The Club Championship is decided over a series of five races during winter, spring and early summer over varying distances as the water warms up. This process identifies not just the fastest of the Serpentine swimmers but also a champion who competes in all weathers and temperatures.
Scratch start
Those not in contention held back to not hinder those in contention (photo: Poppy Lund)
Blue sky, white water
(photo: Poppy Lund)
Obstruction and interference?
Nick Hungerford took the inside route to avoid the melee, and promptly headed for the exit rails and a bit of a bump (photo: Poppy Lund)
Time to bathe in sunshine
... but not for too long with the water 7.1c and the air 1c (photo: Poppy Lund)
After today, the other dates for the Championship Series are:
7 March, 100m (110 yards)
28 March, 200m (220 yards)
25 April, 400m (440 yards)
6 June, 800m (880 yards)
President Laure told us all about the sporting achievements of today's doner of prizes, Ros Young
... plus we had an insight into Ros's career and academic achievements. (photo: Poppy Lund)
Ros joined the then recently formed Serpentine Running Club in the early 1980s. She went on to take part in all that club’s activities from cross country and track and field to running numerous marathons and ultramarathons. Indeed, aged 49 she ran a marathon in what would have been a British record had she been 50. Sadly she was injured when she was 50 but went on to run the prestigious Comrades Marathon (54 miles, uphill route- Durban to Pietermaritzburg) aged 52.
Ros became a keystone of the running club, holding the position of Secretary and then of Chair, the latter when the Club was rewriting its constitution. She also added age grading and computerisation to the monthly handicap system which is still in use today.
Ros joined the Serpentine Swimming Club in 2013
... and won the Bridge to Bridge at her first attempt in 2014. No luck since though.
In addition to her running activities Ros has done a little cycling on the side. One of her more notable rides was to accompany, by bike, World Ultrarunning Champion Hilary Walker when she set the record for running from Lhasa to Kathmandu. Getting into triathlon in her 60s she started cycle time trialling and last year, some 11 years older, set personal bests on 10 and 25 miles, beating times she did as a “youngster”.
For her 70th birthday Ros cycled seventy miles. For her 80th birthday Ros rather sensibly went metric and completed an eighty kilometer ride.
Wardens' boss Ros, July 2019. Ros did much to develop the club's wardening scheme.
Before the fast mob strutted their stuff, the gentlefolk had their own chance at understated glory
(photo: Norman Jones)
Blue skies, blue water. (photo: Norman Jones)
Coot's victory? The winged wonder won by a short neck from Stuart Bowman.
However, as Mr Bird had not actually completed the full 50m course and does not appear on the current membership list the Hon. Judges reluctantly awarded a victory to second home Stu. Fowl play afoot amongst the officials? (photo: Norman Jones)
A glorious morning
(photo: Norman Jones)
Toby Crooks, winner of the champions' scratch race
A new name to contend with (photo: James Norton)
Alan Luckhurst, second.
Stuart Bowman, first in the gentlefolk's race.
John Tierney came in second, but was not captured on camera - vampiric qualities?
A prize for the oldest competitor: winner of multiple past past club championships, Norman Jones.
And a prize and a hug from Ros for the fastest lady - Charlotte Hallward
(Report compiled by Brian Thomas. Images provided by Brian and the club's archives, unless credited to individuals)