Victory for Alan Luckhurst. Second place for Katie Irvine. A glorious third place for Rob Ouldcott.
Plus an unexpected cup for Katie.
Today's victor
Alan Luckhurst out in front after two races
James Norton has sponsored this race since 2023, having taken over the sponsorship from Robin, Jeremy and Ingrid Hunter-Coddington.
James is well known to many in the club, even those that have never met him - James regularly posts the club's daily Tweet (or "X" if you are so minded) containing the water and air temperature plus "contemporary" and "timely" comments on matters of the morning, and of national and international importance. During the various periods of lockdown over 2020 and 2021 it was James that provided literary pleasure with his commentary on the Anna Bardos photos in the email series "Waterbird of the Day".
Saturday's 100m (110 yards) race was the second of five scratch race distances that decide our club champion.
The championship is swum over a series of five scratch races during winter, spring and summer over varying distances as the water (hopefully) warms up. February 50m (55 yards); early March 100m 1(10 yards); late March 200m (220 yards); April 400m (440 yards); culminating this year on the last Saturday of May with the 800m (880 yards) race for the honour of winning the Arthur Goffrey cup.
It was Rob's last speech as club President. He did not let us down.
Rob spoke of James's contribution to the club and his various marathon swim achievements. Rob referenced James's famous (infamous?) Serpentine Tweets recording temperatures and thoughts/observations of the day... some so good they were reported in Hansard.
James contemplating his next Tweet? Or is he maybe Bluesky thinking?
James Norton, purveyor of Tweets to the great and the good, and to the Serpentine Swimming Club.
First race - the keen but not quite so fast mob
Ready and willing on a crisp morning (photo: Debs Byatt)
Underway (photo: Debs Byatt)
Well underway (photo: Debs Byatt)
Thanos keenly watching progress (photo: Debs Byatt)
Norman Jones first home. Very fitting for a past club champion. (photo: Debs Byatt)
Norman's fellow Queens Park Rangers season ticket holder Chris Hatcher swept in in second place. (photo: Debs Byatt)
The contenders at the ready for the second race
Plus one or two latecomers who did not want to miss out on the thrill of the chase.
White water. Milky blue sky.
Bumping and boring, but all in the best possible taste. (photo: Debs Byatt)
The ever vigilant Thanos, our judge of the day.
When Alan pipped Katie
Two down, three to go.
Time to contemplate.
Water 7.1c. Air 1c. Warmer in than out.
Time to get out
As if by magic, a third race appeared.
More stragglers too late (or perhaps too discrete?) to join in with the fast boys and girls race
John Reid ready and willing
Interesting entry of the day
No prizes, just pride.
Canadian-British James has completed many marathon swims, including the English Channel (24th Canadian to do so), Lake Bolsena, Messina to Calabria and Capri to Napoli. For a report on James's 34 kilometres Capri-Napoli exploit in 2015 please follow this link -
4 August 2014, solo English Channel crossing. A respectable 14 hours, 59 minutes.
The club is proud of any member who attempts, let alone completes, one of the toughest of sporting challenges.
James won the 2015 Bridge to Bridge ... swimming butterfly
Prize time
Norman Jones first in the first race
Chris Hatcher, second in the first race.
Congratulations for Alan, winner of the 100m leg of the championship series
Katie second
A proud third place for Rob
Not bad for a sixy-something old git and soon to be past President.
Additional silverware was presented this morning
A veteran Presidents' cup. Presented to Katie for representing the Serpentine and GB at the recent International Winter Swimming Championships. Plus lots more during the winter.
Serpie celebration
... right on cue a cake appeared (thank you Charlotte)
And finally
Big birthday cheers for a big birthday girl
(Report compiled by Brian Thomas. Images provided by Brian and the club's archives, unless credited to individuals)