A WATCH that was customised for Leander Club to commemorate winning 99 Olympic medals has been stolen.

The timepiece, which is worth almost £4,000, was taken after its locked cabinet in the foyer of the club was forced open on Monday evening. Police are investigating.

The limited editition watch, which was manufactured by Henley company Bremont, is an ALT1-C model with a blue leather strap. It has a stroke-rate counter and a Leander Hippo logo on the face. A unique movement number, 11394, can be seen through the glass on the back. Only 99 versions of this model have been made.

A Bremont spokeswoman said: “We believe this piece will be extremely difficult to move on or re-sell due to its rarity and we urge people to keep a look out for it.”

A Leander spokesman said: “People do come and go in the foyer as it is a meeting place for members and non-members.


“We do see strangers there but we don’t challenge everybody because 99 per cent of the time they are there for perfectly innocent reasons.

“Security was raised as an issue when the display cabinet was first set up and the company indicated they had cabinets in other areas on a similar basis and it wasn’t a particular risk.”

If anyone is offered a watch matching the description, call Thames Valley Police on 101, quoting crime reference number EC4174346-12.

Alternatively, call Bremont on 08490 940690 or email info@bremont.com

In October, Leander rower Alex Partridge had his Olympic bronze medal stolen during a night out in London.

He had been celebrating after a Buckingham Palace reception for the Olympic athletes when he realised that his GB team jacket, with pin badges from previous Games, had gone missing.

Published 24/12/12