A chilly morning (water 4.1c, air 3c) saw bespectacled and hatless heads-up breaststroker Charlie Cottam win his very first Serpentine trophy. Presented in 1868 to the then club captain Harry Coulter the prized pewter pot nowadays celebrates club captains past and present.
This was the first leg of the four race Emmi Hunte series - February 50m (55 yards), March 100m (110 yards), August 800m (880 yards) and October 91m (100 yards).
A whole new experience for Charles Cottam
Over the two races Charlie Cottam was first against the clock to win his very first Serpentine trophy
Past president Robin stood in for President Rob
Well currently it's President Rob, for the next two weeks until the AGM on 1 March.
Club captain Deirdre Ward presented the cup and prizes
Happy Charlie
Nick Hungerford won the second race, but against the handicapper Charlie was the darling.
Mary Gilbert, second in the first race
Kisses blown to Robin from Natasha Wake, second in the second race
Crafted from Britannia pewter the cup was presented to Harry Coulter in 1868
The magnificent pewter trophy was presented to then club captain Harry Coulter in 1868. In our 1864 foundation year Harry was the first club captain and won the inaugural Christmas Day race. In addition to Harry Coulter, "the 1868 Captains' cup race" allows us to celebrate the ever popular, and sadly missed, Gordon Brodie, captain 2003 to 2019, and Deirdre Ward, our current club captain and Irish marathon swimming legend.
On 1st July 1863 Henry E Coulter (Harry) was matched with J.P.Jones of the 'Bermondsey Dolphins' whom he beat over the 1,000 yards length of the lake to become 'Champion of the Serpentine'. This was prior to the club's founding. Harry became the winner of the very first Serpentine Swimming Club Christmas morning handicap in 1864.
In those early years, the 1,000 yards length of the lake was also used to decide the Club Captaincy. In 1864, aged 28, Coulter's winning time was 20 minutes, 10 seconds. Breastroke was the stroke of the elite competitors in those days, the "Australian crawl" yet to be devised. Harry went on to win each year until 1869 when T Morris broke the spell by defeating him.
Harry Coulter was a swimmer of national standard and competed in race challenges for what was, in the 1860s, extremely large purses of, for instance, £25 and even £50. In those mid 19th centrury early days of the club and in swimming generally professionals and amateurs would often race together.
No report of Harry Coulter's 1864 Christmas Day victory available, but we do have a press cutting capturing his 1868 third place:
The Brighton Times, 2 January 1869
Two races this morning, with the fastest against their handicap awarded the trophy.
On the board for the first race
Note the swim-capless Charlie, fourth from the end of the board (photo: Nick Hungerford)
Underway (photo: Nick Hungerford)
Charlie first to the 50m buoy (photo: Nick Hungerford)
Mary Gilbert second in the first race (photo: Rob Fisher)
Second group of racers advance to the start
Ready and waiting
Mr Deirdre (aka Mike Barron) ready to adjudicate
Finish line in sight
Eyes focussed on the finish
The cup had been in the club's possession for many years but it was not until 2018 that it was introduced to honour club captain Gordon Brodie
Gordon joined the club in 1990. He was renowned for his songs in the changing room and his encyclopedic knowledge of boxing. Gordon trained for an English Channel swim but to his (and our) immense disappointment the weather turned the night before the attempt and the pilot called off the swim. Had he been successful he would have been the oldest person to have made a maiden solo swim.
Songs in the changing room. Gordon with Dave Bradfield and James Norton.
Overlooked by Sara Legrand and Shelly-Ann Claircourt (photo: Fiona Campbell)
Today we recognise captain Deirdre's contribution to the club and to marathon swimming
Deirdre joined the club in 2006. The committee recognised her inspirational skills when "team Serpentine" competed away and appointed her vice-Captain in 2014 and, following the sad passing of Gordon Brodie, club Captain in 2019.
Deirdre is one of our most accomplished marathon swimmers
24 August 2016. A successful two way English Channel conquest.
24 August is a remarkably important date for Channel swimming. On that day in 1875 Captain Matthew Webb became the first to successfully swim the English Channel, in a time of 21 hours, 40 minutes. One hundred and forty one years later to the day, Deirdre completed her two way crossing in 27 hours and 52 minutes.
2010 (1) Switzerland Lake Zurich 16.2 miles (26 km) 8 hours 33 mins
2012 (2) UK France English Channel 21 miles (34km) 14 hours 30 mins
2014 (3) USA MIMS (Manhatten Island) 28.8 miles (46km) 9 hours 21 mins
2014 (4) UK 2-way Windermere 21 miles (34km) 12 hours 2 mins
2014 (5) UK France English Channel 21 miles (34km) 15 hours 31 mins
2016 (6) UK France 2-way English Channel 42 miles (68km) 27 hours 52 mins
2018 (7) UK (Scotland) Loch Lomond 21.6 miles (35 km ) 10 hours 45 mins
2019 (8) Switzerland Lac Léman (Lake Geneva) (44 miles) (75km) 25 hours 45 mins
Plus a chilly relay-
2017 English Channel Winter (December) relay 21 miles (35 km) 13 hours 18 mins
Post race warm up with Lorraine for Simone and Katie
A birthday cake and sing song for Lala Dizon
(Report compiled by Brian Thomas. Images provided by Brian and the club's archives, unless credited to individuals)