The Emmi Hunte series is determined across a series of races between February and October over varying distances - February 55 yards (50m), March 110 yards (100m), August 880 yards (800m) with the final 100 yard (90m) race held in late October. This year the half mile event fell foul of blue-green alage. Saturday's final race of 100 yards was upped to 220 (200m) because the handicaps had inadvertently been based on last week's distance. Nobody complained; everyone merrily accepted their fate: they would have swum back anyway.
In addition, an "Ashwin prize" was presented by Topo Wresniwiro in memory of Ashwin Pandya who had sponsored the series in its previous guise as "The Daily Telegraph cup" prior to it being rededicated in Emmi's honour in 2019.
A very wet presentation saw President Rob announce himself as series winner
We missed the winds of Storm Babet, but the rain certainly hit. (photo: Norman Jones)
Fiona Campbell came first against her handicap for the morning's competition
Emmi's granddaughter Esperanza added a homemade touch to the Saturday's first prize
Emmi and Esperanza
Emmi Hunte has been an ever present and dedicated club member during her four decades with the club. For many years she would arrive by 6am daily to open up the changing room and make sure everything was all spick and span. Emmi was a regular Saturday racer who won the Christmas mornning race in 2004 and again in 2012. Emmi is still a regular, but mostly to be seen very early on midweek mornings.
Elvira's Hyde Park roots are with the now defunct Serpentine Lido Lifeguard Club, though she has been a member of our swimming club since the 1998. Elvira has been a regular racer in the past, but work and family commitments have got in the way in recent years.
A grey early morning guest
Heron, patiently awaiting the handicapper's call? (photo: Lorraine Jones)
First race underway
(photo: Norman Jones)
Off to a flyer (photo: Robert Fisher)
A bigger splash (photo: Norman Jones)
Fiona Campbell touched first in the first race
(photo: Norman Jones)
Also-rans congratulated each other
(photo: Norman Jones)
The fast mob get going
Second race underway, with Nick making his own big splash (photo: Lorraine Jones)
Thanos and MIke ready and waiting to judge the finish.
Sprinting for home
Finish line in sight
Rob touched first to win the second race
But not fast enough against his handicap to beat Fiona, victor in the first race
The following field also fought for honour and glory
No holding back
Rob gathered us round for the presentation
As if by prior arrangement, the heavens opened just as Rob started talking
Perhaps this was the first of three wishes granted to Boris Mavra by the Serpentine weather genie? Wonder what are the others two? (photo: Norman Jones)
Speaking from beneath a hastily provided wardens' umbrella, Rob welcomed Emmi Hunte and family to present the cup. He also welcomed Yatindra, son of Ashwin Pandya who previously sponsored the annual four race Telegraph series. Yatindra currently lives and works in California and had coordinated a family visit with the series culmination.
Said Rob -
"Todays event is a culmination of 'previous events'.
"The Telegraph Series was renamed the Emmie Hunte Series in 2019 – one of the few cups to be named after a lady – something we are aiming to rectify – as we are now a club with more ladies than men as members.
"The sponsor was Ashwin, but now Topo can provide "Ashwin prizes" in his memory – lets hope there are fewer prizes
"The Emmi Hunte cup series of races. These are swum over varying distances through the season - February 55 yards, March 110 yards, August 880 yards and October 100 yards.
"So with our usual tradition of making things difficult, we have winners today who may or may not take the cup home. Nobody really knows what is going on but as always our truly handsome and fabulous handicappers have worked on the algorithm and looked around to see who is actually here."
To Rob's genuine surprise, amazment and pleasure, those "truly handsome and fabulous handicappers" announced the series winner - Rob himself. "I never win cups!", exclaimed an extactic Mr President.
A sensible few peeked round the changing room door (photo: Norman Jones)
Despite the downpour, the crowd hung on Rob's every word (photo: Norman Jones)
Ashwin's son Yatinda (middle umbrella) had flown over from California to "enjoy" the presentation
Topo's Ashwin Prize went to a wet and out of focus Tim Oulten
Tim was last home
Rob told the now drenched crowd:
"Ashwin sponsored this race for many decades and was renowned (and very popular) for bringing more prizes than there were competitors. We often had to ask passing members of the public to take something home. I am still using some of the metal bowls won at this event.
"Topo is also an ever-popular club member, and a famous actor. He has been an extra in many films and music videos – you may have seen him lurking in the background with his Che Guevara looks."
Rob went on to reveal his inner Sherlock Holmes:
"I did a bit of stalking online and found much information, including a Wikipedia page on Topo where he shares some of his philosophies on life:
"Life is too short to be miserable.
"Bury the past – live for today.
"Begin every day and end every night with a smile.
"Gratitude is my attitude."
Christmas Day, 2004. Race winner Emmi with daughter Elvira
By the early 2000s there was no gender distinction in our races. All swimmers competed as equals under the eyes of the handicapper - the Bridge to Bridge race (our summer "Blue Ribbon" event) was won by a lady in 2022.
The exception was the Christmas Day race for the Peter Pan cup. During the 1990s, to encourage the still handful of women swimmers a small “Wendy” cup was provided each year by the club to be presented to the first woman home. As with the Peter Pan cup, this was retained each year by the winner.
Many saw this as unfair as all swimmers in the race were competing under a handicap and the small cup provided by the club was in no manner as grand as the Peter Pan trophy presented by the race sponsors, the Greenbury family. The AGM of 2003 sought to rectify this. The concept was by no means acceptable to all at the meeting. The compromise outcome was for the first swimmer home to be deemed the winner of the Christmas Day race, with the Peter Pan cup presented to the first man home and a Wendy cup to the first woman.
No issue arose for the 2003 Christmas Day race. However, in 2004 the race was won by our very popular veteran Emmi Hunte. Many, including the race sponsors the Greenbury family, thought it very strange and unsatisfactory that a small alternative cup was presented to the race winner rather than the grand Peter Pan trophy for which the club and the event has a global reputation.
The issue was addressed at the 2005 AGM with a proposal that the race winner would be presented with the Peter Pan cup, irrespective of gender. The motion was passed virtually unanimously, with many who opposed the proposal at the 2003 AGM speaking this time strongly in favour.
Along with Ron Whittam, Emmi for many years was first to enter the water for the Peter Pan race. (photo: 2009 race)
2012, and race winner Emmi leads fellow Christmas Day competitors out of the water
President Rob commented that in terms of the total membership the ladies now outnumber the gentlemen.
For lots of photos of the 2004 Christmas Day race, please follow this link to the web report from nineteen years ago -
You may recognise some familiar faces.
The Daily Telegraph series was rededicated to Emmi Hunte in 2019
There have been Daily Telegraph cups presented over a series of races since at least the 1900s. The current cup dates from 1968.
The Daily Telegraph sponsored a race series of varying formats on the club fixture list for well over a hundred years, dating back at least to the 1900s. A review by the Telegraph organisation of their commercial set-up in the 1970s meant direct contact between the newspaper and Serpentine SC was lost. In 2019 the committee thought it appropriate to rededicate the cup to Emmi Hunte in recognition of her valued and appreciated services to the club in all hours and all weathers.
Ashwin Pandya sponsored the Daily Telegraph series from the mid 1970s
Ashwin and family with 1994 winner, John Sexton. Note the young, teenage Yatindra, who joined us this morning.
Fourty three years ago, a new Peter Pan for a new decade
Ashwin won the 1980 Peter Pan cup
Ashwin presenting the prizes at the end of the 2018 series
(report compiled by Brian Thomas)