The first official Eleven cities tour
Pim Mulier and his Association for physical health tried to promote the organization of an official eleven cities tour. They convinced “de Frieze IJsbond” (Frisian ice union) with chairman Hylkema to organize the first official tour. However it took quite some time before the first official Eleven cities tour could take place. In 1909 finally the weather was such that a tour could be organized.
The tour started with a photo of all the 23 participants together with the organizing committee and a speech of the chairman of the organizing comittee , Hylkema.
The tour started with a photo of all the 23 participants together with the organizing committee and a speech of the chairman of the organizing comittee , Hylkema.
As suggested by Pim Mulier the participants had to collect in each city a proof that they passed the city. In this tour this proof was given in the form of a stamp of the city in their booklet. In the buildings where the people had to collect the stamp, often the mayor of the city himself was present to welcome the participants. In these places many people waited for them and the skaters received in each control post a cup of hot cocoa and often something to eat. They used these opportunities to have a break and to eat and to drink there.
This tour differed in some aspects from the later tours. There were two prizes announced: one for the fastest skater and one for the participant who wrote the best report about the tour. The fastest skater was the theology student Minne Hoekstra from Warga. It so happened that he also won the prize for the best report about the tour on the basis of his little book “De historiche Elfstedentocht van 2 Januari 1909¨. In his book he reports in detail about his experiences. I have used his book for some observations about this tour.
This tour differed in some aspects from the later tours. There were two prizes announced: one for the fastest skater and one for the participant who wrote the best report about the tour. The fastest skater was the theology student Minne Hoekstra from Warga. It so happened that he also won the prize for the best report about the tour on the basis of his little book “De historiche Elfstedentocht van 2 Januari 1909¨. In his book he reports in detail about his experiences. I have used his book for some observations about this tour.
The participants were skating in their normal clothes. They wore normal trousers, a shirt and even a tie, a jacket and a cap as can be seen in the photo.
In contrast with later tours the group skated first to Dokkum and then back to Leeuwarden. Then they had to skate to Franeker and further along the westerly cities. This was the tour Pim Mulier also had made. Later the eastern route was used i.e. first to Sneek etc. and finally from Franeker to Dokkum and then back to Leeuwarden.
Otherwise the tour was very comparable with the later ones. The participants started at 5.30 a.m. in complete darkness. At some places there were two layers of ice which is a big problem for skating. And the ice was full of holes, cracks and dirt. So, especially the first hours in the dark all skaters fell several times. The later winner lost his glasses in one of these falls and could not find them anymore. These experiences are very similar to my own ones in 1963.
What was also very similar to the later tours is that they often had to pass bridges. To go on one has to squatl and keep skating on under the bridge. If that is not possible one has to go on all four. They also had to cross roads and to go over land to the control posts. That is done on the skates and nowadays a carpet or straw is put on these roads to protect the skates. Walking on the skates is called “Klunen”. In 1909 the straw was not every where so the skaters had to cross over the street on their skates which may have damaged their skates.As in 1891 in the tour of Pim Mulier the participants did not know exactly how to get from one city to the other. This problem was solved by local people who skated with them to guide them the way to the next city. A special person I have to mention was Tjomme, who guided the first group of skaters from Workum to Sloten (46km). He was described in the book of Hoekstra as a typical boatman. He did not wear a jacket and a cap but only a shirt that was blown up by the wind as a balloon. His trousers were very wide due to the fact, as Hoekstra writes, that he probably had normally his hands in his pockrts. Under his guidance they could make a lot of progress.
In contrast with later tours the group skated first to Dokkum and then back to Leeuwarden. Then they had to skate to Franeker and further along the westerly cities. This was the tour Pim Mulier also had made. Later the eastern route was used i.e. first to Sneek etc. and finally from Franeker to Dokkum and then back to Leeuwarden.
Otherwise the tour was very comparable with the later ones. The participants started at 5.30 a.m. in complete darkness. At some places there were two layers of ice which is a big problem for skating. And the ice was full of holes, cracks and dirt. So, especially the first hours in the dark all skaters fell several times. The later winner lost his glasses in one of these falls and could not find them anymore. These experiences are very similar to my own ones in 1963.
What was also very similar to the later tours is that they often had to pass bridges. To go on one has to squatl and keep skating on under the bridge. If that is not possible one has to go on all four. They also had to cross roads and to go over land to the control posts. That is done on the skates and nowadays a carpet or straw is put on these roads to protect the skates. Walking on the skates is called “Klunen”. In 1909 the straw was not every where so the skaters had to cross over the street on their skates which may have damaged their skates.As in 1891 in the tour of Pim Mulier the participants did not know exactly how to get from one city to the other. This problem was solved by local people who skated with them to guide them the way to the next city. A special person I have to mention was Tjomme, who guided the first group of skaters from Workum to Sloten (46km). He was described in the book of Hoekstra as a typical boatman. He did not wear a jacket and a cap but only a shirt that was blown up by the wind as a balloon. His trousers were very wide due to the fact, as Hoekstra writes, that he probably had normally his hands in his pockrts. Under his guidance they could make a lot of progress.
Here, I would like to mention that a boatman like Tjomme could easily have competed in the Eleven cities tour but the boatmen did not do so because in the winter they could not earn money with their boat and therefore they were the first professional skaters in the world I suppose. They skated ”short distance competitions” for money where even the last in the competition got as a reward pork and beans. This has led to the expression in Dutch “to participate for pork and beans".
Another person worth mentioning is the journalist Jan Feith, who skated 160 kilometres with the first group to write a story for his newspaper about the tour. Hoekstra does not mention him at all in his book, which seems strange because he made many kilometres not being a participant in the championship.
Now to the competition itself. A small group of three got ahead of the others. The leaders were Hoekstra (a theology student), Van der Ley (a farmer) and Feith (the journalist). They were in Stavoren 23 minutes ahead of the others (information was provided by telegram). However in Sneek the last town before the finish Rooseboom suddenly appears at the same place as the first group of skaters who were resting for a moment. Hoekstra writes about this: “But how is that possible?" Rooseboom explains that he rested nowhere and so he could catch up with them. Later Hoekstra writes: “Rooseboom talks a lot and makes an impression that he is still very fit”. This is a returning theme in the later tours. Sometimes it is explicitly suggested that skaters did not skate all the way but used other transport. Here it is not said so, but doubt was expressed.
Another person worth mentioning is the journalist Jan Feith, who skated 160 kilometres with the first group to write a story for his newspaper about the tour. Hoekstra does not mention him at all in his book, which seems strange because he made many kilometres not being a participant in the championship.
Now to the competition itself. A small group of three got ahead of the others. The leaders were Hoekstra (a theology student), Van der Ley (a farmer) and Feith (the journalist). They were in Stavoren 23 minutes ahead of the others (information was provided by telegram). However in Sneek the last town before the finish Rooseboom suddenly appears at the same place as the first group of skaters who were resting for a moment. Hoekstra writes about this: “But how is that possible?" Rooseboom explains that he rested nowhere and so he could catch up with them. Later Hoekstra writes: “Rooseboom talks a lot and makes an impression that he is still very fit”. This is a returning theme in the later tours. Sometimes it is explicitly suggested that skaters did not skate all the way but used other transport. Here it is not said so, but doubt was expressed.
Another returning theme is that the skaters, having worked together so much, want to make a deal about the finish. Here too, Van der Ley does not want a competition between them and proposes a lottery. Hoekstra suggested in order to prevent accidents (it is already dark again) to sprint for the first place only in the last kilometre . Both proposals were rejected by the others. So it is clear that all went for the victory. However, in the dark close to Leeuwarden, three skaters fell. The other two could have continued and could have won in this way. Hoekstra, who waited, comments on this: “Should a skating competition not be finished skating?”
A bit later he increases his speed and the others could not follow him and so he won the first official Eleven cities tour. He finished his report with the following remarks. “ In my book shelves was a book in a red-white and blue cover, with the title “Wintersport” , written by mister W.J.H Mulier. When the frost came, I picked up the book and read about the strong skaters of Friesland. There I also read stories about the eleven cities tours from earlier and later periods. Since then my plan was clear. Now my plan has been realized. Yes reader, I am satisfied, more than satisfied.” |
This was the first officially organized eleven cities tour. Several followed, each time with more and more participant who wanted to test themselves in this challenge.