Race sponsor Leanne Ashrafian was sadly double-booked (she was in Edinburgh giving a careers talk to wannabe thoracic surgeons). Fellow member of the "Imperial Medics Mafia" Sakura Adams (plus her little ones) stepped-in to fill the breach to present Leanne's prizes.
A race with a long name and a long history, recalling members that joined in the late 19th centrury, the early 20th century, the late 20th century and the early 21st century.
James Norton flew the flag (on his tee-shirt) for Canada Day.
Anne Mannix repeated her 2022 victory
Chloe stepped up to the mark to present the trophy
Saturday 1 July saw us race over 800m (880 yards) for an event that has been on the fixture list since 1946. Sidney and Charlie Greenbury were two of the three Greenburg brothers that joined the club in 1909. The other was Albert, club President 1935 to 1955, whose direct descendants present the Peter Pan cup each Christmas - Albert took over from Sir James Barrie in 1933. The original surname of Albert, Sidney and Charles was Greenburg. Sadly due to rising antisemitism they chose to change the name to Greenbury in the 1930s. A cup in memory of Tommy Bradshaw, who was already a long-standing member when the three Greenburgs joined, has been presented to the winner since 2011.
A fine trophy, kept super sparkly by the 2022 winner
Records show that the "Bradshaw challenge cup" appeared on our fixture list between 1961 and 1964. It is not clear why the cup fell from the calendar, but the trophy resided with the family of the Hon. Secretary Bill Reed until being returned to the club in the 2000s. Tommy Bradshaw was a contempory of the three brothers, so it seemed most appropriate to use the cup for this long established race celebrating Sidney and Charlie.
A timely midwinter prize for veteran Tommy Bradshaw (centre), 1926
A warm but overcast morning greeted us
Water 20c, air 16c
Our very own Anglo-Canadian set the scene for Canada Day
James Norton, intrepid Tweeter, with Canada geese
Danny shouted out the time, as Canada geese performed a Canada Day flypast
Second swimmer away Tony Schiemann ready to set off
The full speech, or the AI generated ChatGPT version?
President Rob Ouldcott toyed with the idea of an AI generated speech rather than one of his own making. Everyone agreed that the resulting six sentences from ChatGPT was illegible gobbledygook. His own carefully crafted prose was much better received and understood.
Though Leannne was absent, she provided a water polo ball as a stand-in. "Back in the day" she captained both the Imperial College and University of London women's teams. Members of the Adams family looked on with slightly hidden puzzlement.
Second home, Victoria Rock
Victoria whispered her secret to Sakura
Third place for Stuart Bowman
Are they about to start an arm wrestle to decide who has the larger half of the post race cake?
Poppy also in the mix
Medical student Leanne joined us in 2002. Another protege from coach Norman Jones' production line.
Leanne on a chilly March morning, 2019
Leanne Ashrafian (nee Harling) was (is?) a very good water polo player, captaining Imperial College and University of London “back in the day”. An excellent club runner (Serpentine Running Club) in 2014 Leanne completed the London Marathon in a fantastic 02:54. Just after first born Persie arrived she clocked a hugely respectable 03:20 - a time she had the temerity to describe as "disappointing".
Leanne made a valiant attempt at the English Channel in 2009, but became unwell and had to come out after 15 hours 58 minutes, only ½ mile off the French coast. In 2014 Leanne swam the length of Lake Zurich and also completed the 24 miles in 24 hours challenge in Guildford Lido.
Three big cheers for the absent Ashrafians, enthusiastically led by the Adams mob
They were here last year
Proof that they do exist, and that Anne won the cup in 2022.
Tommy Bradshaw of South Norwood was a club member for fifty years, having joined in the 19th century. His journalist son was responsible for getting the Serpentine SC race results in the national daily newspapers alongside the Test Match score and latest football results. He never missed his dip at 6.00 am in the morning, no matter what the weather. “To swim and keep fit" was his motto. The 1963 Breaking the Ice book records how Tommy recalled one member who was diagnosed by his doctors at the age of 14 years as “an incurable consumptive” yet was winning 55 yards handicaps at the age of 84, only to be found dead in his bath at home at the ripe "young" age of 96 years.
Tommy could also tell of the freezing cold winters of 1894, 1895, 1905 and 1907, when the lake was frozen and covered with ice. "Members would break the ice themselves before they could have a dip, having cut a path through the snow just to get lakeside". Tommy started swimming when he was 9 years old, teaching himself to swim with the aid of some old stocking legs filled with corks. He went on to win a 'Peter Pan Cup' in 1921.
The 1910 Christmas Day start list shows Tom Bradshaw racing along with all three Greenburg brothers. Possibly the first of a family tradition that is still upheld over 110 years later by Lucy Harris, Albert's granddaughter.
Club photo, 1914
Tommy Bradshaw is front centre, with his arms crossed
For furthur background and history please follow this link to the 2021 report -
The SS & Chas Greenbury handicap has been a summer fixture since 1946
Club members with one of the Greenbury family (suit, tie and pocket handkerchief) 1970, in front of the beautifully grand changing marquees. Note, the lady in the white top and swim suit is Joan Harman. Joan designed the club crest, as seen on the SSC caps currently on sale via Robin Hunter.
Alan Nash sponsored the race from 2011 to 2018. His own handmade leather goods were always greatly appreciated prizes.
Alan joined the club in the mid 1980s, encouraged by fellow jazz enthusiast Alan Titmuss. For many years he was our "official starter", calling out the marks. Leanne took over the race sponsorship in 2019
November 2009, starter Alan Nash watched on by Tony Cuthbert.
(report compiled by Brian Thomas)