A beautiful sunny morning sadly once again saw a lake devoid of swimmers.
George Brutton, a club regular from the 80s and 90s, first sponsored this late summer race in 1991. The cup is a re-dedicated trophy originally presented by Louis Fabre in 1935 for a series of four midweek races swum between June and October.
Louis is fondly remebered by the small band of very long term members as a great multi discipline athlete with a competitive streak and a will to break records.
This news item contains a link to the 2024 race report which includes lots of background and history.
1986 and all that
George won the 1986 Peter Pan cup
Louis Fabre won the 1934 Peter Pan cup, fifty two years before George's proud victory.
Fiona Gibson won George's race in 2024, so by default retains bragging rights on behalf of Australia for one more year.
1949. A true all-rounder.
One mile running. One mile walking. One mile over 32 hurdles. Five miles cycling. One Mile sculling. One mile Thames swim.
Please follow this link to the 2024 race report.
Aside from detail of the 2024 race, there is lots of history and background.
Louis, All Clothes Race winner 1931.
George never won the All Clothes Race ...
... but he was always a picture of sartorial elegance (seen here in 1988)
The sadness of the water
(photo: James Norton)