THE SPORT OF ROWING AP Wirephoto 1969 European Championship Men’s Doubles, Heat 2 Wörthersee 1USA 6:40.72, 2 SUI 6:43.13, 3 GDR 6:45.68, 4 GBR 6:46.66, 5 FRG 6:47.89, 6 NOR 6:48.60 the 1968 Olympic Singles Champion from Holland.3965 “In the final we had a headwind, so the lighter rig was the luckier choice. We measurements of the riggers. He was the boss of the Scullersclub (friends forever from different clubs: Co Rentmeester and Peter Bakker [1959 European Bronze, 1960 Olympic 5th in the doubles], Ebbo van Weezenbeek and Max Alwin [1964 Olympic 7th in the men’s doubles], Willem van der Toght, Rob Groen [1963, 1964 European Silver, 1964 Olympic 7th in the men’s singles], Harry Droog and Leendert van Dis [1968 Olympic Silver in the men’s doubles], Cas Rekers [inventor of the Rowperfect rowing simulator], etc.). Van der Meer had been 1947 European Champion in the men’s doubles with Tom Neumeier [See Chapter 72.], and he was a little bit tough in the training.” – personal correspondence, 2010. 3965 Co Rentmeester: “Dr. Hendrik van der Meer coached me in 1958, ‘59 and ‘60. He passed away of a heart attack in the early ‘80s while rowing a coxed-four with veteran friends of De Hoop.” – personal correspondence, 2010. weren’t that smart because we didn’t know that it was going to be white water on the last day of the regatta.”3966 There was an impressive field of twelve doubles in Klagenfurt. Three great athletes were there with new partners: Swiss 1966 World and 1967 European Champion Melchior Bürgin, 1968 Olympic Champion Analoliy Sass from the Soviet Union and 1966 World Bronze Medalist Jochen Brückhändler from GDR. On Wednesday, September 10, the Soviets qualified for the Sunday final by winning the first heat in 6:41.34 with the Austrians a length behind. Rowing Magazine: “In Heat 2, GB led at 250, and [West Germany] at 350, but USA had gone four seconds clear by 1,500m. They were obviously invincible, and no serious effort was made to catch 3966 McKibbon, personal conversation, 2007 1096
