Henry Ellerker

Henry Ellerker started swimming at St. Andrews College, Dublin before joining the Pembroke Swimming Club. While still at school he won the 100 yards schoolboy swimming championship of Ireland in 1918 and also played for Pembroke’s senior water polo team.

Ellerker went on to Dublin University, and after finishing his course just before the 1928 Olympics he returned to Pembroke and was appointed captain. Along with Jimmy Brady, Ellerker was a travelling reserve for the Amsterdam water polo team, and a few weeks later the two men were in the Ireland squad that won the gold medal at the Tailteann Games.

Having been a reserve for the senior Ireland team on many occasions, Ellerker eventually made his international debut and was appointed captain in the 1930s. A former contestant in the famous Liffey Swim (he finished fifth in 1926), Ellerker eventually became one of the race’s judges. He also dovetailed his water polo playing with refereeing and was one of the officials at the 1936 Berlin Olympics. Ellerker was also a former vice-president of the Irish Life Saving Saving Association and chairman of the Royal Life Saving Society.