2 +: 5 entered 1. FRA 2. SUI 3. ITA - BEL, NED (Not rowed out) The most thrilling race of the day. On the third stroke, the bowman of the Dutch pair lost his oar, but the race was not stopped. At 500 metres, the Belgians and the Italians had a slight lead over the French and the Swiss, with the Dutch a long way back. The Swiss took the lead at 800 metres, with the French in second place at 1400 metres. Less than 100 metres from the finish, the Swiss, in a borrowed boat, had to yield first place to the French. 2x: 4 started 1. FRA 2. ITA 3. GER 4. BEL The French double, T. Barrelet and A. A. Peresselen zeff, got away quickly, and headed towards the bank without interfering with the Italian crew, who were in se cond place, but already more than a length down after 500 metres. At the finish, Barrelet was so exhausted that he slumped in the boat, and could not move for some time. The winners Ghent 1913: Frederich Graf; First FISA European Champion from Germany. lx: 4 finalists 1. GER - BEL (Not rowed out) - FRA, ITA (disquali fied) From the start, the German, Frederich Graf, went into the lead, ahead of the Frenchman of Russian extraction, Peresselenzeff who, reaching the 250 metre mark, steered towards the German. Fortunately, the race was stopped before the two scullers could collide with the marker buoy. The competitors returned to the start. Generously, the umpire, 0. Gregoire, did not disqualify the French sculler. When the start was given for a second time they all set off very fast but, this time, the Italian, Sinigaglia, the former European champion, strayed towards the Belgian, Veirman, the current title holder. Having tried in vain to bring him back onto his proper course, the umpire stopped the race. Just then, Veirman capsized. The race had covered 350 metres. Graf stopped. Sinigaglia carried on for a long time before stopping, as did the Frenchman. After hesitating, the umpire restarted the scullers from a free start. The um pire had probably told Sinigaglia that he had been dis qualified, because the Italian sculler crossed the finish ing line without stopping. Peresselenzeff, too, was dis qualified. As a result, Graf became the first European champion from the German federation. A request was made for the race to be re-run, but the umpire stuck to his decision. The winner Frederich Graf is 26 years old, and a medical student. When in training, he weighs 81 kg, and has been rowing since 1907 at the “Heidelberger Ruder Club”, of which he has always been a mem ber. He has never had a coach or a manager when sculling. Part 1 37 Touvet Barrelet, the stroke, is 26 years old, lm81, 79kg. Already a European champion in the 8+ in 1909, he has sculled since 1908 but in France he has always finished second behind his compatriot, Delaplane. Anatol Andreas Peresselenzeff, 22 years old, lm78, 72kg. He has twice been the Russian sculling champion, and is unquestionably the best Russian sculler. He has rowed in 1911 and 1912 at 5 in the crew of the Hellas club in Berlin. He has spent the winter training on the Thames with professionals. Back in France, he has proved his superiority. He could be said to be the first European champion of Russian nationality. 8 +: 4 finalists 1. GER 2. SUI 3. ITA 4. FRA On this their first appearance in the championships, Germany scored their first victory in the premier event, the eights. Rowing with an all-powerful style, the Ger mans increased their lead throughout the race. This vic tory in the eights made sure of the Glandaz cup for the German federation, ahead of France, (2 points) and Switzerland (1.5). 1914 The European championships were due to be held for the first time in Germany, on August 23rd in Berlin, on the Langen See, one of the branches of the river Spree. At the beginning of August, in spite of the ominous politi cal events, the organisers were still busy making prepara tions. Their efforts would lead to nothing, as the first world war was about to break out, putting a stop to many things for years to come, including the expansion of FISA.
