Ernest Barry
Encyclopedia
Ernest James Barry was a British rower and Thames Waterman, five times Sculling World Champion
during the early part of the 20th century and winner of the Doggett's Coat and Badge
Race in 1903.
in 1908 against George Towns (rower)
who had already won the world championship four times and the English Championship twice. That day, Barry, as well as beating Towns, set up a record over the course which lasted for many years. His time was 21m.12.5s.
In August 1910 he competed for the World Professional sculling championship
for the first time. Barry wanted Richard Arnst
, the existing Champion to travel to England for the match which he was willing to do provided certain expenses were met. (Normally a challenger would travel to where the Champion lived.) Barry was unable to arrange the expenses but then the British South Africa Company
offered to stage the match in Northern Rhodesia
. They believed the match would promote the Company and the country. Stakes and expenses were guaranteed by the Company and the match was arranged to be run on the Zambezi River on 18 August 1910. The 3.25 mile race above the Victoria Falls
, was what may have been the first serious high altitude competition. The heat and the altitude affected both scullers but Arnst was the better of the two and he crossed the line in front of Barry to retain his Title.
in the form of travelling expenses.
In October 1912 Barry retained his Title by defeating Edward Durnan, of Canada, on the Thames course. The following July (1913) he also defeated Harry Pearce of Australia, again on the Thames course. He held off one further challenge by beating Jim Paddon
of Australia in September 1914. No matches were held during World War I.
Barry lost the World title to Australian Alf Felton
on the Thames course in October 1919. Both men had been servicemen in the first World War and Felton was still in Europe at he time of the challenge so he did not need to travel from Australia. Felton offered Barry a return match which was to be held in Sydney. During the race in August 1920, Felton lead for the first half and then Barry fouled his opponent. Felton stopped rowing believing he had won on the foul but the umpire, Bill Beach
ordered the men to continue rather than making a ruling. It was likely he believed the foul was accidental and did not make a difference to the race. Felton did not scull on but Barry did and he crossed the line ahead and thus regained the World Title. The umpire's decision was final. This race was on the Paramatta River in Sydney
, Australia. Barry returned to England and finally lost the Title to Richard Arnst
when he (Barry) forfeited a challenge by Arnst because three months passed without Barry accepting the challenge. For further details of his Championship races see World Professional sculling championship
.
In October 1920 The New York Times reported:
Ultimately his nephew Bert did go on to become Champion of the World, but not for another seven years.
The Barrys had five children. Lottie was by birth a Hammerton, a member of the large family that lived in no25 The Embankment, now the home of The Twickenham Museum. One of Lottie's cousins was Walter Hammerton, waterman and ferryman who was the victor in the Earl of Dysart vs Hammerton case of 1913-15.
In 1953 he was invited to coach Cork Boat Club in Ireland. While not all agreed with his style and method but there was no doubt that he considerably improved the standard of rowing in the club and the crowning point was the success in the Maiden VIII Championships in Drogheda in 1957.
Barry, lived to see the end of professional sculling but was forced to sell all but two of his trophies to support himself and his daughter Thelma, who contracted poliomyelitis
.
He spent the rest of his life at Bonser Road, off the lower end of Cross Deep in Twickenham, dying in July 1968 aged about 86.
World Sculling Championship (Professional)
The World Sculling Championship , evolved from the Championship of the Thames for professional scullers.Only the sport of boxing claims an older Championship of the World...
during the early part of the 20th century and winner of the Doggett's Coat and Badge
Doggett's Coat and Badge
Doggett's Coat and Badge is the prize and name for the oldest rowing race in the world. Up to six apprentice Watermen of the River Thames in England compete for this prestigious honour, which has been held every year since 1715. The 4 miles 5 furlongs race is held on the Thames between London...
Race in 1903.
Sculling career
Ernest Barry was brought almost straight from novice to race for the English Sculling ChampionshipEnglish Sculling Championship
The English Sculling Championship developed out of informal competitions between working watermen on rivers such as the Thames and the Tyne. Various matches were made on a casual basis but in time these were more formalised. The first recognised Champion was Charles Campbell who beat John Williams...
in 1908 against George Towns (rower)
George Towns (rower)
George Towns was the Australian Single Sculls World Champion from 1901 to 1905 and 1906 to 1907. He was the last of the seven Australian Champions who between them held the title almost uninterrupted from 1876 to 1907.-Early Sculling:...
who had already won the world championship four times and the English Championship twice. That day, Barry, as well as beating Towns, set up a record over the course which lasted for many years. His time was 21m.12.5s.
In August 1910 he competed for the World Professional sculling championship
World Sculling Championship (Professional)
The World Sculling Championship , evolved from the Championship of the Thames for professional scullers.Only the sport of boxing claims an older Championship of the World...
for the first time. Barry wanted Richard Arnst
Richard Arnst
Richard Arnst or Dick Arnst , born Jacob Diedrich Arnst, was a New Zealand rower, six times Single Sculls World Champion during the early part of the 20th century.-Early life:...
, the existing Champion to travel to England for the match which he was willing to do provided certain expenses were met. (Normally a challenger would travel to where the Champion lived.) Barry was unable to arrange the expenses but then the British South Africa Company
British South Africa Company
The British South Africa Company was established by Cecil Rhodes through the amalgamation of the Central Search Association and the Exploring Company Ltd., receiving a royal charter in 1889...
offered to stage the match in Northern Rhodesia
Northern Rhodesia
Northern Rhodesia was a territory in south central Africa, formed in 1911. It became independent in 1964 as Zambia.It was initially administered under charter by the British South Africa Company and formed by it in 1911 by amalgamating North-Western Rhodesia and North-Eastern Rhodesia...
. They believed the match would promote the Company and the country. Stakes and expenses were guaranteed by the Company and the match was arranged to be run on the Zambezi River on 18 August 1910. The 3.25 mile race above the Victoria Falls
Victoria Falls
The Victoria Falls or Mosi-oa-Tunya is a waterfall located in southern Africa on the Zambezi River between the countries of Zambia and Zimbabwe.-Introduction:...
, was what may have been the first serious high altitude competition. The heat and the altitude affected both scullers but Arnst was the better of the two and he crossed the line in front of Barry to retain his Title.
World Champion
In July 1912 Barry won against Arnst the World Championship on the Thames and retained the title for five years. This was the first time an Englishman had held the title since 1876 and Barry's victory was hailed as "Refutation of charge of England's athletic decadence." In reality Barry regained the championship by adopting the lifestyle of his nearest foreign competitors, including accepting £2000 of sponsorship from the Daily MailDaily Mail
The Daily Mail is a British daily middle-market tabloid newspaper owned by the Daily Mail and General Trust. First published in 1896 by Lord Northcliffe, it is the United Kingdom's second biggest-selling daily newspaper after The Sun. Its sister paper The Mail on Sunday was launched in 1982...
in the form of travelling expenses.
In October 1912 Barry retained his Title by defeating Edward Durnan, of Canada, on the Thames course. The following July (1913) he also defeated Harry Pearce of Australia, again on the Thames course. He held off one further challenge by beating Jim Paddon
Jim Paddon
James Paddon, known as “Jim”, was the second Australian after World War I to win the professional World Sculling Championship. Before the war seven other Australians had held the title....
of Australia in September 1914. No matches were held during World War I.
Barry lost the World title to Australian Alf Felton
Alf Felton
Alfred D Felton, known as “Alf”, was the first Australian after World War I to win the professional World Sculling Championship. Before the war seven other Australians had held the title.- Life and Racing:...
on the Thames course in October 1919. Both men had been servicemen in the first World War and Felton was still in Europe at he time of the challenge so he did not need to travel from Australia. Felton offered Barry a return match which was to be held in Sydney. During the race in August 1920, Felton lead for the first half and then Barry fouled his opponent. Felton stopped rowing believing he had won on the foul but the umpire, Bill Beach
Bill Beach
William Beach was a professional Australian sculler. He was unbeaten as World Sculling Champion from 1884 to 1887.Born on 6 September 1850 at Chertsey, Surrey, England, to Alexander Beach, blacksmith, and his wife Mary, née Gibbons...
ordered the men to continue rather than making a ruling. It was likely he believed the foul was accidental and did not make a difference to the race. Felton did not scull on but Barry did and he crossed the line ahead and thus regained the World Title. The umpire's decision was final. This race was on the Paramatta River in Sydney
Sydney
Sydney is the most populous city in Australia and the state capital of New South Wales. Sydney is located on Australia's south-east coast of the Tasman Sea. As of June 2010, the greater metropolitan area had an approximate population of 4.6 million people...
, Australia. Barry returned to England and finally lost the Title to Richard Arnst
Richard Arnst
Richard Arnst or Dick Arnst , born Jacob Diedrich Arnst, was a New Zealand rower, six times Single Sculls World Champion during the early part of the 20th century.-Early life:...
when he (Barry) forfeited a challenge by Arnst because three months passed without Barry accepting the challenge. For further details of his Championship races see World Professional sculling championship
World Sculling Championship (Professional)
The World Sculling Championship , evolved from the Championship of the Thames for professional scullers.Only the sport of boxing claims an older Championship of the World...
.
In October 1920 The New York Times reported:
"Ernest Barry, holder of the professional sculling Championship of the World as a result of his recent victory over Felton in Australia, finds that he will be unable to do the training required to defend his title. He hopes that his nephew Bert Barry, who is 18 years of age and six feet in height, will become defender of the title in his stead"
Ultimately his nephew Bert did go on to become Champion of the World, but not for another seven years.
A Royal Waterman
Barry was made a royal waterman in 1913. He saw service in the army in the First War. For two or three years in the early 1920s he was landlord of the Fox Inn in Church Street Twickenham, but had given that up by 1922, moving to No.5 Bonser Road with his wife Lottie.The Barrys had five children. Lottie was by birth a Hammerton, a member of the large family that lived in no25 The Embankment, now the home of The Twickenham Museum. One of Lottie's cousins was Walter Hammerton, waterman and ferryman who was the victor in the Earl of Dysart vs Hammerton case of 1913-15.
Later life
After retiring from competitive sculling Ernest Barry turned to coaching. He was appointed the Royal Barge Master to King George VI, and later to Queen Elizabeth II until he retired from the position in 1952 because of ill health.In 1953 he was invited to coach Cork Boat Club in Ireland. While not all agreed with his style and method but there was no doubt that he considerably improved the standard of rowing in the club and the crowning point was the success in the Maiden VIII Championships in Drogheda in 1957.
Barry, lived to see the end of professional sculling but was forced to sell all but two of his trophies to support himself and his daughter Thelma, who contracted poliomyelitis
Poliomyelitis
Poliomyelitis, often called polio or infantile paralysis, is an acute viral infectious disease spread from person to person, primarily via the fecal-oral route...
.
He spent the rest of his life at Bonser Road, off the lower end of Cross Deep in Twickenham, dying in July 1968 aged about 86.
Further reading
- New York Times, "BRITISH JUBILANT OVER ROWING RACE", July 30, 1912, p. 10
- New York Times, "ARNST RETAINS ROWING HONORS", August 19, 1910, p. 7
- http://www.corkboatclub.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=70&Itemid=50 History by Late Ted Boohig
- Wigglesworth N, "A Social History of English Rowing", 1992
- Richard Arnst, The Single Sculls World Champion From New Zealand, ISBN 0-473-10499-7, published 2005.
- Cleaver H, "A History of Rowing", 1957