The Chap Olympiad
The Beijing Olympics won't have to compete with this. The Chaps very gentlemanly and sportingly chose to hold their Games earlier, so as to not hog any official air time. The chaps of course are fellow esteemed members of the cultural counter-revolution, whose lack of athletic abilities is amply made up by their sartorial prowness.
The annual event is hosted by Chaps Magazine - the bible for traditional gentlemen who are against the vulgarity of modern culture. The opening ceremony includes the lighting of the Olympic pipe.
Teams compete to mix a dry martini, with the handicap of having no butler to do it for them. Such is the athleticism of the Chap Olympics.
The Chap movement was created in 1999 by Hampstead-born Gustav Temple in an attempt to "stand against the horrible culture at the time" including lad's magazines and wearing too much sportswear.
In the Pipe Relay a lit pipe is passed between teams of three along a gruelling 100-yard course. Wearing any kind of sportswear at the games results in instant disqualification.
Michael "Atters" Attree is grooming editor for Chaps. For him being a "chap" is a way of life, not a hobby. He dresses like a gentleman everyday. His event was the three-trousered limbo, where participants share enormous trousers and must wriggle under a pole. Another event, 'Bounders', involve six cads who approach six ladies and behave atrociously, with the winner being the recipient of the loudest slap.
A quill is thrown at a target as poetry is read out. Extra points are awarded for epic, metaphysical or absurdist verse.
Ladies astride their equine-attired mounts race each other, with some surprise hurdles along the way.
The prize? Gold, silver and bronze cravats of course, among other things.
Hat tip: The Classic Canadian
8 comments:
The counter revolution will be complete once we can dress that way without the buffoonery. First I ever heard of the Chap Olympics. Hilarious.
Sir,
What great stuff! Great photos. I especially liked the photo with the two gentlemen with the dark hats. There may be some connection to my having both kinds of the hats.
I do hate to do some nitpicking, but I feel compelled to. An Olympiad is a period of time -- not an event.
Beaverbrook has it quite astutely I think. I enjoy the tomfoolery. But there is something a little disheartening in it; and you are right - the counter-revolution will be complete when that element has, in fact, been eliminated, enjoyable as it is now.
One day everyone will stop dressing like children. And that won't be extraordinary.
There will still be a place for the Chaps when the revolution is complete. We will become the eccentrics instead of the front line soldiers. (I am a subscriber)
If the revolution is complete, by definition you will no longer be an eccentric. We are talking about the counter revolution, whereby our slob casual culture learn to once again dress like men.
That is undeniably true, but believe me, the average chap will find a way of standing out, even when mainstream society re-embraces traditional values and fashions. Even if it is just an abnormally ostentatious crevat.
One day everyone will stop dressing like children. And that won't be extraordinary.
It is awful how so many these days so unashamedly show their underwear in public.
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