Before we mention the Winter Series, I need to tell you about the Serpentine's new British Record holder.
I bumped into the most polite and entertaining of swimming lane speedsters training in the local pool on Friday. Thankfully there was zero lane rage as the swimmer clearly understood the rules of swimming etiquette.
This wasn't quite a Livingstone meets Stanley moment, however I did recognise that under the cap and goggles was the unmistakeable form of Barney Miller, the new British swimming record holder, a Serpentine member, who for many years sponsored the Andean Project relays swimming series at the Serpentine.
Warm congratulations to Barney who set one British swimming record while winning three medals during the summer's 2016 European Swimming Championships.
Barney won silver in the 320-359 Years age group with a British record 3:00.13 for the group of swimmers who had to have a combined age of over 320 years in the 4x50 freestyle relay. At 87 years of age, Barney admitted to having to do some “cradle-snatching” with a 73 year-old being the youngest swimmer in their relay team.
Barney also won gold in the medley 4x50 mixed medley relay race, and by then, we seemed to have lost focus in which event he won the third medal for.
Surely Barney is the Serpentine's most respected and decorated swimmer of pensioner age?
Now, where we? Ah yes, the Winter Series. Well a bit like the leaves falling off the trees, the list of possible winning swimmers recedes as the weeks near Christmas day. It’s all about consistency, and picking up the occasional five points for a win of your respective heat on the day.
Today, Jacqui Fischel Bock swam brilliantly, with a smoothness not seen in 'Er 'Enry, in fact 'Enry wasnt there today. Also swimming well for a change, was Rob Ouldcott, but not as supremely as Sara Ouldcott.
Off-piste, non-swimming Lorraine Jones was very excited to tell me how much of an Ireland rugby fan she is, and that she really hopes Ireland beat Australia in the rugby today. Good to know Lorraine.
The tension is killing me, this Winter Series countdown is more tense than Bake-Off.
[John Tierney]
