Downstream

(ASA). In August 1890,
‘owing to the dirty state of
the river’, the ASA decided to
move it to Kew. The course
ran from Kew Railway
Bridge, half a mile
downstream from where I’m
standing, to Putney Pier.
Sixteen swimmers competed
that first year, with eleven
finishing and qualifying for
‘standard certificates for
swimming the journey within
10 minutes of the winner’. By