A Night at the Museum

Friday 8 February saw the presentation of the historic Inman and Ovey cups to the winners of the Henley Classic Swim 2018.

Henry Plewes (14) Churcher’s College and Vicky Cunningham (24) from Reading had their names inscribed on the base of the antique trophies which were presented by Richard Ovey great grandson of the donor of the ladies cup and Sarah Posey, Director of the Henley River and Rowing Museum.

The trophies are thought to be the oldest open water trophies in the world, dating back to 1892 when they were first presented. The Inman Challenge Cup was given to Henley Swimming Club to encourage long distance swimming. This swimming tradition has been kept alive by the co-founders of the Henley Classic Tom Kean and Jeremy Laming who came up with the idea of swimming 2.1km upstream on the Henley Regatta course at 4am on midsummers night.

Henry thoroughly enjoyed the event, which is a slightly crazy but fun thing to do. He trains at Alton and District Swimming Club in the Churcher’s swimming pool, and has competed at National Level. However, he describes this event as ‘something quite different; really fun with an amazing array of entrants creating a most fabulous atmosphere and feeling of camaraderie at 4 in the morning’.

To be invited on the 15th anniversary of the ‘Selkie Henley Classic’ to the museum to be presented with the Inman Cup was great. Although he was not allowed to bring the Inman Cup home his sense of achievement at being the youngest winner of the oldest Open Water Swimming cup in the world is, we are sure, something that will remain with him for a very long time to come!