News

Saturday's race was over 100m (110 yards) for the Bill and Ron Maggs memorial cup, with prizes by Jon Benton.  Butler Bill Maggs is recorded as a starter in the Christmas Day race of 1910.  He won the Peter Pan cup in 1920 and again in 1954, aged 71.  Bill continued to race with the club up to the mid-1960s.  Bill's son Ron did not compete in our races but always supported the club and the Maggs Memorial fixture.

Heather Miller won her first club race in very nippy conditions....  water 5c, air 2c (41f/32.2f).

Alan pipped younger brother Will for the Luckhurst bragging rights

A rather bitterly cold morning with the water 7.1c, but the air 3c (44.8f and 37.4) and the wind in the north saw Dave McGregor perform best against his handicap (there were two races) to be crowned 2023's Wendy by the club's poet laurate Mary Gilbert.

Laure Latham stood in for Rob Ouldcott to become the first lady to deliver the traditional post race speech.  Hoorahs all round.

In 2022 Storm Eunice closed Hyde Park and consequently stopped us racing.  Nothing could stop Squirrel storming home in 2023.

The magnificent pewter trophy was presented to then club captain Harry Coulter in 1868. In our foundation year, 1864, Harry became our first club captain and also won the inaugral Christmas Day race.

In addition to Harry Coulter, the 1868 Captains' cup race allows us to celebrate the ever popular, and sadly missed, Gordon Brodie, captain 2003 to 2019, and Deirdre Ward, our current club captain and Irish marathon swimming legend.

The fixture is also the first of four handicapped races through the season over varying distances that count towards the Emmi Hunte cup series -  February 55 yards (50m), March 110 yards (100m), August 880 yards (800m), and October 100 yards (91m).

Both the Serpentine Running Club's and the Serpentine Swimming Club's top girl Ros Young provided the prizes for the first "scratch" race of the 2023 Club Championship.  The championship is decided by a series of five races during winter, spring and summer over varying distances as the water warms up.  This process identifies not just the fastest of the Serpentine swimmers but also a champion who competes in all weathers and temperatures.

Today was a Luckhurst brothers one and two -  young Will followed by not quite as young Alan.  Previous club champion Cameron Kelly came in a close third.

Sally Scott won what is possibly the world's wonkiest sporting trophy?  (Wonky in "shape" that is, not wonky in terms of sporting subterfuge).

A trophy in memory and resemblance of Mike Small - one arm, withered leg, and a wicked sense of humour. "A hindrance, not a disability".

Two and a bit races?  Two full races, then time made for starter Hunter-Coddington, and stragglers Bowman and Harris.

A hard slog for Katie, who started 1 minute and 49 seconds after the first swimmer.  Last week's ice had cleared, but the 100 yard (91m) distance was a chilly, stength sapping 4.8c.  The dozens and dozens of swimmers in front of her were also quite an obstalce.

Nicola first in the "points mean prizes" stakes to scoop the Bernard Fettes cup for the Winter series.  Ice meant no races today, but competitors still received 2 points for a shoulders submerged dip in the ice.

Hon. Handicapper Dani Lobo presented his annual "most competitive swimmer" (or should that read most combative swimmer?) award to Natasha Wake.

James Norton presented Michael Cullen (aka SpeedoMick) with a cup for "an unherralded behind the scenes contribution".