News

SSC Long Swims Night 2025

16 Feb 2025

On 16 January 2025, the Serpentine Swimming Club organised an evening of talks in west London, featuring club swimmers who had completed long distance swims recently. You can watch video recordings of their talks here.

SSC Long Swims Night 2025

2025 Ros Young 50m championship races

08 Feb 2025

The Club Championship is decided over 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.

This is the fiftieth anniversary of the introduction of the current club championship format.  Prior to 1975 the club champion was decided by a one-off 880 yard (800m) scratch race in mid summer.

2025 Ros Young 50m championship races

2025 Mike Smith cup series

01 Feb 2025

Mike Small is another of the club's great characters from the past.  Mike had a horrific motorcycle accident in his youth which left him with one arm, a club foot and in continuous pain.  Mike viewed this as a hindrance, not a disability.  His wicked sense of humour never left him and is reflected in the shape of the Mike Small cup adapted to his specifications by club silversmith Bill Phipps:  half an arm and a wonky base.

2025 Mike Smith cup series

2024 Peter Pan cup

25 Dec 2024

A grey, but thankfully dry morning saw Lucy Harris present the Peter Pan cup.

A large field of 81 competitors "enjoyed" the 7c water.  They were cheered on by a huge crowd lining the water's edge, and the grass banks behind, who marvelled as new mum Poppy Lenton showed everyone just how to do it.

2024 Peter Pan cup

Qualified swimmers for the Christmas Day 2024 handicap race for the Peter Pan cup.

23 Dec 2024

The final start list for the Christmas Day race 2024 is published below. Only the pre-qualified swimmers named on the list will be allowed to race.

As always, the race will start at 9 am sharp. If you wish to view the race, please try and arrive by 08:30 as, judging by recent years, the bankside tends to be full of spectators.

Thank you.

2024 winter series

21 Dec 2024

A well deserved points victory saw Kiwi Dave McGregor take this historic series named after past-President Bob Kelly.

7c in; 7c out.  An equilibrium of air and water on the shortest day of the year.

2024 winter series

Prequalified swimmers for the Christmas Day 2024 handicap race for the Peter Pan cup

18 Dec 2024

The pre-qualified start list for the Christmas Day race 2024 is published below. Only the pre-qualified swimmers named on the list will be allowed to race. the final list will be published on 21 December 2024.

As always, the race will start at 9 am sharp. If you wish to view the race, please try and arrive by 08:30 as, judging by recent years, the bankside tends to be full of spectators.

Thank you.

Serpentine hats December 2024

12 Dec 2024

From Saturday 14 December.

An ideal stocking filler for your nearest and dearest, or even for yourself.

Hurry while stocks last.

Be like Norman.  If you want to get ahead, get a hat!

Serpentine hats December 2024

Luke Belfield Bosphorus Blog September 2024

06 Dec 2024

Luke Belfied, member of the Serpentine Swimming Club, recently participated in the 6.5km Samsung Bosphorus Cross Continental Swim (bogazici) which entails swimming from Asia to Europe in Istanbul, Turkey.  Here he shares cheat-codes, history and geography, and his experience, which will be useful for anyone contemplating to enter the event.

Luke Belfield Bosphorus Blog September 2024

Eric Carter keeps on winning

19 Oct 2024

Congratulations, again, to serial winner Eric Carter who won the 2024 Emmi Hunte series. The races concluded on Saturday 19 October, with an overall win for Eric, and a race day win for Heather Miller.