st. | lb. | |||
---|---|---|---|---|
W.L. Barry | 13 | 7 |
"... it is probably fair to say that WL Barry, much improved since last year, not least in his racing ability, is the first English sculler to go in with a chance of success since TA Fox, 10 years ago." [The Times, reporting the entries for HRR]
Date | Result | Dist. | Barrier | Fawley | Finish |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Wed 3 July | bye | ||||
Thu 4 July (QF) | beat K. Maybery (Victoria Lake Club, South Africa) | easily | 2.23 | 4.07 | 8.47 |
See photograph. "Barry led by 1¼ lengths at the ¼ mile and by 4 lengths at the Barrier. He was a long way ahead at Fawley and the Mile." [HRR] | |||||
Fri 5 July (SF) | beat R.J. Groen (Groninger Studenten Roeivereeniging Aegir, Holland) | 3½ L | 2.24 | 4.07 | 8.55 |
See photograph. "The most heartening performance yesterday was Barry's win in the Diamonds, which showed that he is at last on the road to success. He took half a length off Groen of the Netherlands in the first quarter-mile. Groen made a determined effort to hold him, and closed to three feet at the barrier. But Barry then sculled right away, to win in a paddle." [The Times] "Barry led by ¼ length at the ¼ mile and the Barrier. At slightly the slower rate of striking he drew away to a length at Fawley and 2½ lengths at the Mile." [HRR] | |||||
Sat 6 July (F) | lost to G. Kottman (Belvoir Ruder Club, Switzerland) | 2 feet | 2.20 | 3.55 | 8.03 |
See photograph and video (2MB wmv). "Almost as heartening was Barry's performance in the Diamonds. Only inexperience robbed him of victory. He started stroke for stroke with Kottman, at 42, settling to 32, and led at once. At the quarter mile signal he had three-quarters of a length. If he had kept on at 32 he might have broken Kottman, or, of course, he might have cracked himself. But he dropped to 29 and Kottman, at 30, immediately closed up and took the lead at the Barrier. At Fawley (3min 55 sec) Kottman led by half a length. He then tried to get away, rating to 31 to Barry's 29. He seemed about to succeed, leading by a length at the three-quarter mile signal. But he could get no more. Still, at 29, Barry was pressing him from Remenham Club onwards. Kottman was forced up to 32 at the bottom of the enclosures, Barry still at 29 and still a length down. Suddenly, opposite the grandstand, Barry seemed to realize that Kottman was not going to come back to him, and that he must either go after him, or accept defeat. Unfortunately he had left it too late. In the last 12 strokes he was gaining 2ft a stroke, and he failed at the finish by 2ft. Of course it was a disappointment, but it may well be that this narrow defeat increases Barry's chances of winning in the European championships, or in Tokio next year. If so, it was not a wasted experience." [The Times] "The Final was a magnificent race. Kottman seemed to have the race in hand by Fawley and held his lead until after the 1 1/8 mile. Barry looked finished, but suddenly he came to life, went up to a high rate and only just failed by 2 feet to catch Kottman." [HRR] "Barry led by ¼ length at the ¼ mile, but Kottman then went ahead, led by ¼ length at the Barrier and drew away to ¾ length at Fawley and a length at the ¾ mile. Kottman still led by a length at the 1 1/8 mile, but Barry put in a tremendous spurt in the last minute and was beaten by only 2 feet." [HRR] |