What a busy sporting Saturday we had with a troika of big events being contested. There was the Grand National, the Boat Race and the Serpentine swimming club 220 yards breastroke race all taking place on the same day.
But it’s the Grand National which nags me. Thinking of tips for swimmers I listed the names of this year’s horses who had a watery theme, but none of them were worth the nap. Quickly trotting out the names of Across the Bay, Lord Windermere, Tranquil Sea and River, they all had chances but the betting chits for these should by now be shredded.
The only watery themed names for winning horses are as follows: 1866 Salamander, 1875 Pathfinder (a Channel swimming Pilot's boat), 1882 Seaman, 1914 Sunloch, 1938 Battleship, 1991 Seagram and 2012 Neptune Collonges.
Anyway, to the Serpentine racing which as always was in the lovely setting of Hyde Park, where you can look west beyond the bridge towards Kensington and going the full distance with the eye, view the church steeple. Chase back across the park and look southeast in the Canterbury direction and you will see a lot of modern London. And this was the scenic setting where the brightly coloured swimmers gathered for the 220 yard race sponsored by Alan Lacey.
It was a dry sunny day and there was no need for those bendy squeaky Hunter wellingtons either here or at the Boat Race; after all I'd be Robin the glory if I managed to make a relevant pun out of a rubber boot? But more of the race, where an Australian champion reined supreme. Kat Jungnickel, once an Australian under 14 national breastroke champion and also a silver medallist at Australian national level in cycling, galloped home to first place.
Once called to the boards from the changing enclosure by Alan, they were all Nashing their teeth for the start which without Dani our Spanish handicapper was handled by Deirdre and Mike who made it oat so simple. My money was on Norm, a little palomino to win but perhaps I shouldn’t have saddled him with that pressure. Kevin and Rob bridled at the thought of doing breastroke and stalled at the start and did butterfly. Sam also Bailed at the thought of breastroke and there was neigh a protest from anyone else who was jockeying for a winning place. As the saying goes, you can bring an 'orse to water but you can't make them do breastroke. Which reminds me, I was almost bit at the finish, but nearly went hoarse at my shock that Rob Ouldcott almost took my trunks down at the finish. I categorically don’t believe he’s that stable but he’ll deneigh that. He won’t tack me for saddling him with that thought.
Kat had a beautiful run, and at the halfway point she made a neat horseshoe turn to gallop into the lead but was she going to be the whinnyer in the final furlong? Kat who has been a club member since September 2014 was determined to get back to the sporting pinnacle of success. And with her victories as a 14 yearling old and also her silver medal from the Australian penny farthing cycling championships she had the bit between her teeth to win the big one. And so it proved as she galloped home with a steady and stable breastroke to take first place.
The rest of the field finished in the following order with Clare Doyle in second, ahead of Pamela Kovavich, Isabel Boyer, Chris Hatcher, Elina Grigoriou, and Leanne Harling.
A big thank you to Alan for providing the great prizes. Alan has recently overcome knee surgery and we look forward to his renewed regular presence every Saturday at the club. Alan was joined by his daughter Susan and grandaughters Flora and Clara.
Have a great week and remember no horseplay by the pool surrounds.
[John Tierney]
