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Speed skating through the Eleven Friesian cities
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Speed skating through the Eleven Friesian cities
Eleven
City Tour / Elf Steden Tocht
One
of the most famous winter attractions in the Netherlands
is
the called the Elf Steden Tocht which means "Eleven City Tour" in
English.
This
is a kind of a Tour de France for ice skaters
who
skate through eleven cities in the Dutch province of Friesland.
About
16,000 participants skate in this event every time it transpires.
The Friesian Flag
However,
it does not happen every year
because
the winters in the Netherlands
seem
to be getting warmer and warmer.
It
only occurs when the ice is thick enough
since
it has to hold out for the duration of the race and
has
to be able to hold the weight of 16,000 skaters.
This
means that the ice has to be at least 15 centimetres thick
for
the whole route. This route covers about 200 kilometres.
The Beginnings
The
first "Elf Steden Tocht" was the idea of Willem ('Pim') Mulier,
the
great pioneer of Dutch and Friesian sports.
His
dream became a reality in 1909 when the Friesian Ice Society
organised
the first eleven city marathon.
They
planned this as a one time event.
However,
a lawyer from one of the biggest cities in Friesland,
called
M.E. Hepkema thought that this should be an ongoing event.
So in
that same year of 1909, he and other fervent fans
created
the Friesian Eleven City Association.
Their
goal was to encourage ice sports in Friesland and
also
the eleven city race whenever it was possible.
Mr
Hepkema was the first Chairman of the first board.
The
current board consists of 10 members.
There
is plenty to do for the board even during the years
that
there is no race.
Route
The
marathon traverses the eleven Friesian towns
over
various lakes, ditches and canals. It crosses farms,
goes
under many bridges and along city streets.
It
starts in the capital city of Friesland and
goes through
Sneek, IJlst, Sloten, Stavoren, Hindeloopen, Workum, Bolsward,
Harlingen,
Franeker, Dokkum and then winds it way back
to
Leeuwarden for the finish.
Of
course there are many spectators
along
the route to cheer on the racers.
They
bravely bare the cold to support the race
but
there are many more supporters who watch them on television.
Races
Formally
there were two races going on at the same time.
The
competitive race and the non-competitive race.
Participants
of both races have to be officially registered.
When
the next race occurs there will also be separate races
for
the men and the women. So then we will see the first women
receive
prizes for winning the race.
Since
there are more people who want to be in the race
than
is allowed, the number of people who can actually participate
is
limited to those who enrol in the FEC in Leeuwarden
in
person and must be be:
*
members of the “De Friesche Elf Steden” Association
with
a right to start and who have complied
with their
administrative obligations and
are
in possession of a valid 11-city identity card;
*
members of the “De Friesche Elf Steden” Association
with
a chance to start and who have been successfully drawn by lot,
have
complied with their administrative obligations and
also
are in possession of a valid 11-city identity card.
Each
member that is allowed to take part in the marathon
will
obtain a special card to be stamped
at
secret check points along the route, and a start certificate.
The
starting times for the race skaters are 05.20
for
the men and 05.35 for the women.
All
of the race regulations are available
from
the Friesian Eleven City Association.
Non-profit
Since
the race does not have official financial supporters,
it is
run by hundreds of volunteers.
Participants
receive advice before the race
on
skating equipment condition,
clothing
and food during the race,
checkpoints
and first aid stations.
Prizes
All
of the race participants who complete the marathon
within
the assigned time and have collected all the stamps
will
receive the 11-city cross.
The
first eleven men and three women to complete
the
route receive a medal.
Women's
prizes are lower
because
there are many fewer female participants than male.
The
winner also receives the Pim Mulier prize, a large silver plate.
The
fastest woman receives two prizes: a silver cup and a silver goblet.
Female
and male winners receive a garland.
Both
names are then engraved in the statue of the 11-city skater
that
is situated in front of the FEC in Leeuwarden.
The
prizes are awarded during a ceremony
in
the same afternoon of the race in the FEC in Leeuwarden.
Afterwards
the winners bathe in the glory of winning
such
a challanging race of such difficult endurance.
The Eleven Cities Cross
Each
participant who completes the marathon
within
the prescribed time and has collected all the stamps
from
the check points will receive the much coveted 11-city cross.
The
cross, designed in 1909,
consists
of a medal in the shape of a Maltese cross
with
a circle in the centre.
This
circle contains the Friesian coat of arms in enamel,
with
the words 'De Friesche Elf Steden'.
Every
year the Dutch populace waits with high expectation
for
the possibility of yet another 11 Steden Tocht.
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Updated August 07,
2009
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