1912 Olympic Games Official Report Part 2

After the close of the Games, the competitors from abroad, theofficials, etc., were invited by the officers of the garrison of Stockholmto a banquet at Saltsjöbaden.THE COMPETITIONS.As may be seen by the “Programme” and the ‘Propositions”, thecompetitions included the Military (with 5 sections and consisting ofboth individual and team events), Prize Riding, individual competition,and two Prize Jumping events, the one merely an individualcompetition and the other purely a team event. The order in whichthe various numbers came off and the time at which they were heldis shown by the Daily Programme of the Olympic Games. The compositionof the International Jury officiating at the competitions, togetherwith the names of the judges, the leaders of the events, theofficials and the competitors, can be found in their special placesof this book. The competitors, all of whom were officers, representedno less than 10 nations. The order of starting was determinedby means of drawing lots. During the four days on which the competitionwent on, the weather was gloriously fine, although a littlewarm, the heat causing most trouble during the trials held on thefirst day — the distance riding and the cross-country ride.THE MILITARY.Seven nations took part in this event, Denmark, Germany andSweden each having entered the maximum number of competitors, 4riders and 2 reserves; the U. S. A. and France 4, men and I reserve;and Belgium and Great Britain, 4 men. All the countries —with the exception of Denmark, which had only three men present —had four representatives at the starts for trials I and 2, the distanceriding and cross-country riding. The start and finish wereboth on the grounds of the Field Riding Club, and the course forthe two events named, of a total length of 55 kilometres (33 miles),is shown on the accompanying map. All the competitors were previouslyshown the course, and Major, Baron Cl. Cederström took themover, and described, the scene of the cross-country ride, whichwas marked with red flags. In addition to this, a map of the courseand definite instructions were given by the guides to the competitorson their arrival in Stockholm. Three riders missed the way, however,and thus lost the right to further participation in this competition.Only one rider exceeded the time-limit (by 40 seconds), this inconsequence of his watch being slow. In consequence of the hotweather prevailing, the ground was very hard, but nothing better wasto be had in the vicinity of Stockholm. The cross-country coursecould not be called difficult, the obstacles consisting chiefly of fences,with or without ditches, and streams. The heat was oppressive. andmost of the competitors lost weight during the ride, some as muchas 41/a lbs., or more, while the saddles grew considerably heavier, byabsorption of sweat from the horses.583