Dusty Rhodes was one of the club's many "characters" that have adorned our ranks over the decades. WW2 submariner, Brentford docks stevedore and penny farthing rider. He also found time to enter Masters' swimming events.
Tony and Jane Schiemann have sponsored the race since 2018, when the trophy was reintroduced into the fixture calendar after a 26 year absence.
Ian MacEachern first to the beautiful bowl
Dusty Rhodes presented the trophy to the club in 1976 and for many years it was raced-for in the height of summer over 880 yards. According to club legend, Dusty found it in a skip, polished it up and donated it for a race. Dusty died in the late 1980s.
Dusty's son did visit for the race when over from Australia after Dusty's death. Sadly the club subsequently lost contact with the family and the race dropped off the fixture card after 1992.
In 2018 the trophy was reintroduced onto the fixture card for the new 440 yard (400m) Tony and Jane Schiemann race that had been inserted into the schedule.
President Rob told tales of Maltese Tony and Eel Pie Jane
Tony has recently obtained a Maltese passport, and they live on Eel Pie Island in the Thames at Twickenham.
Tony and Jane Schiemann joined the club in 2006. They live on Eel Pie Island in the River Thames, which gives them the luxury of continuing to have a dip when the gates to the Serpentine were locked during Covid and also when blue-green algae prevented access to the lake. If you spot a Maltese flag flying over Eel Pie Island you can be sure the Schiemanns are "in residence", something our President has taken full advantage off.
Tony won the 2013 Winter Competition
A tough one to win, requiring ever present racing as the water cools down towards the end of the year.
A retired accountant, Tony still undertakes work for a local charity. For many years Tony was a member of the Thursday morning cleaning squad (along with Gordon Brodie, Rosie George, Tim Oulten and others) who scrubbed away at the club room mats, floors, walls and windows.
Tony was elected to the committee in 2014 and succeeded Kirsty Neilson as Hon. Treasurer in 2016, a role he served admirably until he decided to retire in 2021.
An enticing Serpentine as the clock ticked toward eight o'clock
Autumn shades approach as we enter September (photo: Robert Fisher)
Thanos and Robin keep time
Sophia keeps warm
The prize at the end of the 400m swim
Plus commemorative mugs "made to order" by the Schiemanns. They were ready for last year, but blue-green algae turned up.
Proud finishers, if not prize winners
John Tierney's exit was greeted by Speedo Mick (without his Speedos)
Race elder Ted Gerald led out some of the lesser veterans
A congratulatory hug from the President
Sophia a happy second
Proof that practice pays off
Charlie third
Stuart 4th, Nick 5th
(or Nick 5th, Stuart 4th, for the benefit of anyone who does not recognise their smiling faces)
Andrew 6th
James 7th, with 8th place Adam trying hard not to photobomb the picture
Submariner and penny farthing "pilot"
Dusty on a 1977 training ride
Dusty was one of those amazing characters the club periodically attracts. He is remembered by those of us that knew him with the same revered but chaotic fondness as Mario McClarnon, Bill Phipps and Gordon Brodie. Dusty joined the club in the mid-1960s. He lived in Isleworth and worked as a stevedore at Brentford docks until they closed in 1972.
During WW2 Dusty was in the Royal Navy and served on submarines in the Pacific theatre. At the end of the war he was attached to the Royal Australian Navy. I remember him telling me how, due to a shortage of specialist skills, the Navy refused to demobilise him and kept him out in Australia for some years. Something he bitterly resented.
Dusty was well known for his penny farthing, riding it in many charity fund-raising events as well as occasionally entertaining us on a Christmas morning. In 1981 he rode the penny-farthing over the whole course during the very first London Marathon.
(recollections from Brian Thomas)
In 1977 Dusty with his penny farthing was the only two wheeled participant in the London to Brighton Veteran Car Rally
Brian and Dusty, the end of the Bridge to Bridge, 1977.
One of my favourite memories of Dusty
1975 Peter Pan cup winner
This Boxing Day photo from a national daily newspaper truly captures Dusty's cheeky, devilish character. You can see it in his eyes and pearly white grin.
Despite a recent operation Dusty competed in the 1981 Veterans' race
As reported in the press
Dusty completed the first seven London Marathons
Three on his penny farthing and four on foot
1987 - time to bow out
After a 26 year absence the Rhodes Bowl was reintroduced to our fixture calendar in 2018 for a new 400m race, sponsored by the Schiemanns
2018 winner Katie Berlyn-Holmes grabbed the trophy with both hands
Three big cheers for Jane and Tony, and Dusty
Mugs at the ready for post swim tea
Cup winner Ian, flanked by third place Charlie and second place Sophie (photo: Kazia Jukes)
Winner Ian and third placed Charlie were joined by Katie, the 2018 victor.
(Report compiled by Brian Thomas. Images provided by Brian and the club's archives, unless credited to individuals)