A rare dead heat was the early conclusion after 110 yards of Saturday's race at the Serpentine, with Stu Bowman and Henry Fischel Bock looking pleased with themselves at the far end of the Serpentine.
Smirking his way back to the finish of the 220 yard Dave Holliday Furlong race was Rob Ouldcott.
In an early April Fool play, Rob responded to a distance request stating that the race distance was 110 yards, to which the two 'winners' gave it socks all the way to the end. Meanwhile, the race continued and Rob finished second to Nick Adams.
For the record, it was the Dave Halliday furlong, and as all horse racing fans and imperial mathematicians know, a furlong is 220 yards.
Thanks to Dave for sponsoring the race with some nice prizes, although Henry and Stu might have felt like socking it to Rob.
Some cafe chat; it was interesting to learn of the link between Michael Phelps' Olympic gold medal coach Bob Bowman and the Serpentine, as it turns out that Bob Bowman is Stu Bowman's uncle.
12 inches = 1 foot
3 feet = 1 yard
22 yards = 1 chain
10 chains = 1 furlong = 220 yards
8 furlongs = 1 mile
Yours swimmingly
John Tierney
Photos Mike Harris
