To illustrate the length of weeks competitors invest in the Winter Series, look at the photo below of a tree near the Princess Diana memorial, merged from the Autumnal start of the series, and ending with today’s wintery conclusion.
At the series start, many swimmers, like the leaves on the trees, were numerous, but as winter progressed, ambitions and leaves were gently shed.
Just nine swimmers completed every race held over the last two months.
A glance at the nude branches currently on the tree in the foreground of the Serpentine bridge, would suggest there is a similar ratio of remaining leaves to swimmers who had a chance of a trophy win. That almost leaves me too emotional and sapped of energy to say who won the series.
(Quiet emotional moment.)
Congratulations to teenage William Luckhurst, who hauled himself out of bed every Saturday morning to compete. William had to have consistency, a turn of speed, and a few victories on race days to claim the overall title. William achieved the winner’s trophy with considerable élan.
If there was an award for a Formula One style constructor’s championship at Serps, then you can be sure that his brother, Alan, and Dad, John, would have been near the top of the table. Hip hip hurray for the trophy winning Luckhurst family.
Thanks also to the Kelly family who very generously sponsored the race. Norm Jones once described the Kelly family who ultimately hail from across two ponds - the Serpentine and the Atlantic - “they are to the Serpentine, what the Osmonds are to the music world".
Memories of the late Bob Kelly, a former Serpentine SC club president were warmly aired. Caitlin Kelly was in good spirits accompanied by her two dogs Digby and Poppy.
Lucky the people who picked up the ultra warm Surf Fur jackets which were part of the wonderful array of gifts donated by the Kelly family. Thanks to Sean, Duff, Jesse, and Cameron and Caitlin as well as one more Kelly relative who had travelled from the US for the event.
I digress.
Rugby union is how we end the news regarding this week’s Winter Series, and it links from Eddie Jones, the Australian coach of the England rugby team. The coach aired his thoughts about Dylan Hartley, the England captain, getting a red card in a club game, for clubbing an opposition player.
Jones said Hartley had ‘let down himself, let down his club and let down his country,’ and stated that there is no guarantee that he will be captain for the 2017 Six Nations Championship.
Had Dylan Hartley attended balloon school, can you imagine what sort of character he might have been?
There's a story about an unruly balloon boy who has balloon parents, and he goes to a balloon school with balloon friends and a balloon principal. One day, the balloon boy decides to take a thumb tack (drawing pin if you live in England) to his balloon school, which is, of course, a disaster. A letdown even. He's called into the balloon principal's office, and in a rather deflated tone, the balloon principal tells him, 'You've let me down, you've let your school down, you've let your parents down, you've let your friends down. But most importantly you've let yourself down'.
ps There are still some parakeets in the Park, and these were reflecting on their existence in the gas lamps by the car park. (More photo moments)
pps The Christmas Day handicap race for the Peter Pan trophy starts at 9am sharp on 25 December.
Yours swimmingly
John Tierney
Lucky Luckhursts have the Will to win
