Aspects of the Sugarloaf Competition 2008
[04.09.2008] 
On the 11th August 1858. Charles Barrington was doing the so called “Grand Tour” of the continent - a rite of passage for many at the time. He arrived in Grindlewald in the Bernese Oberland looking for an unclimbed mountain to prove himself on and, with two guides, took the summit of the Eiger – a mountain hitherto deemed unclimbable.
Barrington was a notorious gambler and adventurer who would do anything for a bet. Allegedly, as he reached to within 50 feet of the lethal summit, his two local guides tried to get there first. Enraged, he whipped a pistol out of his knapsack and threatened to shoot the pair of them off the mountain. Sensibly, they stopped and waited for him to take the summit first.
In truth, Barrington was hard, fit, and already a famous horseman, but his achievement on the Eiger was spectacular and a credit to his self belief and courage. The same route up the western flank of the Eiger had been tried many times before and had led to failure and death.
Twelve years on in 1870, Barrington bet that a horse he owned and trained, Sir Robert Peel, would win the first Irish Grand National. Needless to say, it did and Barrington pocketed the bet and the winning purse of 167 guineas – a lot of money then.
But what has the Sugarloaf got to do with Barrington’s chequered career you may well say? In 1870, the by now Sir Charles Barrington sponsored a foot race up and down the Sugarloaf with the prize of a gold watch. The race winner was a teak tough local man Tom Hill, and the original race is now commemorated each year with the Charles Barrington Memorial Race.
Barrington’s descendents & Bray Heritage Council erected a memorial to him in Grindelwald on the 11th August, in cooperation with the local mayor, to mark the 150th anniversary of the climb and representatives from Grindlewald will also erect a plaque to him here with the co-operation of Bray Town Council on the 31st October.
As there is an exhibition called “Rock and Risk” running at the “Alpines Museum” in Berne, commemorating the anniversary, the council in Bray is keen on the idea of something visual to commemorate it here. A photographic competition on the theme “Aspects of the Sugarloaf” is being held with the announcement of the winner of the Barrington Prize of €250 on the 31st October.
The competition will be open to members of the public and entries must be submitted by the 9th October. Entry forms and the competition rules can be downloaded here, so get your camera out and get clicking!!
Doulas Barry
For further information contact Douglas Barry at info@braycameraclub.com
Competition Entry Form and Rules
