Joyce Barry (March 1919 – 23 November 1999) was an Australian cyclist who held numerous records for long-distance cycling, most notably the women's seven-day record.

Biography

Barry was born in March 1919, the third daughter of Mr and Mrs James Barry. In 1936 the 17-year-old Barry announced her intention to challenge the

Sydney Sydney ( ) is the capital city of the state of New South Wales, and the most populous city in both Australia and Oceania. Located on Australia's east coast, the metropolis surrounds Sydney Harbour and extends about towards the Blue Mountain ...

Melbourne Melbourne ( ; Boonwurrung/Woiwurrung: ''Narrm'' or ''Naarm'') is the capital and most populous city of the Australian state of Victoria, and the second-most populous city in both Australia and Oceania. Its name generally refers to a met ...

record of 3 days 1 hour, set in 1935 by

Billie Samuel Zara Kathleen Samuel (later Kesper; 24 March 1907 – 15 January 1995), better known as Billie Samuel, was an American-born Australian cyclist. In 1934, she became the first woman to cycle from Melbourne to Sydney. On her return journey, she bro ...

, and she soon came to the attention of

Hubert Opperman Sir Hubert Ferdinand Opperman, OBE (29 May 1904 – 18 April 1996), referred to as Oppy by Australian and French crowds, was an Australian cyclist and politician, whose endurance cycling feats in the 1920s and 1930s earned him international acc ...

. Barry was sponsored by

Malvern Star Malvern Star is a manufacturer of bicycles based in Melbourne, Australia. The company was established in 1902, and went on to become a known brand in Australia. History Malvern Star opened in a small shop at 58 Glenferrie Rd, in the Melbourn ...

and the NSW Milk Board. Her preparation for the Sydney to Melbourne ride included tackling the ride from

Newcastle Newcastle usually refers to: *Newcastle upon Tyne, a city and metropolitan borough in Tyne and Wear, England *Newcastle-under-Lyme, a town in Staffordshire, England *Newcastle, New South Wales, a metropolitan area in Australia, named after Newcastle ...

to Sydney in July 1937, covering the in 6 hrs 34 min 36 s, with a massage while on the ferry across the Hawkesbury River being sufficient to recover from leg cramps. The next ride in her preparation was to tackle the from

Orange Orange most often refers to: *Orange (fruit), the fruit of the tree species '' Citrus'' × ''sinensis'' ** Orange blossom, its fragrant flower *Orange (colour), from the color of an orange, occurs between red and yellow in the visible spectrum * ...

in August 1937, which she completed in 10 hrs 19 min 26 s. Along the way Barry completed the from Bathurst to Sydney in 8 hrs 2 min 56 s, which Malvern Star were quick to promote in advertising. 12 months after her announcement, Barry succeeded in breaking the Sydney to Melbourne record, covering the in 2 days 2 hrs. Along the way established a new record of Sydney to

Albury Albury () is a major regional city in New South Wales, Australia. It is located on the Hume Highway and the northern side of the Murray River. Albury is the seat of local government for the council area which also bears the city's name – the ...

in 33 hrs 55 mins and Albury to Melbourne in 16 hrs 52 mins. Once again Malvern Star were quick to promote her success. The following year Barry traveled to Tasmania, setting a record in May 1938 for the ride from Launceston to

Hobart Hobart ( ; Nuennonne/Palawa kani: ''nipaluna'') is the capital and most populous city of the Australian island state of Tasmania. Home to almost half of all Tasmanians, it is the least-populated Australian state capital city, and second-small ...

and return, covering in 17 hrs 30 min 30 sec. In June Barry went to Queensland, this time to claim the record for Brisbane to

Rockhampton Rockhampton is a city in the Rockhampton Region of Central Queensland, Australia. The population of Rockhampton in June 2021 was 79,967, Estimated resident population, 30 June 2018. making it the fourth-largest city in the state outside of the ...

covering the in 56 hrs 29 min. followed by Stanthorpe to Brisbane in July, riding the in 11 hrs 46 min, continuing on to claim the Australian women's 12 hour record of . Returning to Sydney in September 1938 Barry established the women's seven day record of . Her record was eclipsed in November 1939 by the next Malvern Star woman rider,

Valda Unthank Valda Emily Unthank (née Garnham, 1909 – 21 June 1987) was an Australian cyclist who held numerous records for long distance cycling, mostly set during 1938-39, most notably the women's seven day record. Valda was born in 1909 as "Emily G ...

who rode . Barry died in November 1999, aged 80. Image:Joyce Barry FL1277487.jpg, Joyce Barry milk promotion Image:Joyce Barry advertising for Milk Board, September 1939 (5862464530).jpg, Joyce Barry milk promotion

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Barry, Joyce 1919 births Australian female cyclists Cyclists from Sydney 1999 deaths