THE ENGLISH CHAMPION.

Dominion, Volume 3, Issue 898, 18 August 1910, Page 5

THE ENGLISH CHAMPION.

- BARRY'S RECORD. . Ernest Barry is regarded by English authorities as the fastest sculler that has ever rowed on the Thames. Born in London in February, 1882, he is just a.year and nine months older than Arnst. ' He is a well-built athlete, 6ft.,in height, and rows at about list. 41b. • He commenced rowing whilst still a-youth, for he was appreuticed'to ' Norris, well-known oar and scull-maker, of Putney". His first race of any importance was for the Putney Coat and Badge, in 1898, when at the ■ ago of 17 he finished second. In the following year, however, he carried off the honours. When Innes, tho noted English expert, first saw Barry he was so impressed with his style that ho wrote, "Ernest Barry will be world's champion." Since 18H9, Bany has won a large number of open handicaps and scratch races. Of 11)4 starters and from a short mark he finished second in the Ncwcastlo Handicap in 1900. Threo years later he -won the famous Doggett's Coat and Badge, whilst in 1902, .19113, .190 i. he- lediini.thc. Staines .Open Sculls,-' and subsequently he wou the Wandsworth Open Sculls. His Easy Win Over Geo. Towns. For the first time sinr«'lSßS the championship of Euglatid in 1908 fell to'an Englishman—Ernest Barry. His opponent uu thstt occasion was (ieo. Towns, the famous "Australian sculler, and an ex-champion of tho world. With a following wind for.the greater part of the journey, the conditions were eminently suitablu to fast time being recorded. This was Barry's first big match, but he sculled with the judgment of a veteran. Towns was very nippy. at the start. He slipped in 20 strokes in tho and 35 in the minute, Barry being content with 27. The Australian quickly took a lead of half,a. length arid increased it to a length off the Thames boathouso. Barry had started rather unevenly, but he settled down to a long, powerful stroke. At tho milo post, reached in 4min. 'Usee, Towns was just clear.- A 'short distance below Hammersmith Bridge there was a piece of disturbed water, but the men kept their form well. Barry commenced to draw up, and at the bridge Towns was onlv half a length ahead in the fast time of Bmi>i. 2-lsec. Just before reaching Chiswick Steps Barry made another, effort, and quickly getting °? I?™,? witn ">s riral was just in front at the Steps in 13min. lOsec. From this point tho Englishman had the race in hand. He held his own. comfortably to tho end, and finished very fit, a winner by two lengths, amid a scene of great enthusiasm. The-time—2lmin. 12 2-sscc — was n championship record, the previous best being 21min. 51sec. bv J. Rtanburv in his championship match' nguinst C. I» Harding.

' "A Born Sculler." _ So great h Barry's fame as a sculler in England'that in a very limited period over .CllOO was subscribed to meet the expenses in connection with his match against . Arnst, . Up till, about six months ago he was in the charge of Tom .Snllivnii, the erstwhile New Zealander, but owing lo a disagreement Sullivan retired in favour of another noted expert "Bossy" Phelps. Writing of Barry recently, Guy Nickalls, the well-known Lnglish sportsman, said:— ."Englishmen need not feel in the least bit alarmed as to Barry's chances of recovering the championship for-this country. The mere fact thnt he can beat any pair of double scullers in this coun.try and make a treble sculler sit up is sufficient proof of his qualities, if no other were required. He is also in excellent health and exactly nt flio right ?S°- According to all accounts, Arnst is the biggest marvel in a sculling boat ever seen; it may be that so far he has not had an over-strong crowd to beat, but there is no doubt about it he possesses enormous, muscular strength and an extraordinary chest development; but we have -no absolute proof that he is a sculler, or even has the fine points of the art at his command. I have spoken to many men who know Arnst, and have seen him scull, and their unanimous opinion is that Barry has not the ghost of. a chance. However, as these men have never seen Barry scull and are not experts, but have formed their opinion generally on what has appeared in print, it cannot in the present caso have any value whatever.

Where Barry has an Advantage. "There is also no doubt that owing to his enormous strength Arnsf can propel a boat at a great pace, and again this is no proof that he oan stay. . As a cyclist we lenow he could stay all day, and ho may. possibly do so. as a sculler, but I am of opinion that if Barry takes him beyond his pace in the last mile he will be a beaten man. And why? Because Barry is a-waterman' to his fingertips. As a sculler, quite apart from any other athletic exercise, he is in a class by himself. He knows all the finesse of the game. He is as much at home in popply water as in smooth. He can not only go at a great pace, but can also stay, at that pace, although his greatest pace may perhaps not be.quite «o fast as Arnst's. All tho experts who have seen Barry at work agree that he is the bust sculler seen on the Thames since Hanlon's palmy days, and although I am no great believer in time tests and would not rely cntirelv upon them, they prove Barry to lie no mean foe. He holds tho record for a full championship'course and also for every part of that course! In bad water it is an eyo-opener "and :a treat to see tho manner in whiob. ho coaxes-hia boat over it"