The Jon Facey Challenge Trophy is awarded to the winner of the Jon Facey Race.
In the 1975/76 season the then Senior Champion, Jon Facey, threw down the gauntlet to all the up and coming bucks from the Junior ranks over a 100m FS match race. The idea was to select the fastest seven 100m swimmers over the season including the 100m Club Championship races and have a one off match race at the end of the season. The event would incorporate separate Men's and Ladies races.
A large trophy cup was purchased and donated to the club by Jon Facey. Finally the day arrived and in a boil-over Jon Facey was beaten into second place by Duncan Wade with Veronica Hatcher winning the Ladies challenge.
There was much debate as to whether the trophy should be named the Jon Facey "Memorial" Trophy but this light heartedness was sensibly overlooked for the more apt "Jon Facey Challenge Trophy".
Since then, the trophy has represented a major highlight for all budding stars to aspire to within the Club and has also provided all Club members with a fitting spectacle to cap off the season on a high note.
As an epilogue Jon Facey has competed in the race many times over the years and still to this day has never won. A true example of what the spirit of the trophy and the club represents. Try hard and always give it your best shot, no matter what your age.