Raw Sewage Cancels English Surf Contest in ‘Perfect’ Waves

Surfing England reported: “Our 2025 English Interclub Surfing Championships had to be cancelled today whilst surfers were in the water. Taking place in Porthtowan, with over 140 competitors from clubs across the country, we were informed by lifeguards that the beach was being red-flagged due to a sewage discharge. In response, we immediately called off the contest and asked all surfers to leave the water, as the health and safety of our competitors is paramount.”

Speaking to the overflow of sewage, South West Water, the group that dumped the potentially harmful materials, claimed there had been “heavy rainfall” in the area. However, surfers claimed it was just a “rainy September morning” – not an extreme weather event.

“[It’s] the first time we have had to cancel mid-competition due to sewage,” Ben Powis, chief executive of Surfing England, told The Times. Powis added:

“Most people were frustrated and angry that we are put in a position where we cannot use our seas because they are being polluted by water companies. We had a bit of rain in the morning and by the early afternoon South West Water notified the council that they had overflows, and they notified the lifeguards.

“It was pretty wet but South West Water say they had a discharge within their permits. These permits are for extreme weather events and for me it was a rainy September morning, it’s not an extreme weather event.”

According to The Times, the “legal” spills lasted a record-breaking 3.61 million hours last year. And the public is not happy about it.