On Sunday, as previously mentioned, CBC and I went to the Sunday Chap Olympiad 2012. For anyone that hasn't heard of it, it is an event organised by the Chap magazine, a periodical for the discerning gentleman dandy of style and refinement! The event celebrates gentlemanly pursuits and is a more relaxed alternative to the Olympics with an outrageously funny set of events that anyone can sign up to!. It's also an opportunity to don your vintage or vintage/retro-inspired/repo outfits and gaze admiringly at how beautiful and handsome every one else looks!
I last went in 2010 as last year, OFSTED happened! That previous time, here are CBC and I: It was his second time and my first time! I went 1920's flapperish!
This time, CBC wore his Mr Darcy shirt (No, it really is when he wears it with the white cravat!) and despite wanting to wear the aforementioned 1950's looking Laura Ashley dress, it was just too wet, cold and rainy so I decided to try to create a 1940's look. Re the hair, I really tried! I watched a great tutorial on an easy (for complete hair-pleb that I am!) 1940's style but didn't quite work out because a) I can't make a side parting, b) can't seem to backcomb, c) don't like hairspray! d) hair is ridiculously fluffy and stubborn!
The range of hilarious 'sporting events' are all taken in good spirits and cheating is actively encouraged! The funnier, the better.
Here we have the umbrella jousting in which ( I quote the Chap magazine from hereon in)
"In the medieval tradition, chaps on bicycles approach each other along a boundary and use their brollies to knock each other off, protected by Bowler hats and reinforced copies of the Daily telegraph."
An absolute classic which almost resulted in a crowd-surfing bicycle/carnage! Lovely cycles provided by TallyHo cycles!
My favourite competitor below (very handsome and reminded me of the Police-officer from Allo Allo!)
Shouting at Foreigners::
"Contestants must negotiate with a curmudgeonly uncooperative foreign shop assistant and aim to gain a specific item."
Endede up being very rude and very funny and the worthy winner was the one who attacked a pineapple with his hidden sword inside his walking stick and got the shop-assistant to place the desired banana in the slot!
A new event, modelled firmly on ancient Greek army tactics: The briefcase phalanx:
in which competitors have to relay a message from one end of the track, through an aggressive barrier of brief-case brandishing, Tyrolls-crisps (sponsors- yay we got freebies!) throwing warriors in order to deliver the message to the secretary at the other end.
It got nasty!
The 3-legged trouser-limbo:
parners in large tweed trousers had to brave the fiercely unfair limbo sticks!
Bounders: where the chaps on one side, had to approach the chappettes opposite and say something so caddish that they receive an indigant slap!
Hilarious when Atters, Chap-supreme then went and propositioned the ladies himself!
Synchronised slippages: A slightly out of place paddling pool required beauty and grace in the water. Ended in slight chaos when the last competitor tipped the entire paddling pool over the track and crept under the paddling pool like some sort of slime beast!
Cucumber sandwich discus! Hilarious event where competitors chucked a china plate avec sandwich to get as a far as possible! Members of the press got brained!
Ironing board surfing:
In this event, the competitor was supposed to be carried on their ironing board by a willing team whilst holding a cocktail aloft and not spilling it. This chap attempted a solo shuffle before being carted off by the 'nurses' who gave him a bloody-mary drip!
In the break, a Gentleman rapper (hilarious cover rapping with Chappish Queen's English diction regalled us with popular modern hits! After, people took to the dancefloor for a swing!
The Tug of hair involved a large moustache being tugged!
The Tyrolls crisp stand had a fun pose!
In the break for tiffin, whilst CBC and I bought drinks, food and wandered, I saw these two gorgeous girls. Loved their outfits!
As you can see, it rained a lot! A lot!!!
Luckily, they had prepared for rain more than previous years with several large open-sided marquees where people could shelter. The food and drink available was delicious
There was a great case of 'Stiff upper lip' as the deluge of rain didn't scare away anyone and we Britishly sat under our umbrellas!
We had a truly delightful day, full of much merriment and contentment! As we left, it really began to rain again- Just perfect for a singing in the rain moment!
Have you ever been?!
N.B. Please note, that information pertaining to the Chap Olympiad is from the Chap magazine website.
I tried to take photos in which faces weren't on full view where used. If you discover yourself in a shot and aren't happy about it, please let me know and I will remove it!
