Ethan Ortlipp, owner of the Royal Crown Dudley and Coal and Cedar in the centre of Newcastle, has seen every conceivable technique for carrying schooners—from glass-stacking to meticulous arrangements and rim-gripping manoeuvres.
But last Saturday night, every competitor at Royal Crown Hotel (also known as Dudley’s Pub) opted for the bear hug approach.
The rules were straightforward: traverse an informal circuit from the bar, through the dining area, into the beer garden, and back again.
The winner would be the one who could carry the most schooners without spilling or dropping any.
Well-known local David ‘Bellows’ McLoughney, was a strong contender. Taking the challenge seriously, he stripped down and grasped his 20 schooners in a bold attempt at beating Tommo O’Shaunessey’s record of 16.
The records built slowly. Jordan Hoey made nine schooners look effortless, then a successful ten pushed Courtney Henshaw into the lead.
The tension was mounting.
The standard Headmaster glass, standing about 145 millimetres tall and 80 millimetres wide, is notoriously difficult to grasp. Cold and slippery, the glasses are a challenge to manage in large quantities.
Careful strategies were clearly required for anyone to beat the high score.
O’Shaunessey had spent considerable time arranging the glasses into a precise matrix, so that they locked onto his arms and chest for his successful run.
The challenge was on.
Tall and lanky Bellows, with his long arms and large hands, faced his daunting task with determination.
When the glasses were lined up before him, the enormity of the challenge became evident.
After some contemplation and a decision to reject the German stein carrying method, he also chose the bear hug, and to the cheers of onlookers began the challenge.
The first obstacle—a narrow passage to the bar’s rear—was cleared effortlessly. However, as he navigated the dining tables and approached the outer courtyard, things began to falter.
Bellows’ face betrayed his struggle as he felt glasses slipping from his hold. For a moment, he was caught in a precarious balance.
Darting to the finish line, he saved a few schooners, but the glory was to remain with O’Shaunessey’s record of 16.
This was Dudley Pub’s inaugural schooner-carrying contest, and Ortlipp indicated that with such a strong turnout, the event might become a yearly attraction.
“I think it’s gone well. We had a great crowd for it,” Ortlipp said as he cleared the spill.
“It was pretty fun.”
According to Instagrammer Harry Hunter, founder of the page Schooner Carrys and creator of the term ‘scharry’ (schooner carry), the high score for a carry Is twenty-six schooners.
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