The swimmers of the Serpentine Swimming Club race every Saturday morning throughout the year, regardless of the weather.  If the lake is frozen we break the ice and still swim.  

The races take place at 8am on Saturday's, and any full member may race.  Membership costs £20 per annum.    

Most races are handicapped by the Hon. Handicapper (A.Titmuss) so that every swimmer has an  equal chance of winning.  The slowest swimmers go off first and the faster ones chase after them at various intervals.  Members are only eligible to win prizes after they have participated in 3 races, so that the handicapper can correctly gauge their swimming ability.  

There are 5 Championship races per year.  In these races all swimmers start at the same time, and accumulate points towards the Club Championship which is awarded to the swimmer with the most points after the final race of the series.  The Championship races are indicated on the race lists by an asterisk.