Jumping Joe Darby, and who'll be the new Baron De Coubertin of the waterways?

Jumping Joe Darby was one of those Victorian supermen like Blondin or Captain Webb, the chaps who'd do feats of strength and derring-do that would be seen as impossible now, and often for little more than a whip-round or a bet. 

Back in 2004 The Black Country Bugle published a profile of Joe Darby in A few of the athletic feats achieved by Joe Darby, Achilles of the Black Country.

His speciality was incredible leaps, usually from a standing start, or trick jumps that would involve a leap across canal with a single footstep mid-stream, dancing across the water with magic scantness.

Here's an archive video from 1972 of ATV reporter John Swallow trying to emulate another of Joe Darby's feats:

We see a piece to camera from Dr John Fletcher describing the exploits of Joe Darby (born 1861 in Netherton) which included being able to clear a canal from a standing jump as well as landing on water without breaking the surface.

We see a still of Joe Darby and some of his mementoes.  John Swallow is then seen attempting and failing to jump across a canal

(Where is that section of canal?  Is it just north of the Netherton Tunnel?)  

The effect is rather spoiled by the reporter not taking it too seriously - even to the extent of wearing a parody knotted hanky on his head. 

And yet ... 'Spring jumping' is a fair idea of a sport, and jumping across the canal really ought to be an officially recognised exhibition stunt in canal festivals. 

Have you noticed how there's no room for sport on the canals nowadays? 

I don't mean conventional sport such as towpath running or cycling.  No, I mean real, canal-oriented, sport.  Not just jumping, but things like bow-hauling boats, or loading and unloading coal from narrowboats.

Joe Darby's efforts were simply jaw-dropping feats of strength, but they ought to form the inspiration of canal championships.  Who'll be the new Baron De Coubertin of the waterways?

Comments

[Brenda]

They are always jumping across the lock in Gas Street. Even standing jumps.

[Paul (from Waterway Routes)]

Positively Identifed

http://ccgi.balmeradsl.plus.com/blog/2009/11/past-and-present/

[Andrew Denny]

Pretty good guess, Paul!

[Paul (from Waterway Routes)]

My location guess can be seen on Bing Maps at http://www.bing.com/maps/?v=2&cp=srqfgvgtyjf8&scene=7438442&lvl=2&sty=b&eo=0

I think they were just opposite the pylon, where the footpath from Bilport Lane meets the canal. The trees to the right of the pylon have grown since the photo was taken.

The lattice sided bridge has the green grass covering to the right and teh railway bridge seen near the end of the clip is the pink coloured bridge bow used by trams to the left.

[Andrew Denny]

Paul

Well, at least the link is working at last, that's the most important thing :-)

�

[Paul (from Waterway Routes)]

I don't think it's the Netherton Tunnel Branch because the video shows an embankment on one side and, towards the end, a railway bridge and the Netherton Tunnel Branch has neither.

My guess is the Tame Valley Canal, standing on the North Bank about 3/4 mile from Tame Valley Junction between Jones Bridge (the lattice sided footbridge) and the former railway bridge, now replaced with a modern span (painted pink) for the trams to cross.

Try watching the BCN Bowcam DVD - you can use the menu to go to the right chapter and keep your finger ready on the pause button.

http://www.waterwayroutes.co.uk/dvds/38_bcn.htm#bowcam

[Andrew Denny]

Paul, thanks for spotting that. Apparently it was a temporary glitch yesterday on the hosting website. All sorted now.

[Paul (from Waterway Routes)]

Your having trouble with your links this week. The archive video from 1972 doesn't work this time.