The final leg of the five race club championship series fell foul of the blue-green algae last Saturday. To make amends on behalf of the club, the Adams family agreed that their normally handicapped race be a scratch affair.
In 1973 women were able to become associate members. In 1985 women were able to join as full members. Thirtynine years on, and we now have our very first woman club champion - the unrelenting kenetic dynamo that is Katie Irvine.
Katie Irvine, 2024 Club Champion
(photo: Anthony Wood)
10 February, 50m (55 yards)
2 March, 100m (110 yards)
30 March, 200m (220 yards)
20 April, 400m (440 yards)
8 June, 800m (880 yards)
10 February, 50m race. Water 8.7c. Air 9c.
White water all the way. No quarter asked. None given.
2 March, 100m length of the Lido. Water 8.2c. Air 6c.
A big flap for the finish from the "owners of the lake"
30 March, 200m. Water 9.7c. Air 10c.
Down the end and back (photo: Anthony Wood)
20 April, 400m. Water 11c. Air 5c.
Some may have snuck an early start, but this had zero impact on the serious contenders
8 June. Fifth and final race, 800m (or if you prefer, 880 yards or half a mile). Water 17c. Air 14c.
(photo: Norman Jones)
Competitors ready for the final race of the club championship series
(photo: Anthony Wood)
And they're off
(photo: Norman Jones)
Katie crossed the 800m finish as some were passing their 400m half way stage
(photo: Anthony Wood)
Jesse Kelly and Sami Robertson battled it out for second place
(photo: Anthony Wood)
Sami by a half a hand
Watched on by judge Rosie George (photo: Anthony Wood)
Special treats for certain favoured finishers
(photo: Anthony Wood)
Maybe not in the top two dozen, but Tony Schiemann won his own personal race with a smile
(photo: Anthony Wood)
The Serpentine's owners watched on
(photo: Anthony Wood)
Tales of the Adams family.
Tales of Arthur Goffrey, who is remembered by the championship cup.
Tales of Sid Levy, whose cup we would normally have raced-for today under a handicap, were it not for the blue-green algae that postponed last week's championship finale.
(photo: Anthony Wood)
For many decades now the club champion has been presented with the Arthur Goffrey cup, in memory of a true gentleman, past President (twice) and for thirty years from 1952 Hon. Handicapper. Arthur is famous within and without the club for his description of the Serpentine lake - "the water is like wine, my boy, like wine".
1935, Arthur receiving the Gilbert Varley cup
Arthur joined the Club aged 29 in 1934. He served in the Royal Artillery 1939-45 in the UK, France and Germany, landing in Normandy a few days after D-day. Most of his working life was spent with a well-known firm of wholesale silk and fabric merchants which involved buying trips to Europe. On retirement he worked for a few years at Harvey Nicholls in the Antiques department. Apart from the Serpentine his other great interest was cricket, both as player, umpire and spectator, as well as being an avid fan of Chelsea Football Club.
Arthur Goffrey regularly handicapped our races from 1952 to 1972
Christmas morning 1952, Hon. Handicapper Arthur with his little black book
For much more information on Arthur Goffrey, and past club champions please follow this link to the 2021 report -
Sakura plus Ben, Seb, and Poppy the pointer, represented the Adams family and presented the Arthur Goffrey cup
Nick had work commitments, whilst Chloe had a school event (photo: Anthony Wood)
Arthur's daughter Judy Thayer normally joins us to present the cup. Unfortunately she could not attend the rearranged date
1995, Judy presenting the cup to teenage champion Nick Adams
Will Luckhurst 2nd place in the championship
Linda Luckhurst stepped forward to collect a prize on behalf of Will, her younger son
Third place for Sami Robertson
(photo: Anthony Wood)
Alan Luckhurst 4th
(photo: Anthony Wood)
Not sure who is the prouder - Katie for winning the club championship, or the club for having such a marvellous champion? (photo: Anthony Wood)
With the cup held in abayence in favour of the club championship it is worth having a look at the background to Sid, whose cup Nick and Sakura have sponsored since 2010.
Sid joined in 1923 and faithfully served the club for over 60 years, celebrating his membership diamond jubilee in 1983. In 1955, following the death of Albert Greenbury the Club's President for twenty years, the committee decided to limit the number of years served in office. A term of three years was proposed and instigated with great political skill and foresight by Sid, whose presidential term quite “coincidentally” covered the club’s centenary year in 1964. Quite some nous!
Autumn 1925, Sid first on the left
December 1954, the final race of the Winter Series. Sid was a very competent breaststroker.
Their August 2013 wedding by pure coincidence (?) coincided with the 138th anniversary of the day Captain Matthew Webb left Dover to become the first to swim the English Channel - 24 August 1875.
Nick joined the club in 1992, aged 14 and has proved to be one of the UK's most formidable long-distance swimmers, completing numerous Channel crossings and many other amazing swims - Catalina Channel (California), Robben Island (South Africa), Strait of Gibraltar, Manhattan Island (New York) circumnavigation to name but a few. Nick was inducted into the International Marathon Swimming Hall of Fame in 2013.
Nick, 1993
Nick has been a great source of inspiration and support for many English Channel and other marathon swim aspirants, providing expert tips and coaching to help swimmers reach their goal. He is a past President of the Channel Swimming and Piloting Federation.
Sakura joined us in 2002 whilst studying medicine at Imperial College. She was captain of the IC swimming team under coach Norman Jones. With such a coach Sakura had no option but to agree to swim with us in the Serpentine, come wind, rain and shine. The waters of the Serpentine gave Sakura the long-distance bug and in 2005 swam the Channel in a very respectful 11 hrs 08 mins. Like Nick, Sakura has also completed the 28.5 mile Manhattan circumnavigation, Catalina Channel (20 miles), Strait of Gibraltar (9 miles) amongst other achievements. Sakura has also completed a number of marathons and the Bolton Ironman (1.2 mile swim, 56 mile cycle, 13.1 mile run) which Sakura described as "tougher than the English Channel".
Sakura won the 2018 Peter Pan cup
And finally, we all wished Channel legend Rosie George a very happy birthday
(Report compiled by Brian Thomas. Images provided by Brian and the club's archives, unless credited to individuals)