ty. Eugene Baud explained the need to give greater pow er to the secretary, who must be in closer communication with the federations, encouraging them in their activities, visiting them in person and inspecting the European championships regatta courses in advance. He must be the brains of FISA. EISA’s secretary-treasurer, the Italian delegate, Count Vialardi di Verrone, pointed out that FISA had developed enormously, and that the secretary was no longer able to deal with all the business. He would like to appoint a young man to take over from him the running of the office. If this were acceptable, he would agree to carry on for one more year in office, as sisted by the secretary of the Italian “Regio Rowing- Club”, Mario Rossi. Fixed starts were made obligatory. This would obviously not apply to rac.es on the sea or on a lake, where it would usually be impossible to implement them. The organis ing committee must provide clearly marked start and fin ish lines. In races involving turns, all boats would have to be equipped with a rubber ball on the bows. Delegates reported that the race programme for the 1924 Olympic Games in Paris would be worked out by the French federation, which had been asked to organise it by the Olympic authorities, in conjunction with FISA. On the morning of September 9th., the Hungarian delegate was allowed to attend the meeting. The annual FISA subscription was raised to 500 francs. September 9th—11th 1921 — Amsterdam 23rd men’s European championships This was FISA’S first regatta in Holland. The welcome given by A. Th. C. Coblyn, the efficient secretary of the Dutch federation, and his friends, was very much ap preciated. Everyone’s needs had been thought of, and rarely had the FISA representatives enjoyed such a splendid reception. After a careful examination of the suitability of the Am- stel and its canal system, the Ymulden canal was selected as the championship course. The Amstel was a canalised river, controlled by two locks. There was hardly any cur rent. Under ideal conditions, the water speed was less than four metres per minute, and the flow was very even across the whole width. The “de Hoop”, “Amstel”, “Ner- eus”, “Poseidon” and “Willem III” clubs, whose boat houses were situated along the regatta course, generous ly offered to store the competitors’ boats, as well as providing changing rooms. These boat-houses - all of which had wide terraces and restaurants - were situated along the Amstel, right in the heart of Amsterdam, which was a great advantage. They lined the regatta course, which was normally used for city regattas, but which left much to be desired. There was a double bend, albeit a very slight one, in the second half of the course. It was crowded with all manner of barges and boats, and it was often necessary to wait a long time for the channel to be clear. It was affected by the wind, but the bank stations were sheltered. Naturally, steering presented a problem. As there was only room for three crews in the final, provi sion was made on the programme for eliminating heats. The winners went straight to the final. If there were only two eliminating heats, the faster second crew also quali fied for the final. On this matter, Louis Choisy, FISA’s fu ture treasurer, pointed out, even at this early stage, that the system was not fool-proof; since, if the two best crews happened to be in the same eliminating heat, this would produce a false result. He was the first to suggest the so lution: eliminating heats and a repechage system for crews placed second. But this was not to be adopted until much later! Two commissions were appointed, one to check the cox es’ weight and the other the boats. Preliminary heats (E) The preliminary heats for 4 + and lx took place on Fri day, September 9th. The weather was calm. The 2 + , 8 + and 2x heats took place on the 10th, with a violent and squally wind blowing. 4 +: 7 entered - 6 started El: 1. SUI 2. BEL Eli: 1. FRA 2. ESP Fill: 1. NED 2. HUN lx: 4 entered El: 1. SUI 2. ITA Eli: 1. NED 2. BEL 2 +: 4 entered El: 1. NED 2. FRA Eli: 1. BEL 2. ITA Unwilling to admit defeat, the French closed up on the Dutch several times, and qualified as the faster second- placed crew. 2x: 5 entered El: 1. NED 2. ITA (the veterans Dones and Anno- ni) 3. FRA Eli: 1. SUI 2. BEL The Belgians, Georges and Brouha, the faster second- placed crew, qualified for the final. 8 +: 6 entered El: 1. BEL 2. ESP (The Spanish team manager had to find substitutes for four of his oarsmen, who had been summoned to return to Spain that morning by an official telegram). Eli: 1. SUI 2. FRA EIII: 1. HUN 2. NED Part 2 51
