Finals There was a large crowd. Conditions were perfect, and the records of the magnificent “Idroscalo”, already the venue for the 1938 European championships, would all be broken. 4 +: 1. DEN 2. ITA 3. NED 4. SUI 5. ESP 6. FRA After a hard-fought race, the Danish finishing sprint brought the spectators to their feet. 2-: 1. SUI 2. ITA 3. BEL 4. DEN 5. SWE For three quarters of the race there was nothing to choose between the Swiss and the Italians, but the form er narrowly won the battle of attrition over the last 500 metres. lx: 1. DEN 2. NED 3. SUI 4. ITA 5. FRA 6. YUG As in the previous race, there was a hard-fought duel be tween the two leading scullers. The Dane, Erijk Larsen, won in the last few strokes. The Zurich sculler, Thomas Keller, came in third. The “joie de vivre” of the future president of FISA impressed everyone, both on and off the water. 2 + : 1. ITA 2. SUI 3. BEL 4. SWE 5. FRA 6. DEN The lead changed hands several times during the first 1,000 metres, before Italy finally drew away from the rest. 4-: 1. ITA 2. DEN 3. SUI 4. NOR 5. NED - YUG (disqualified) The umpire, the former champion, Hans Walter, decid ed to annul Sunday’s final, during which the Yugoslavian crew had inexcusably caused the Danes and the Dutch to collide. In the re-row, which took place at 9.30am on Monday, the Italians once again demonstrated their su periority. 2x: 1. DEN 2. ITA 3. SUI 4. BEL 5. NED 6. FRA The Danes went ahead just before crossing the finishing fine. 8 + : 1. ITA 2. DEN 3. GBR 4. AUT 5. POR 6. NED The crews were still bunched at 1,500 metres, with Italy slightly in the lead which they then increased, right up to the finish. The supremacy of the Italians was maintained. The Danes continued to make great progress. The prize giv ing took place in the Palazzo Vercesi. August 22nd 1951 — Macon 47th ordinary FISA congress Acting for the first time in his capacity as president, Gaston Mullegg welcomed the 42 delegates of the 21 federations represented, in a room of the Chamber of Commerce. He stated in his report that on the occasion of the last meeting of the delegates of the International Sports’ Federations and the executive committee of the International Olympic Committee, his proposal had been accepted unanimously. This was that the IOC should in future not allocate the Olympic Games without having ascertained that the towns upon which this honour was bestowed would be capable of providing the international federations with all the facilities necessary for competition in their particular sport. The federation of the Federal Republic of Germany was admitted as an extraordinary member. It would, there fore, be able to compete in the Olympic Games. The re quest from East Germany was not put to the congress, as the FISA council, taking its lead from the policy of the IOC, recommended that only one organisation representing the whole of Germany should be recog nized, i.e., West Germany, which had the greater number of rowing clubs. The Japanese federation was readmitted as an extraordi nary member. The Mexican federation was also admit ted. Congress, by an overwhelming majority, agreed that in ternational regattas for women should be held each year under the auspices of FISA, if possible as part of the Eu ropean championships, either on the day before them or following them, but on no account during the actual championships. The deficit which had been a feature of EISA’s balance sheet during the last few years was replaced by a modest profit of 5.55 Swiss francs. August 24th—26th 1951 — Macon 42nd men’s European championships After 1894 and 1920, Macon on the Saone, a town of fewer than 25,000 inhabitants, was for the third time host to the European championships. For the first time, oarswomen were taking part in a FISA event. A women’s international regatta was scheduled to take place the day before the men’s races. Women from four European countries (DEN, FRA, GBR, NED) com peted in four events over 1,000 metres. These races es tablished the viability of a women’s international regatta. But to return to the men’s races, which had been “offi cial” for more than 60 years: Eliminators, repechages, semifinals 4 +: 11 entered - 10 started El: 1. ESP 2. SUI 3. YUG 4. NOR Eli: 1. ITA 2. NED 3. FRA 4. BEL EIII: 1. DEN 2. SWE Part 3 101
