with its name inspired by the food it serves and the famous Muscle Shoals recording studio in Alabama, where the likes of the Rolling Stones and Aretha Franklin have recorded.

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A backwards effort. Photo: Kathy White