A popular local swimming group has celebrated its first birthday.
On Sunday, October 6, more than 40 members of the Hornsea Dolphins met on North Beach to celebrate their anniversary with music, singing, and drums, before taking a dip in the sea.
The Hornsea Dolphins are a group of women who regularly swim on Hornsea’s North Beach near the Floral Hall. Founder Kate Spencer-Payne said the group was formed in autumn 2023, aimed at providing more choice to women who wanted to swim at different times.
She added that the aim was to support women in forming friendships and meeting like-minded people, and the group had since grown to 400 members. Some of these have gone on to form a range of spin-off groups, including a walking group, a crochet group, and more.
The Dolphins have also supported the local community and charities, including raising £1,100 for Breast Cancer Now. In June, they supported Hornsea NCI by contributing hundreds of crochet flowers, which were placed around the Hornsea NCI building.
Meanwhile, some of their members have achieved impressive feats, such as one Dolphin who swam across the Humber alongside the Hessle-based Humber Rescue crew.
Swimmers say there are a range of benefits from the group swims, including a boost to both physical and mental health. They also say they have formed friendships with people they would not have otherwise met.
One member said: “I became a Dolphin because the Covid lockdowns left me with mental, mobility, and self-confidence issues. I was determined not to go down the medication path.”
Another said: “I feel like I am not being judged for being overweight at 64 when I’m in a swimsuit in public. I’ve since met a group of women who are friendly, fun, adventurous, and more than a little crazy. These women are supportive and non-judgmental. They challenge me and fill my life with laughter. These women are Hornsea Dolphins.”
Other comments included: “It doesn’t matter that I don’t know anyone because everyone is welcome, even if they just want to have a chat or a paddle, which is amazing. I moved to Hornsea two years ago knowing no one, but I was very excited about my new environment.”
Anyone wishing to join the Hornsea Dolphins can find out more information on the Hornsea Dolphins Facebook page. The group is free to join. Anyone wishing to be a member must be over the age of 18 but can be of any swimming ability.
Swimming is not a requirement, and members can sit on the beach and provide support if they wish. The group also meets for other social events, including film nights, meals, psychic nights, and more.