A cup remembering Percy Clears, who joined the club in the 1900s with his three brothers. A sapper in the Royal Engineers, Percy was killed in action in October 1918 at Harlebeck, Flanders.
A bright but chilly morning saw two 200m races. The first home in the first race Matthew Morony performed best against his handicap to claim the spoils by holding off Illyan Kovatchev in the tightest of finishes.
A fingertip victory for Matthew Morony
A valient effort by Illyan Kovatchev (photo: Norman Jones)
Cup winner Matt Morony received the cup from Sarah Ouldcott
Norman stood in for Laure. Sarah stood in for Rob. Clare stood in for Rob and Sarah, but that was two weeks ago.
Confused? Join the club and read on.
Since 2022 the Ouldcotts have sponsored the 200m leg of the club championship. Due to a holiday clash Clare Doyle kindly agreed to present the prizes for the 22 March scratch race, with Rob and Sarah doing the honours for the 5 April event. Back to normal next year. Well, as near to normality as the Serpentine Swimming Club will allow.
As it turned out, this week Rob was away in the Lake District painting a friend's house. Well, that's what he said. Rumour has it that he had spent a week up there gorging himself on Kendal Mint Cake and black pudding.
So the focus was on the delightful Sarah.
A sunny Saturday couple. Past President Norman and past Mrs President Sarah.
Tony Schiemann first away in the first of the two races
Sami (second race) in deep discussion with Jaana (first race). 'The time has come ....
... to talk of many things - Of shoes — and ships — and sealing-wax — Of cabbages — and kings — And why our lake is boiling hot — And whether pigs have wings.' (photo: Norman Jones)
Patient competitors await their mark (photo: Norman Jones)
Last second goggle adjustment for Chris Hatcher (photo: Rob Fisher)
Bunching at the turn (photo: Norman Jones)
Victor Matthew takes breath
(photo: Norman Jones)
The also rans also took much needed breath (photo: Norman Jones)
On the board ready for the second race
Off and running (?)
The stiff easterly wind churned up the water, but did help on the way back. (photo: Debs Byatt)
A tail wind and bright sunshine for the shoal
Charlotte Hallwood kept Boris at bay
All over bar the shouting as Robert Fisher makes his exit
Percy James Clears was one of four brothers who were members of Serpentine SC. His swimming brothers were Arthur E., Herbert H., and D.J. Clears. The brothers were club members between 1901 and 1919, their membership payments being recorded in the Serpentine SC Subscription book from early last century in the following years: Arthur 1901-1912, Herbert 1902-1919, PJ 1904-1918, DJ 1905-09 and 1911-1916.
Percy James Clears was born in Fulham in December 1882. He died aged 36 on 26 October 1918 in West Flanders, Belgium. Percy Clears was a Sapper in the British Army, and served with the Royal Engineers. His burial plot is in West Flanders, Belgium at the Harlebeke New British Cemetery, which is located 32 kilometres east of Leper town centre.
Percy’s brother Herbert H. Clears was a Private with the Tank Corps. Herbert was a prisoner of war from 15 September 1916 until Armistice Day 11 November 1918. Herbert Clears was very much a veteran member when the late Alan Lacy joined the club in 1948.
The Percy Clears memorial cup was originally presented in 1926. Heats were held on Wednesday 2 June with the final on Saturday 5 June. J C L R Brittan won the trophy.
This link will take you to club member John Tierney's marvellous research in 2013 concerning the four Clears brothers who were members of our club almost 125 years ago.
Percy Clears, 1882 - 1918
Clare Doyle normally sponsors the Percy Clears race, but as Rob and Sarah were on holiday she kindly agreed to swap.
22 March 200m scratch race. Clare, with new President Laure Latham and winner, new boy (to Saturday racing) Luka Melon.
No silver cup for Clare to present on 22 March
So it just had to be cups and cupcakes as prizes
Today's trophy and prizes await
The beautiful Percy Clears cup
An impromptu floor show by Lewis and Ian provided the pre-presentation entertainment
Norman Jones did the sunny Saturday honours
Sarah looking whistful
Rob joined the club in January 2012 to swim outdoors in non-chlorinated water (no one thought to mention the biting bugs to him!). He was soon followed by Sarah and daughter Lily. The Ouldcotts quickly found themselves completely hooked on the lake, and on somewhat longer exploits - by September that year Rob completed a solo crossing of the English Channel in a very respectable 14 hours and 35 minutes. Soon after a young Lily completed an English Channel relay in September 2013, a month after her 13th birthday.
Rob was elected onto the club committee in 2018. The Covid 19 restrictions of 2020 and 2021 saw Rob step forward and play a real hands-on involvement in the club's "back to swimming arrangements", with The Royal Parks keeping a close watch on progress and proceedings.
In 2022 Rob succeeded Alan Mitchell as club President, stepping down at this year's AGM at the end of his three year term.
Sunshine, shadows and smiles for the presentation
Illyan second in the first race
Hugs for Charlotte, deemed first in the second race. There were one or two in front, but they did not count this time.
Boris Mavra, a close second in the second race.
Rob and Sarah met in their teens. His first impression was "boy, she can talk". Though born in the same year (uhm... nineteensixtysomething) Rob is always keen to point out that Sarah is a few months older. He likes to think of himself as a toyboy, but anyone will recognise that Sarah does look considerably younger than Rob.
Sarah has had three quite separate professional careers, plus a career as a mum. First as a professional ballet dancer who performed in the West End. Unfortunately a back injury terminated this career.
Sarah then moved into television as a vision mixer, basically live-editing news programmes. She eventually became a director. "She was there for seventeen years, not bad for someone who started as a temp for two weeks", said Rob.
She left this amazing job to bring up "our two lovely and interesting children?" (editor's note - not sure why Rob's question mark is required?).
Sarah's final, and current, career is working in a primary school, "bossing all the teachers about and keeping the headmaster under control".
To close off with some words from Mr Ouldcott, "No one messes with Sarah as I know to my cost. Have I mentioned I am a toy boy and Sarah talks a lot?".
(Report compiled by Brian Thomas. Images provided by Brian and the club's archives, unless credited to individuals)