Short distance speed skating or "Hardrijderijen"
The speed skating races on short distances that started in the 18th century were continued in the 19th century on a much larger and more professional scale. There were not only championships for men but also for women and even for pairs and the interest was overwhelming. For example in 1805 a championship for women took place in Leeuwarden at 1 and 2 February. The temperature was -16 degrees Celsius, nevertheless there were 130 participants and thousands of spectators at the event.
These championships took place In province Frisia in all big towns but also in many small villages as long as there was water close by. That could be a big canal, a lake or even the sea (Now the IJsselmeer). The procedure was as follows: The races were between two skaters or two pairs of skaters. They raced twice against each other and who won twice won the race and went to the next round. Normally they skated a distance of around 200 meters, first in one direction and after that in the other direction while they switched the lanes. If there was no winner the first time they had to repeat the procedure till there was a winner. If it took too long the winner could be decided in one last race, or by chance or by agreement between the skaters. It followed the form of a knockout competition.
In case of a championship of pairs, a man and a woman formed a pair who skated behind each other with the man in the front. To get fast as a pair the woman should be able to skate perfectly in the same movement of the man. These championships for pairs were organized in exactly the same way as for individual skaters.
In the beginning of the century the prizes were precious gifts of gold or silver. For example, Cornelis Ybzes van Reen, the winner of the races in Sneek in 1803 received a silver box for tobacco. Trijntje Pieters, the 20 year old daughter of the constable, the winner of the famous female championship in Leeuwarden in 1805, received a golden ear pin with a value of more than 100 guilders which would now have a value of more than 1250 euros. This was a nice show piece that the Frisian women were wearing at that time.
In case of a championship of pairs, a man and a woman formed a pair who skated behind each other with the man in the front. To get fast as a pair the woman should be able to skate perfectly in the same movement of the man. These championships for pairs were organized in exactly the same way as for individual skaters.
In the beginning of the century the prizes were precious gifts of gold or silver. For example, Cornelis Ybzes van Reen, the winner of the races in Sneek in 1803 received a silver box for tobacco. Trijntje Pieters, the 20 year old daughter of the constable, the winner of the famous female championship in Leeuwarden in 1805, received a golden ear pin with a value of more than 100 guilders which would now have a value of more than 1250 euros. This was a nice show piece that the Frisian women were wearing at that time.