Saturday 12 February saw the first of the five scratch races for the Club Championship, with prizes presented by Ros Young. The championship is swum over a series of five races during winter, spring and summer over varying distances as the water (hopefully) warms up.
This process identifies not just the fastest of the Serpentine swimmers but also a champion who competes in all weathers and temperatures.
A frantic mass start splash and dash 50m in the first of five Club Championship races over varying distances
February 50m (55 yards); early March 100m (110 yards); late March 200m (220 yards); April 400m (440 yards); culminating in the 800m (880 yards) race in June for the honour of winning the Arthur Goffrey cup.).
There were two races. One for the slightly slower, but still keen to win. And one for the no holds barred, no quarter asked, none given, contenders for the Championship
The relatively serene first race
Second race underway amongst a sea of white water
Will Luckhurst was first home in the "fast race"
Will pipped elder brother Alan, who inexplicably pulled up short
Tom Elliot, a respectful 3rd place
Paddy and Vanessa competed in their very own aquatic walking and talking championship
They were met by Charlie, Ellie and others on their way back
Race prizes were presented by Ros Young
Mike Barron was pleasantly surprised to receive a prize
As was John Luckhurst
We were all pleased and happy to welcome back Linda Luckhurst
Linda has not been around for a few weeks, having discovered that black ice and early morning bike rides are not good companions
Ros joined the Serpentine Running Club in the early 1980s and went on to take part in all that club’s activities from cross country and track and field to running numerous marathons and ultramarathons.
Ros's running, swimming, cycling compatriot Jan Farmer wrote - "she was rather a late convert to the joys of open-water swimming but has seen the light since joining the SSC in 2013, winning the Bridge to Bridge on her first time of swimming it (in 2014). With her background in computer systems and local government (once working under John McDonnell!) she is extremely efficient and it was no time at all before she applied her skills to running the club’s wardening system in the "twentyteens".
Ros won the Veterans Race in 2018
President Alan Mitchell announced that Ros was in serious training for a Land's End to John O'Groats cycle ride this summer
Land's End to John O'Groats - "that's uphill all the way!"
Ros is still very much involved with the Serpentine Running Club and helps marshal their monthly handicap
February 2022 handicap, and Hugo is keen to assist Ros in showing the way
For further detail on the first of the Club Championship races please follow this link to the 2021 "non-race report"
http://serpentineswimmingclub.com/news/51081/ros-young-race-2021