2x: 5 entered - 4 started 1. BEL 2. FRA - ITA and ALS-LOR (Not rowed out) After the Swiss had scratched, two of the four remaining crews were forced to stop rowing: the Italians, Sacchini and Dones and the popular double from Strasbourg, composed of the Hanses, father and son. The former had been one of the most faithful delegates at the annual FISA congresses since EISA’s inception in 1892. As far back as 1891, one year before FISA was founded, he had competed in the European championships or ganised by the Belgian federation. But let us return to the account of this rack, which was never lacking in excitement. The start was perfect. The crews set off at a very fast pace. As they passed the grandstand, the Italians led. There was slight interfer ence between the French and the Belgian crews. The crew from Alsace lay second, but soon dropped back, nevertheless rowing extremely well. The French crew closed steadily on the crew from Milan, caught them, and went into the lead. The Belgians closed up. At 800 metres, it was anybody’s race. The Italians spurted, and the crews were all level. It was a beautiful sight. The Italians’ spurt was countered by the other crews, and the French again went ahead. Sensation!: 600 metres from the finish, the Italian double stopped rowing; while the double from Alsace was a long way back. The race now lay between the Belgians, Clarembaux and Desanfans, and the French, Delaplane and Rocchesani. Appearing to hold the advantage, the French allowed themselves to be caught and, 200 metres from the finish, with a deficit of half a length, seemed beaten. But, summoning up their last remaining energy, the French crew valiandy continued the fight, and gradually gained on their rivals. Each stroke brought them closer, until they were level. A few metres short of the finishing post, the two doubles took turns in leading by a few centimetres, at least twenty times. The noise from the bank was deafening, as the spectators were caught up in the thrill of this superb bat tle. At last they crossed the fine, and the judge’s verdict was awaited. The Belgian crew was proclaimed the win ner, - by a hair’s-breadth! With this victory, Daniel Clarembaux added a third medal to his victories in this class in 1902 and 1903. lx: 5 started 1. ITA 2. FRA 3. BEL - SUI and ALS-LOR (Not rowed out) The holder of the title for three years, Gaston Delaplane, had the best start. After 100 metres, all five scullers were level. The Swiss, J. Riotton, then took the lead, but in turn was overtaken by the Belgian, Hermans. Behind the leaders, the Italian Variani challenged Delaplane, passed him and gained on the Belgian, who held him off to the 1,500 metre mark. Mariani then accelerated towards an easy victory. 2 +: 4 started 1. ITA 2. FRA - ALS-LOR and BEL (Not rowed out) After a bitter struggle, the famous pair, Guillaume Visser and Urbain Molmans, were to suffer one of their rare 28 defeats in a European championship. The French, row ing with a good rhythm, took an early lead; but the odds- on favourites, the Belgians, went clear. At 800 metres, they held a half-length lead over the Italians, with the French slighdy behind. The latter dropped back after a short neck and neck tussle with the Italians, who went into the lead. The Belgians responded, but were over taken by the Italians several hundred metres later. The French crew, having recovered from their lapse, caught the Belgians, who then stopped rowing. 8 +: 3 started 1. FRA 2. ITA - BEL (Not rowed out) An uneventful race: An easy, clear-cut victory. The French crew took the lead at the start, and were never to lose it. The Belgians, seeing the French draw further and further ahead, stopped rowing, once the crew from Venice had caught and overtaken them. Back at the stage, the Belgians complained of having been obstruct ed by the French crew, but their president would not al low them to make an official protest, as no rule had been contravened. The Parisian crew had, in fact, moved into the centre of the river once they had a clear length lead, but this action was not forbidden by the rules. This would lead to a large number of proposals at future con gresses. With three wins in five races, Italian rowing established its supremacy; whereas the best representatives from the Belgian stable seemed to be feeling their age. August 14th 1910 — Ostend 19th FISA congress Present: 15 delegates from 6 federations Under the chairmanship of Oscar Gregoire, about thirty people attended the meeting at the town hall. The secre tary-treasurer announced that the King of Italy, after hav ing inquired about the organisation of FISA, which he complimented, had consented to accept its medal of honour. In future, a non-affiliated nation would be allowed to compete no more than twice in the European champion ships, before having to apply for affiliation. This would be reduced to one occasion, if the nation concerned won a championship event. The fee paid by non-affiliated na tions which competed in the European championships would be paid to FISA and not to the organising commit tee. The weight of coxswains would be checked before racing began. The secretary-treasurer expressed the hope that, in fu ture, accounts would be verified by an auditor, whose task it would be to report on their accuracy and on the book-keeping. Those present thought this unnecessary, but, yielding to the secretary-treasurer, Vialardi, agreed to his proposal.
