ROWING.

Dominion, Volume 3, Issue 834, 4 June 1910, Page 12

ROWING.

ITEMS ABOUT BARRY. (Br Mf.rodrt.) Tho following appeared in the latest "Sportsman" to hand .by the. English mail:— ■ Since the unfortunate accident to his now boat Ernest Barry has been using the shell that George Towns brought to England, and, as has been reported, the English champion is convinced that sho is very fast. On Thursday, when on the flood he went between the bridges, he reached tho mile post in smin., and did tho full journey in Bmin. flOsec. There was no wind, but it was not a fast tide. The row was highly satisfactory, Barry being particularly fast over the last seven furlongs. The row was characteristic of him, for he is always speedier after the first throe-quarters of a mile. It was so when he raced Towns. As it was only his second outing in the boat the performance was distinctly good. On Friday ho did exactly the same work and'again rowed fast, but, as unfortunately, tho watch was not started, his time cannot be given. Both Sullivan and Barry are confident of the boaf s pace. Indeed, if anything, it is too fast for Barry. As those who closely watch the English champion will notice, ho has a long, dragging stroke. As the result tho pace of tho boat, if anything, is too fast, for she gets off hie hands beforo he can get "hold of her.. That, however, is an excellent fault, and no doubt when Barry is thoroughly used to it he will get tho best out of her. So that he shall not be deceived, the boat will bo used regularly for a week in order to give it a thorough trial. Then according to Barry's ideas will his now boat bo built. This, it has been practically decided, is to be made on the samo lines as that he is using, and Sims', who are studying the Australian boat, are preparing a mould. Towns's boat w 25ft. long, and Sullivan also advocates that length. Barry, however, has a partiality for 27ft. To meet the views of both it" has been decided that Barry's new_ boat shall bo 26ft. 3in. long, which it is thought may be more suitable to his long stroke. Barry on Friday morning was sprinting at Heme Hill, having as a companion a no less famous athlete, viz., tho South African amateur runner, Reg. Walker, the Olympic Game 9 hero. Barry's best pace was not good enough for Walker. After his row on Friday he weighed list. 10Mb., and expressed himself as being in fine condition. He continues to take massage treatment after rowing, and told our representative on Friday that it was doing him good. Sullivan added that since Barry had had tho treatment his stomach had become much stronger. Barry has now received a "proof" of his colours, and these were shown to our rowing reporter on Friday. In the centre is a medallion portrait of him, and underneath the following inscription :— "Ernest Barry, Champion of England; Sculling Championship of the World, Zambesi River, Rhodesia, August, 1910." On either side arc the Union Jnck nnd tho Rhodesian flag, whilst ot the four enrners are tho emblems of Australia, ■■■•: Zealand, America, and Canada, the 'trios that in turn havo produced tho :'ld's champion scullers. As a complijiioiit to the club that has done more to advance Bnrry's interests than any other, the crossed flags of the Vesta B.C. nre nlso included. The border is of red, white, and blue, and alto«other the hand! kerchief is most interesting. They will be rernly in about a fortnight's tinio, and then will bo on sale at £1 each. Tho boat that Barry damaged on Wednesday is already repaired, and when it lias received another coat of varnish it will be impossible to toll that she was brnliTii. Sims stnlc that the efficiency of the boat is in no way impaired.