200m Free Trophies

The G H Rope Trophy is awarded to the fastest male senior swimmer in the 200m Freestyle at the National Winter Championships (25m).

While the Winter Championships are traditionally a short course event, they were held in the long course 50m pool in 2017.

George Rope was a member of the famous Otter SC where he was the club president from 1890 to 1930. He went on to become president of the ASA in 1897.

Until 2015, the G H Rope Trophy was awarded to the fastest male senior swimmer in the 200m Free at the ASA National Championships (50m).

Past Winners: G H Rope Trophy

The Pragnell Memorial Trophy is awarded to the fastest female senior swimmer in the 200m Freestyle at the National Winter Championships (25m).

While the Winter Championships are traditionally a short course event, they were held in the long course 50m pool in 2017.

Until 2015, the trophy was awarded to the fastest female senior swimmer in the 200m Free at the ASA National Championships (50m).

Past Winners: Pragnell Memorial Trophy

History of the Pragnell Memorial Trophy

Sir George Pragnell became secretary of the Amateur Swimming Association in 1893. He set about writing a list of objectives needed by the ASA to succeed.

It took the ASA 10 years to embrace the changes that were set out in Pragnell’s objectives.

He was also elected President of the Association during this time.

Following his long term of office, Pragnell set about out starting the British Red Cross Society and the Home Guard for which he received his Knighthood.

When he passed away the Queen sent the following message to his widow:

“The Queen fears that Sir George must have over taxed his strength in his remitting efforts to serve his country and Her Majesty feels that by his death the Nation has lost one of its most useful and patriotic citizens.”

The J A Tyres Otter SC Trophy is awarded to the highest ranked male junior swimmer in the 200m Freestyle at the National Winter Championships (25m).

While the Winter Championships are traditionally a short course event, they were held in the long course 50m pool in 2017.

Until 2015, the trophy was awarded to the fastest male swimmer in the 200m Free at the ASA National Youth Championships (50m).

Past Winners: J A Tyres Otter SC Trophy

History of the J A Tyres Otter SC Trophy

James H (Jack) Tyers (b. circa 1876) was an English swimmer who had great success in the 1890s.

He won the English 100-yard and 220-yard championships from 1892-97, and the 440-yard, 500-yard, half-mile, and mile championships from 1893-96.

A member of the Osborne Swimming Club in Manchester, Tyres first came to prominence on 19 September 1892 when, in the Corporation Baths, Vestry Street, Leicester, he swam 100 yards with three turns in 1.54-5s, beating all previous records.

Since that evening, he never lost a race except when heavily handicapped.

The ASA used to schedule seven annual championship races at distances from 100 yards to 5 miles, held at different times between June and October.

Tyers took all seven titles in 1893 then went on to win them all again in 1894.

Official swimming statistics credit Tyers with 43 English records of varying distances and all but two of these 43 were world’s best records.

Tyers received a suspension for using ‘strong language’ at a meet. He went on to turn professional in 1898.

The Etobicoke Memorial Trophy is awarded to the highest ranked female junior swimmer in the 200m Freestyle at the National Winter Championships (25m).

While the Winter Championships are traditionally a short course event, they were held in the long course 50m pool in 2017.

Until 2015, the trophy was awarded to the fastest female swimmer in the 200m Free at the ASA National Youth Championships (50m).

Past Winners: Etobicoke Memorial Trophy