Never mind the World Cup. Welcome to the Chap Olympiad!
This eccentric competition has got to be, without a shadow of a doubt, the most British of all sporting contests.
It has been held every year since 2005 at Bedford Square in Bloomsbury, central London, and is aimed at revisiting the fashions and pastimes of aspects of 1920s to 1950s England.
The Chap Olympiad sees the nation's most refined sportschaps and women take part in an array of polite sporting events, while decked out in their best vintage costumes.
Competitors - who are 'awarded more points for maintaining immaculate trouser creases than crossing the finish line' - take part in events such as umbrella jousting, the 'Tug-'o-Hair' event, the pipeathlon and iron board surfing, while donning stylish bowler hats, monocles and strings of pearls.
The pipeathlon event involved running several laps around the venue carrying a fully-lit pipe, while umbrella jousting saw competitors fighting off each other while seated in Boris Bikes.
Guests not only wear their best vintage outfits but also take along traditional British picnics - which includes grapes, Pimms and strawberries - to eat on the lawn.
The event is the creation of The Chap magazine, a bi-monthly publication edited by Gustav Temple, which glorifies a dandyish way of life involving tweed, pipe smoking and fine facial hair.
Who needs the World Cup? Stylish British sportsmen dazzle in pinstripes and bowlers at country's most eccentric sporting tournament
The eccentric Chap Olympiad, which began in 2005, takes place every year in Bedford Square, Bloomsbury, London
Immaculately-dressed sportsmen and women take part in events such as umbrella jousting and the pipeathlon
The light-hearted social event aims to revisit the fashions and pastimes of the polite English between 1920 and 1950
By Steph Cockroft
14 July 2014
Daily Mail
Daily Mail
The nation might have well been spoiled for choice over the past month when it comes to sporting competitions - but it's unlikely any will have been played out in as much style as this one.
The Chap Olympiad, an eccentric athletic competition held this weekend in London, sees the nation's most refined sportsmen and women take part in an array of polite sporting events, while decked out in their best vintage costumes.
Held every year since 2005 in Bloomsbury's Bedford Square, the light-hearted social sporting event is aimed at revisiting the fashions and pastimes of aspects of 1920s to 1950s England.
Competitors - who are 'awarded more points for maintaining immaculate trouser creases than crossing the finish line' - take part in events such as umbrella jousting, the 'Tug-'o-Hair' event, the pipeathlon and iron board surfing, while donning stylish bowler hats, monocles and strings of pearls.
The pipeathlon event involved running several laps around the venue carrying a fully-lit pipe, while umbrella jousting saw competitors fighting off each other while seated in Boris Bikes.
The event is the creation of The Chap magazine, a bi-monthly publication edited by Gustav Temple, which glorifies a dandyish way of life involving tweed, pipe smoking and fine facial hair.
Gentlemen were seen kitted out in their finest pinstripe suits and boating hats, while women donned head feathers, A-line dresses and their brightest red lipstick to enjoy the occasion.
Read more: Who needs the World Cup? Pinstripes and bowlers at eccentric Chap Olympiad | Mail Online
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