rules of racing where regional or national regattas were concerned, they no longer had the power to do so at in ternational level, where precise regulations prescribed by FISA already existed. Only the FISA congress had the i-ight to amend its Statutes, Rules and Regulations. It was absolutely imperative that the national federations, having knowingly accepted these laws by becoming af filiated to FISA, should be the first to respect them, if to tal anarchy were to be avoided. August 15th 1904 — Courbevoie 12th European championships The "regatta committee responsible for the European championships had only one slow launch at its disposal, owing to the simultaneous occurrence of the “Paris to the Sea” race. It was therefore suggested to congress that two umpires should be appointed, one to follow the first part of the race by car from the bank and the other to wait in the launch at the jetty and to follow it to the finish. This decision was approved, and was to become a widely adopted practice. If necessary, the umpires would stop the race with a pistol-shot. The races 4 + : 4 started 1. BEL 2. FRA 3. ITA 4. SUI The Belgians won by a hair’s-breadth, thanks to a last minute spurt a few metres from the finish. 2x: 4 started 1. FRA 2. BEL 3. SUI 4. ITA The French double, Deltour and Freschina, maintained a winning lead from the start. lx: 5 started 1. SUI 2. ALS-LOR 3. BEL 4. ITA - FRA (Not rowed out) There was a violent wind blowing. Robert d’Heilly, the reigning champion, caught a crab whilst in the lead. He lost a few metres to the Belgian, Conrades, but immedi ately regained them. A second serious crab almost caused him to fall overboard. He righted himself, but stopped. The Swiss, Louis von Moos, rowing close to the bank, and therefore somewhat sheltered, gradually caught up, to take a winning lead as he neared the finish. 2 + : 3 started 1. FRA 2. BEL 3. ITA The Belgian pair, Visser and Molmans, led for the first 1,700 metres but, 300 metres from the finish, suc cumbed to the attack of the French pair, Beurrier and Lejeune. 8 + : 3 started 1. BEL 2. FRA 3. ITA A closely-fought contest. Nevertheless, the Belgian crew held the lead from start to finish. 22 August 26th 1905 — Ghent 14th FISA congress Present: 9 delegates from 5 federations. The burgomaster, M. Braun, and the members of the Ghent College of Burgomasters and Aldermen, wel comed the delegates at a reception before the luncheon given at the “Rocher de Cancale” by the committee of “Sport Nautique”, one of the most prestigious rowing clubs in Ghent. After those festivities, the delegates be gan their meeting at 3 o’clock in the council chamber of the town hall. Oscar Gregoire, a FISA veteran, took the chair. For the first time, Albert Glandaz attended the congress as president of the French federation. He would later have an important role to play as a member of the IOC, from 1913 until his death in 1944. A solution was sought to simplify customs formalities concerning the boats. The matter remained unresolved for a long time to come! As the state of FISA’s funds did not make it possible to provide sets of vests in each country’s colours, congress deemed it preferable: 1. for the coxswains and the bowmen to wear a number on their backs; 2. that during European championships a permanent number should be allotted to each affiliated nation in alphabetical order as follows:- Adriatic 1, Alsace 2, Belgium 3, France 4, Italy 5, Switzerland 6, the crew members with their national colours on the sleeves of their singlets and painted on their blades, and the coxswains wearing a scarf in their national colours. The definition of a novice would depend on each nation al federation’s rules of racing; but such oarsmen would be barred from international regattas. The following defi nitions were approved: - “A junior oarsman is any rower who has won fewer than three first prizes in open events before January 1st of the year in which he is competing. Prizes won in novice races do not count towards senior status. — “a senior oarsman is one who, before January 1st in the year- in which he is competing, has won at least three first prizes in open events. However, three victo ries won during the previous year in boats propelled by paddles or sculls do not affect his status in sweep- oared events, or vice versa.” It was decided to ban riggers on coastal gigs. During the luncheon, the burgomaster, in an elegant speech, paid homage to the town’s chief engineer, M. Victor Compyn, the president of “Sport Nautique” and an enthusiastic sportsman, who was frequently the Bel gian delegate at FISA congresses. “Thus,” stated the burgomaster, “every improvement to the town of Ghent is finked to the development of a sport. The new canal will certainly lead to an expansion of trade in Ghent. However, gentlemen, it will not only serve for regattas. Certain modifications will be useful to the town and to
