An oppotunity to celebrate the ever popular and sadly missed Gordon Brodie, who died in 2019, and Deirdre Ward, our current club captain and Irish marathon swimming legend.
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).
David Mackertich, the morning's victor
Dave has been a member since 2002. Having spent much time working abroad Dave is now once again a regular. (photo: Norman Jones)
Tales from Laure of the oldest club trophy in our possession
Andrew Wilson, second fastest against his handicap.
(photo: Norman Jones)
The judges recorded a timed tie between Esme Davey (race 1) and John Luckhurst (race 2) for third and fourth place
Big smile from Esme (photo: Norman Jones)
More smiles from John (photo: Norman Jones)
There was no doubt who stole the show this morning
Fraya hung on Laure's every word (photo: Norman Jones)
The Captain's cup, presented to our first club captain 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.
A chance to remember Gordon and his infectious smile. Club captain 2003 - 2019.
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
Race 1 at the ready
Ominous clouds oversaw Sophia's entry to the water for the first of the two 50m (55 yard) races (photo: Poppy Lund)
Mary Olivari first off (photo: Norman Jones)
More underway (photo: Rob Ouldcott)
In full flow (photo: Rob Ouldcott)
Having counted them out, Mike Barron (aka Mr Deirdre) counted them in (photo: Norman Jones)
Time for Race two
Mike ably assisted by Robin (photo: Poppy Lund)
Fast and furious white water (photo: Norman Jones)
A shoal of swimmers heading toward the 50m buoys (photo: Poppy Lund)
Mackertich first across the line (photo: Norman Jones)
100m next week
Race over and John Luckhurst very nobly moved the buoys down to the end of the Lido (photo: Norman Jones)
Captain Deidre Ward is one of our most accomplished swimmers (and a member of the Irish Marathon Swimming Hall of Fame)
Manhattan, 2014
Solo Swims
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
Relay Swim
2017 English Channel Winter relay (December) 21 miles (relay) 13 hours 18 mins
Deirdre is a member of the Irish Marathon Swimming Hall of Fame.
A rare feat
Deirdre's two-way English Channel success, 24 August 2016
Deirdre joined the club in 2006. The committee recognised her inspirational skills when "team Serpentine" competed away and appointed her vice-Captain in 2014. Following the sad passing of Gordon Brodie, she was upgraded to club Captain in 2019.
Cat herding at the 2013 South London gala
Windermere, 2015
Husband Mike Barron always in support
Mike is ever present to assist and support Deirdre on her marathon swimming endevours. Though not quite matching Deirdre's standards he is quite a decent swimmer himself.
Where he does excel is distance running. In 2025 Mike completed the London Marathon in a fantastic time of 2 hours, 45 minutes and 48 seconds. That puts him well up amongst the "club runner" elite.
Running Mike
Not the London Marathon, but our own Serpentine biathlon, August 2024 (photo: Nick Hungerford)
The Captain's cup also gives us the opportunity to remember Gordon Brodie, captain 2003 to 2019
With Lorraine Jones
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 a solo Channel swim but to his immense disappointment the weather turned the night before the attempt and the pilot called off the swim. Had he been successful he would have become the oldest person to have made a maiden solo Channel swim.
The cup had been in the club's possession for many years but it was not until 2018 that it was introduced to the fixture list to honour club captain Gordon. The first Saturday of March, 2018 saw the "Beast from the East" in full fury. Though the 50m event went ahead, the weather was far too icy for Gordon to attend. Gordon presented the cup to winner Shelley-Anne Claircourt later in true spring.
3 March 2018, into a stiff easterly headwind. Note the snow on the opposite bank.
Not many swam back, Victoria Rock being a brave (?) exception.
Once true spring had arrived Gordon was able to present the Captain's cup to Shelley- Anne
2018
(Report compiled by Brian Thomas. Images provided by Brian and the club's archives, unless credited to individuals)