August 18th 1912 — Geneva 20th men’s European championships As in 1896,the racing took place on the Swiss side of the lake, which was more sheltered from the wind, and which enjoyed an impressive view of Mont Blanc. Laid out by the “ Societe Nautique de Geneve,” the course and its technical installations were deemed by all to be faultless. The timing was organised for the first time by the watch-makers, “Longincs”, whose reputation was al ready well established in those days. The start, at Progny, was linked by telephone to the finish, at the Quai du Le man. At the start, the boats were aligned on stake-boats. A spacious and well fitted-out barge enabled the compe titors to disembark and rest whilst waiting for the start, if they so desired. The regatta course was enclosed for the first 200 metres and again for the last 500 metres, by means of floating logs solidly linked together and an chored, completely shutting it off right up to the competi tors’ enclosure, where the latter were protected from the attentions of importunate passers-by. The rest of the course was marked out by about 50 flags which indicat ed on the lake side the exact limits of the water reserved for the competing crews. The shore side was closed to all craft. The crews taking part in the championships were only allowed to row up to the start between the races. During racing, they had to make their way up outside the course. The only boat allowed on the course was the launch of the umpire in charge of the races. The races 4 +: 4 entered 1. SUI 2. BEL 3. ITA 4. FRA The Italians and the Belgians held an early lead, but were overhauled at mid-distance by the crew from Zurich, who went on to an easy victory. 2x: 4 entered 1. ITA 2. SUI 3. FRA 4. BEL The Milan double, Dones and Anoni, were in a class of their own, finishing more than twenty seconds ahead of the Swiss crew, and they thus regained a title which had been theirs in 1907. lx: 4 entered 1. BEL 2. ITA 3. SUI - FRA (Not rowed out) After a false start, Polydore Veirman, the sculler from Ghent who had won his first European championship in 1901 in the 8 + , quickly established a lead of two lengths, which he held to the finish. The reigning cham pion, the Italian, G. Sinigaglia, gave his all in an attempt to catch him, but to no avail. Had the race been 100 metres longer, he would have won. The four times Euro pean sculling champion, Gaston Delaplane, now representing the “Regates de Monaco” club, put up a spirited fight for 1,000 metres, but realised that he could not catch the Belgian, and gave up. The winner The 1912 poster A magnificent poster in four colours was produced for the 1912 Eu ropean championships. Measuring lmlO x lm50, it featured in the foreground the start of a fours race on Lake Geneva. The drawing was meticulously accurate in portraying the minutest details of the boats, as well as the movements of the oarsmen. The flags of the countries affiliated to FISA, as well as that of the “Societe Nautique de Geneve,” added a bright touch to the picture. In the middle dis tance, a few sails lent life to the scene, and in the background ap peared the outlines of the town, the Soleve and Mont Blanc. One thousand copies of. this poster were sent to all the rowing clubs throughout Europe, and to a large number of newspapers. It had been designed by Messrs. Baud and Kohler. The printing was done at the works of Sonor, in Geneva. Collectors could obtain a copy at the price of two francs, by applying to the president of the Press commission, Louis Choisy, the future secretary-treasurer of FISA. This poster was reproduced on the cover of the regatta programme, as well as on a postcard issued especially for the championships. Polydore Veirman was born in 1881. He was lm83 tall, and, when in training, weighed 80 kg. An all-round oarsman, he had been a sculling as well as a rowing champion. He had rowed with equal suc cess on port side and starboard, and had won in all boat class es: 2 +, 4 +, 8 +, single sculls and double sculls. 2 +: 4 entered 1. SUI 2. FRA 3. ITA - BEL (Not rowed out) Having led for 1,000 metres, the French pair could not hold off the challenge by the pair from Geneva, Charles Holtzmann (22 years old, lm72, normally 81 kg, but 69 kg when in training) and Alfred Felker (26 years old, lm77, 68 kg), whose victory delighted the crowd. 8 +: 4 entered 1. SUI 2. ITA 3. FRA - BEL (Not rowed out) A perfect race, won by the crew from Zurich; confirming the dominance of the Swiss team, who won three of the five titles at stake in these championships. Thus, they were awarded the Glandaz cup as the most successful team of the championships. Two enormous covered stands had been erected on the widened road along the lake of Geneva. There was room for 700 people, seated in comfort on chairs. One grand stand was opposite the finish, the other slightly before it. The price of the seats varied from five francs for the reserved seats to one franc for the general enclosure, with standing room only. A specially chartered steamer followed all the races. It had room for 400 passengers, each paying five francs. 34 After the official dinner in the big hall of the “Arque- buse,” during which several over-formal speeches had praised the superb organisation of the regatta, the offi cials and the oarsmen remained together to the very last moment, on the terrace of the “Cafe de la Couronne,” chatting about their sport, gathered around Mr. Lein, the expert boatbuilder who had taught generation upon generation the art of elegant oarsmanship.
