8 +: 4 finalists 1. SUI 2. NED 3. FRA 4. POL France led for more than half the course, then fell back gradually. 300 metres from the finish, the Dutch crew were 2 1/2 lengths behind the Swiss crew from Bienne. They then produced their final spurt, a few seconds too late, perhaps, as they lost by less than a metre. “The Czechoslovakian federation, who organized these championships, may be proud of the results,” said “L’Aviron”. “However, boat traffic on the course should have been stopped during the racing. By general con census, there should have been a cable stretched across the start and the finish on which to hang the lane num bers, to provide some kind of lane marking. The equip ment was there, but the strength of the gusting wind prevented the organisers from making use of it.” On the evening of the regatta, three or four hundred peo ple, in addition to the oarsmen, were received by the mayor, Karel Baxa, in the large first floor reception rooms of the town hall. The presentation of prizes was followed by a copious and sumptuous supper, and a ball. The festivities and dancing continued well into the night. Swiss, Dutch, French, Belgian, Hungarian, Polish and Czechoslovakian oarsmen celebrated together, in a mood of fraternity and friendship. The spirit of FISA fives on, year after year. End of 1925 For professional reasons, the secretary-treasurer, Henri Manuel, was no longer able to 'devote sufficient time to his administrative duties, and found himself forced to re sign. President Baud called upon his friend, Louis Choisy, to take over from him. The latter could not but accept his invitation. He was unopposed. permanently in Switzerland. He became the linchpin of the “So- ciete Nautique de Geneve”. There, he coached oarsmen, including the future European or Olympic champions, Candeveau, Felber and Holtzmann. He still kept in touch with his Belgian friends. For a long time, he edited the Belgian rowing almanac, and wrote arti cles for magazines such as that of the French federation and, natur ally, the Swiss federation. A press officer during the 1912 European championships organized by his club, he had no hesitation in taking on the role of timekeeper, umpire or commentator, according to need. He would try his hand at anything in order to be of help. From 1924 to 1925, he was president of the Swiss federation, whose FISA congress delegate he often was from 1906 onwards. He died in 1942. September 3rd 1926 — Lucerne 29th FISA congress A feeling of great sadness marked this congress, as presi dent Baud had passed away a few weeks beforehand, fol lowing a fiver operation. Gaston Mullegg, the president of the Swiss federation and vice-president of FISA, chaired the deliberations, as president of the host feder ation. Present: 23 delegates from 10 federations. Amongst these delegates were the former champion, Hans Walter, with the Swiss delegation, and Alfred and Jerzy Loth, representing Poland. The authorization for the FISA council to control the en tire organization of the European championships was ad ded to the Statutes. The Yugoslavian federation was made an ordinary mem ber. The subscription was lowered to 200 gold-francs. Louis Choisy having stood down, Rico Fioroni was pro posed as FISA president. Out of thirty voting slips dis tributed, Rico Fioroni received thirty votes, and was duly elected. Carlo Montu, president of the Italian federation, which would host the next European championships, ac cepted the vice-presidency. Louis Choisy declined to ac cept any office, and Jacques Roelfin, from Lucerne, was elected secretary-treasurer for 1927, by acclamation. Rico Fioroni (SUI) president of FISA from 1926 to 1949, honorary president until his death in 1981. Born in Lucerne in 1888. A member of the Reuss rowing club, he won many races before becoming, at a very young age, a committee member and president of that club. As president of the Swiss feder ation of rowing clubs, he was their representative from 1922 on wards at the FISA congresses. He was reserve starter at the 1924 Olympic Games, and chairman of the organising committee of the 1926 European championships. He served as chief engineer of the technical division of the telegraph and telephone service of central Switzerland. Louis Choisy (SUI), secretary-treasurer of FISA from 1925-1927. Born in Ghent in 1869, he was brought up in Geneva until 1885, when he returned to his home town. Betweem 1887 and 1901, he won for his club, the RCN of Ghent, more than a hundred first prizes, both in sculling and sweep-oared rowing, including four Bel gian championships. After a spell in Brussels, he returned to live 62 Jacques Roellin (SUI), secretary-treasurer of FISA from 1927 - 1928. Having served as secretary of the Lucerne regatta committee from 1904, he became an honorary member in 1923. He assisted in the organisation of the European championships in 1908, 1926, 1927 and 1934. A retired divisional director of Swiss Railways, he held various honorary offices in his town of Lucerne. He resigned from FISA in 1928, after an unjust and unjustifiable campaign against him, waged by an editor of the French magazine, “L’Aviron.” He would continue in office in his club.
