From 1924 to 1930 the Long Distance Swimming Championship of Wales, known as the Taff Swim, was held on the River Taff. The course started from Cardiff Bridge, near the Castle, and finished downstream in the vicinity of Clarence Bridge, where the A4119 now crosses the River Taff, a distance of approximately 1¾ miles . The event was then known also as the "Evening Express Swims" and attracted crowds of spectators in excess of 100,000.[1] It was inaugurated to encourage long distance swimming in Wales.[2]
In 1929 the event was opened to all comers, not just those from Wales. The first person to cross the finishing line was the Open Champion, and the Native Championship was awarded to the first-finishing competitor who was born in Wales.
In 1931 the event was moved to Roath Park Lake owing to the rebuilding of the Cardiff Bridge.[3] It then took place annually at Roath Park, with the exception of the war years 1940 to 1946, and was organised by Western Mail & Echo Ltd, who provided the trophies.[4]
The Western Mail & Echo produced a programme for the 1932 Taff Swim, its second year at Roath Park.
A diagram of the 1½ mile course appeared in the Western Mail in July 1933, indicating that the race started at the promenade, east of the Scott Memorial. After two counter-clockwise circuits, keeping well south of the islands, it finished at the promenade west of the Scott Memorial.[5] A similar course was shown in the Official Programme for 1950, finishing at a perpendicular line from the promenade to the Scott Memorial.[6]
In 1950 the following trophies were presented:[6]
Date Held | Open Ladies Winner |
Open Mens Winner |
Native Ladies Winner |
Native Mens Winner |
Comments / Entertainments |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
27th September 1924 | no race | no race | Miss Kathleen Thomas Penarth |
A. Griffiths Cardiff |
Mens race: 28 competitors Over 100,000 spectators reported |
2nd September 1925 | no race | no race | Miss Phyliss Scott Cardiff |
Paolo Radmilovic Western-super-Mare |
120,000 - 150,000 spectators reported |
21st August 1926 | no race | no race | Miss Phyliss Scott Cardiff Roath Park Club |
Leslie Palmer Cardiff Polytechnic |
Approximately 150,000 spectators View of races from Cardiff Arms Park for fee of 6d Mens race: 42 competitors |
13th August 1927 | no race | no race | Miss Phyliss Scott Cardiff |
Leslie Palmer Cardiff Polytechnic |
100,000 spectators Ladies race: 6 competitors, Mens race: nearly 40 competitors |
16th June 1928 | no race | no race | Miss Freda Pawley Penarth |
J. Hanlon Penarth |
Over 100,000 spectators Ladies race: 8 competitors, Mens race: 49 competitors |
6th July 1929 | Miss G. Jackman Hammersmith |
Ken James Weston-super-Mare |
Miss Freda Pawley Penarth |
Ken James Weston-super-Mare (born Pontypridd) |
In excess of 100,000 spectators Ladies race: 13 competitors, Mens race: 33 competitors |
23rd August 1930 | Miss Freda Pawley Penarth |
A.H. Griffiths Cardiff |
Miss Freda Pawley Penarth |
A.H. Griffiths Cardiff |
Ladies race: 15 competitors, Mens race: 54 competitors Cardiff Post Office Band played from a motor launch |
From 1931 the event was held at Roath Park Lake:
Date Held | Open Ladies Winner |
Open Mens Winner |
Native Ladies Winner |
Native Mens Winner |
Comments / Entertainments |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
25th July 1931 | Miss G. Vine-Jackman Hammersmith |
A. G. Watts East Ham. |
Miss Peggy Williams Merthyr |
K. G. James Weston (born Pontypridd) |
Ladies race: 9 competitors, Mens race: 52 competitors Admission free High diving display by Miss Belle White, diving champion of Europe |
4th June 1932 | Miss Catherine Broadley Hammersmith |
Harold Kenneth James Weston-super-Mare |
Miss Peggy Williams Merthyr |
Harold Kenneth James Weston-super-Mare (born Pontypridd) |
Ladies race: 10 competitors, Mens race: 19 competitors Entries were down because of clash with Olypmic Games trials in London Band of the 6th Welch played during the afternoon Exhibition of flying over the lake by Miss Pauline Gower and Miss Dorothy Spicer of the Crimson Circus. |
29th July 1933 | Miss M. Kenyon Nelson, Lancashire |
C. Deane London |
Miss Shelagh.Browning Newport |
A. G. Davies Cardiff |
Ladies race: 20 competitors, Mens race: 74 competitors Over 50,000 spectators expected Aerobatic display by Flying Officer W. N. L. Cope, Cardiff Aeroplane Club Diving exhibition by Mr & Mrs W. G. T. Burn (1932 Olympic divers) and Mr A. B. Perrow Band of the 53rd (Welsh) Divisional Royal Engineers played during the afternoon. |
21st July 1934 | Miss Mary L. Kenyon Nelson, Lancashire |
Cecil T. Deane London Penguins |
Miss Shelagh.Browning Newport |
A. G. Davies Cardiff University |
Ladies race: 11 competitors, Mens race: 78 competitors Admission free Surf board riding display by Miss Sybil Terry, Barry Yacht & Motor Boat Club, and Miss Hilda Thomas, Cardiff Aerobatic display by Flying Officer W. N. L. Cope and the Cardiff Aeroplane Club Diving exhibition by Mr A. B. Perrow assisted by members of the Cardiff Diving Club The Cardiff Post-office Band provided background music. |
20th July 1935 | Miss S. L. Browning Newport |
Cecil T. Deane London Penguins |
Miss S. L. Browning Newport |
W. Hall Cardiff Polytechnic |
Ladies race: 16 competitors, Mens race: 47 competitors Surf board riding display by Miss Sybil Terry and Miss Hilda Thomas Aerobatic display by Flying Officer W. N. L. Cope and the Cardiff Aeroplane Club Diving display by the Cardiff Diving Club The Cardiff Post-ofice Band played a programme of light music. |
25th July 1936 | Miss Shelagh.Browning Newport |
Cecil T. Deane London Penguins |
Miss Shelagh.Browning Newport |
W.J.Parkman Cardiff Otters |
Ladies race: 14 competitors, Mens race: 54 competitors Surf board riding display by Miss Sybil Terry, Barry Yacht & Motor Boat Club, and Miss Hilda Thomas and Mr Harold Thomas, Cardiff Cardiff Post-office Military Band |
24th July 1937 | Miss M.Y.Allen Torquay |
H. G. Parsons Leander |
Shelagh Browning Newport |
S. G. Huxtable Swansea |
Ladies race: 16 competitors, Mens race: 46 competitors Admission charges 2d or 1s for the stand, proceeds to Cardiff Royal Infirmary Centenary Appeal Fund Reported that there were 9,418 spectators Surf board riding display by Miss Hilda Thomas and Mr Harold Thomas, Alec Card & R. C. Fitzgerald Flying-officer G. M. S. Kemp gave an acrobatic display flying a D. H. Moth A fly past by mahines from the Cardiff Aeroplane Club: Capt Godfrey, Messrs S. K. Davies, G. Nicol, Sam Lewis, L. I. Arnot & Dr. H. Nicoll Display of diving was given by Messrs E. Martin, T. Harvard & A. Beecham of the Gelligaled swimming club. |
23rd July 1938 | Miss B. Lowry South Manchester |
C. T. Deane London Penguins |
Miss P. Gould Roath Park, Cardiff |
D. L. Powell Newport |
Ladies race: 13 competitors, Mens race: 51 competitors Over 9,500 spectators passed through the turnstiles. Admission 2d, proceeds to Cardiff Royal Infirmary. Display of surf board riding by Miss Lilian Card, Mr Alec Card and Mr A.Bowditch Display by coracle men from Carmarthen Display of aerobatics by Flying-officer G. M. S. Kemp of the Cardiff Aeroplane Club. Flying visit from the Cardiff Aeroplane Club with various types of aircraft Diving exhibition by members of the Barry Swim Club. The Post-office military band, conducted by James Livsey, provided light music. |
29th July 1939 | Shelagh Browning Newport |
D. L. Powell Newport |
Shelagh Browning Newport |
D. L. Powell Newport |
Ladies race: 14 competitors, Mens race: 62 competitors Admission 2d, proceeds to Cardiff Royal Infirmary Diving display by members of the Mid-Glamorgan District Swimming Club Gymnastic exhibition by St. Cadoc's Gymnastic Club, Cardiff Aerobatic display was given by G. S. M. Kemp and the Cardiff Aeroplane Club Post-office band, conducted by Mr E. T. Whitehead, provided music. |
Not held | Western Mail, August 2nd 1947 page 4 | ||||
2nd August 1947 | Miss Elizabeth Hill Croydon |
T. P. Holt Weston-super-Mare |
Miss Rosina Daymond Newport |
Arthur Mail Cardiff |
Estimated 20,000 spectators Aerobatic display by G.M.S.Kemp of the Cardiff Aeroplane Club Diving displays by Mrs S.G.Huxtable, Swansea, and Tommy Chamberlain, Cardiff, the Welsh firm-board diving champion |
24th July 1948 | Miss D. Wilkinson Birmingham |
A.W. Mail Cardiff |
Miss R. Daymond Newport |
A.W. Mail Cardiff |
Estimated 20,000 spectators Aerobatic display by G.M.S.Kemp of the Cardiff Aeroplane Club and Flight-lieut Martin of RAF St Athan Diving display by T.J. Chamberlain, Cardiff, the Welsh firm-board diving champion Cardiff Post Office Band, director Mr E. T. Whitehead, provided music |
30th July 1949 | Margaret Linton Newport |
John Brockway Newport |
Margaret Linton Newport |
John Brockway Newport |
Ladies race: 17 competitors, Mens race: 90 competitors Aerobatic display by the Cardiff Aeroplane Club Exhibition of dinghy drill by members of the Royal Air Force, St. Athan Life saving drill by the Barry Life Guard Club |
29th July 1950 | Rosina Daymond Newport |
Tom Holt Weston-super-Mare |
Rosina Daymond Newport |
Eugene Williams Newport |
15,000 spectators 114 entrants in the mens race, the largest number ever Novel aquatic display by Bob Bradburn, Canadian lumberjack Fly-past by aircraft of the Cardiff Aeroplane Club & No.3 Reserve Flying School, and aerobatic demonstration by Chief Instructor G.M.S. Kemp |
28th July 1951 | Vida Dallimore Newport |
Tom Holt Weston-super-Mare |
Vida Dallimore Newport |
John Brockway Newport |
5,000 spectators Ladies race: 38 competitors, Mens race: 112 competitors Flying display by V.R. No.3 Royal Flying School Cardiff Aerobatic display by G.M.S.Kemp |
26th July 1952 | Vida Dallimore Newport |
Tom Holt Weston-super-Mare |
Vida Dallimore Newport |
Eugene Williams Newport |
Ladies race: 47 competitors, Mens race: 109 competitors Flying display by B.Hann and I.Lewis, Cardiff Ultra Light Aeroplane Club Aerobatic display by G.M.S.Kemp, Cardiff Aeroplane Club |
25th July 1953 | Vida Dallimore Maindee |
Colin Taylor Sparkhill |
Vida Dallimore | Alan Stevens Maindee |
Several hundred spectators (fewer than usual) owing to prolonged heavy rain Ladies race: 15 competitors, Mens race: 101 competitors Aerobatic display by G.M.S.Kemp cancelled owing to low cloud |
31st July 1954 | Vida Dallimore Maindee |
A Miles Sparkhill Birmingham |
Vida Dallimore Maindee |
Eugene Williams Newport |
Ladies race: 34 competitors, Mens race: 88 competitors Aerial acrobatics display by George.Kemp of the Cardiff Aeroplane Club, flying a Tiger Moth |
30th July 1955 | Margaret ("Pip") Linton Newport |
A Miles Sparkhill Birmingham |
Margaret ("Pip") Linton Newport |
Alban Stevens Maindee |
Ladies race: 49 entrants, Mens race: 118 entrants Aerobatics performed by Mr Tony Lazenby of the Cardiff Aeroplane Club |
28th July 1956 | Lesley Dewar Cardiff |
Mike Edwards Maindee |
Lesley Dewar Cardiff |
Mike Edwards Maindee |
Ladies race: 44 competitors, Mens race: 124 entrants Aerobatic display by G.M.S.Kemp, Cardiff Aero Club |
27th July 1957 | Geraldine Francis Newport |
Tony Holmyard Bristol |
Geraldine Francis Newport |
Glyn Morgan Newport |
Ladies race: 48 entrants, Mens race: over 150 entrants Aerobatic display cancelled owing to rain and low cloud Demonstration of Eskimo rolling kayaks by the Llandaff Canoe Club |
30th August 1958 | Jocelyn. Hooper Newport |
Brian Flook Newport |
Jocelyn. Hooper Newport |
Brian Flook Newport |
Ladies race: 34 entrants, Mens race: 129 entrants Aerobatic display |
25th July 1959 | Geraldine Francis Newport |
Brian Flook Newport |
Geraldine Francis Newport |
Brian Flook Newport |
|
13th August 1960 | Geraldine Francis Newport |
Brian Flook Newport |
Geraldine Francis Newport |
Brian Flook Newport |
Ladies race: 41 competitors, Mens race: 89 competitors Aerobatic display by Colin Davies, instructor at Glamorgan Flying Club. |
22nd July 1961 | Jocelyn Hooper Newport |
Brian Flook Newport |
Jocelyn Hooper Newport |
Brian Flook Newport |
Ladies race: 44 competitors, Mens race: over 100 competitors |
7th July 1962 | Jocelyn Hooper Newport |
Brian Flook Newport |
Jocelyn Hooper Newport |
Brian Flook Newport |
Ladies race: 52 competitors, Mens race 101 competitors |
The following table gives the sources of information for the details shown above.
Year | Sources |
---|---|
1924 | Western Mail Saturday September 27th 1924 page 11 Western Mail Monday September 29th 1924 page 7 Western Mail Monday September 29th 1924 unnumbered page |
1925 | Western Mail Saturday August 29th 1925 page 10 Western Mail Wednesday September 2nd 1925 unnumbered page Western Mail Thursday September 3rd 1925 page 4 Western Daily Press, Bristol September 3rd 1925 page 8 British Pathé on YouTube |
1926 | Western Mail Monday August 16th 1926 page 5 Western Mail Saturday August 21st 1926 page 8 Western Mail Monday August 23rd 1926 page 5 & unnumbered page |
1927 | Western Mail Saturday August 13th 1927 pages 4 & 5 |
1928 | Western Mail Monday June 18th 1928 two unnumbered pages Western Mail Saturday June 16th 1928 unnumbered page Cornishman, June 20th 1928 page 3 British Pathé |
1929 | Western Mail Saturday July 6th 1929 pages 5 & 6 Western Mail Monday July 8th 1929 pages 3 & 4 |
1930 | Western Mail Monday August 25th 1930 page 5 Western Mail Saturday August 23rd page 8 |
1931 | Western Mail Saturday July 25th 1931 page 5 Western Mail Monday July 27th 1931 pages 10 & 11 |
1932 | Western Mail Saturday 4th June 1932 page 5 Western Mail Monday 6th June 1932 pages 7 & 12 Gloucestershire Echo Tuesday May 10th 1932 page 4 (advert) Gloucester Citizen - Tuesday 10 May 1932 page 2 (advert) British Pathé on YouTube |
1933 | Western Mail Saturday July 29th 1933 page 4 & 12 Western Mail Monday July 31th 1933 page 5 & 10 Daily Mirror Friday July 20th 1937 page 28 Western Mail 13th April 1942, front page |
1934 | Western Mail Saturday July 21st 1934 page 5 Western Mail Monday July 23rd 1934 page 5 & 7 Daily Mail July 23rd 1934 page 15 Western Mail 13th April 1942, front page |
1935 | Western Mail Saturday July 20th 1935 page 6 Western Mail Monday July 22nd 1935 page 5 Western Mail 13th April 1942, front page |
1936 | Western Mail Saturday July 25th 1936 page 5 Western Mail Monday July 27th 1936 page 5 & 12 Western Mail 13th April 1942, front page |
1937 | Western Mail Thursday July 22nd 1937 page 3 Western Mail Saturday July 24th 1937 page 4 & 5 Western Mail Monday July 26th 1937 page 3 & 12 |
1938 | Western Mail Saturday July 23rd 1938 pages 5 & 11 Western Mail Monday July 25th 1938 pages 6, 7 & 12 Daily Mail, Monday July 25th 1938 page 12 The Times, Monday, July 25th 1938 page 5 Western Morning News and Daily Gazette July 25th 1938 page 3 Western Mail 13th April 1942, front page |
1939 | Western Mail Saturday July 29th 1939 pages 4 & 10 Western Mail Monday July 31st 1939 pages 3 & 10 |
not held | |
1947 | Western Mail Saturday August 2nd 1947 page 4 Western Mail Monday August 4th 1947 page 4 |
1948 | Western Mail Monday July 24th 1948 page 4 |
1949 | Western Mail Saturday July 30th 1949 page 5 Western Mail Monday August 1st 1949 page 5 |
1950 | Taff Swim, Official Programme July 29th 1950 Western Mail Friday July 28th 1950 page 5 Western Mail Saturday July 29th 1950 page 5 Western Mail Monday July 31st 1950 page 5 YouTube: Movietone News |
1951 | British Pathé
on YouTube Western Mail Saturday July 28th 1951 page 5 Western Mail Monday July 30th 1951 page 6 |
1952 | Western Mail Saturday July 26th 1952 page 5 Western Mail July 28th 1952 page 6 YouTube: Movietone News |
1953 | Western Mail Saturday July 25th 1953 page 7 Western Mail Monday July 27th 1953 page 6 & 8 |
1954 | Western Mail Saturday July 31st 1954 page 9 Western Mail Monday August 2nd 1954 page 8 |
1955 | Western Mail Saturday July 30th 1955 page 7 Western Mail Monday August 1st 1955 page 8 |
1956 | Western Mail Saturday July 28th 1956 page 9 Western Mail Monday July 30th 1956 page 7 |
1957 | Western Mail Saturday July 27th 1957 page 10 Western Mail Monday July 29th 1957 page 8 |
1958 | Western Mail Saturday August 30th 1958 page 7 & 10 Western Mail Monday September 1st 1958 page 9 The Times Monday September 1st 1958 page 13 |
1959 | Industrial strike action - no Western Mail July 1959 Western Mail Thursday August 6th 1959, special news review, page four Western Mail, Saturday August 13th 1960 page 14 |
1960 | Western Mail, Saturday August 13th 1960 page 14 Western Mail, Monday August 15th 1960 page 11 |
1961 | Western Main Monday 24th July 1961 page 8 |
1962 | Western Mail Saturday July 7th 1962 page 12 Western Mail Monday July 9th 1962 page 9 |
The 1962 event appears to have been the last. At its meeting on June 10th 1963, the Parks, Baths and Cemeteries Committee granted to the Welsh Amateur Swimming Association permission to hold the 1963 Taff Swim in the lake on Saturday 27th July. No report of the race having taken place on or around this date has been found, and neither has a notice of cancellation.
The following is a list of surviving programmes for the Taff Swim:-
The Western Mail is available on microfilm at Cathays Branch and Heritage Library.
Sources of Information