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Ted Gerald first in the Roy Wrey race, our annual half mile tongue twister.  Twenty-five of us swam in memory of a real gentleman and true friend to many longer-term members.  The go-ahead for the club to swim came through quite late on Friday, which accounted for the low turnout.  ("Just like the old days", claimed some with longish memories).

Fears of the dreaded lurgy (i.e. blue green algae) meant we could not race this week.  As a reminder of what we missed you are invited to follow a link in this article and read the report from 2021.  Lots of photos and history, both very old and recent.

The largest cup, for the longest race, on the longest day.

The Rosie George mile + 1 metre cup.  The 1 metre is in recognition of the fact that Rosie has also swum the more difficult France to England crossing (1967) as well as England to France (on 19 July 1961).  The one metre also affords Rosie bragging rights as sponsor of the club's longest race.

First Serpentine silverware for Liz Thody.

The morning's race and cup celebrates Jock Fee and his Royal Parks work colleague and fellow club member Peter Saunders.

Jock was the third and last Serpentine Lido Superintendent.  The others being Sid Richardson and Ted Stoter, who was appointed when the Lansbury Lido opened in 1930.  The Lido Superintendent was a direct employee of the Royal Parks.  The post lapsed when operation of the Lido became a commercial franchise in1983. 

First Serpentine silverware for a Cecil sister.  Today Antonia.  Jessica and Lizzie will no doubt not be far behind in the coming weeks and months.

The five-race series commenced in February, with our championship contested through winter, spring and early summer.  The distances -  50m, 100m, 200m, 400m and 800m.  Or if you prefer 55 yards, 110 yards, 220 yards, 440 yards, 880 yards.  And for the real obscurists amongst us, 10 poles, 20 poles, one furlong, a quarter-mile and half-a-mile.

The winning team of Stanley Ulijaszek, Natasha Wake, Deirdre Ward and Tony Schiemann took home the tankards.

In October 1930 club member Paul Bridgeman sadly died following an accident whilst chopping down a tree. The injury resulted in septicemia from which Paul did not recover.  He was 42.

In Paul's memory and in recognition of his love for our lake, the family sponsored the first Bridgeman Team Race event the following year.  It has appeared on the fixture list ever since.

Stuart Bowman had the honour of winning the race honouring a Serpentine all time great.  A happy morning with many Titmuss family members and friends joining us.

The main event was preceded by the Veterans' race for the Brew Brothers cup.  Committee stalwart Nicola Sanderson took home the larger than life cup.

As per previous years, we had a blue and white hooped theme from the many west and north west London club members who share Alan's devotion to Queens Park Rangers Football Club.  The red and white of Arsenal was there in spirit - in the late 1940s and 1950s Alan was a regular at Highbury with his father and uncle.  Why "in spirit"? -  past president Rob Ouldcott (Gunners season ticket holder) had left his scarf in the pub.  Must try better next year.

Ron the Con Power cup.  So named in recognition of Ron's lifelong sport of power lifting.  Ron contunued to compete (and win) into his 80s.  Body building, wrestling and a bit of boxing were also extensively dabbled.

At the finish of the race the participants swam at "Ron speed" for a further 84 metres (or yards if you wish -  no one was checking) in recognition of Ron's 84 years when he died in March 2016.  This is a custom we have followed since the 2016 race, just two months after Ron's death.  What was a spontaneous suggestion by Kevin Blick is now a well established tradition.

Plus cake from our Biarritz visitors and also a big happy birthday for Lucy Harris.