Reinier Paping
Reinier Paping | |
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![]() Paping in 1963 | |
Born | (1931-02-18)18 February 1931 Dedemsvaart, Netherlands |
Died | 20 December 2021(2021-12-20) (aged 90) |
Nationality | Dutch |
Occupation | speedskater |
Known for | 1963 winner, Elfstedentocht |
Reinier Paping (18 February 1931 – 20 December 2021) was a Dutch speedskater primarily known as the winner of the Elfstedentocht of 1963. This Elfstedentocht became known as "The hell of '63" when only 69 of the 9,292 contestants[1] were able to finish the race, due to the extremely low temperatures, dipping to −18 °C, and a harsh eastern wind. After winning the race, he was recognized as a national hero in the Netherlands.
Early life and career
Paping was born in Dedemsvaart on 18 February 1931. Before 1963, Paping had participated in several Dutch allround championships, with a 4th place in 1955 as his best result.
The 1963 Elfstedentocht
Not even halfway through the harsh Elfstedentocht of 18 January 1963, Paping skated away from a leading group with Jeen van den Berg, Anton Verhoeven, and Jan Uitham, and travelled the rest of the trip alone. Paping finished the race in ten hours and 59 minutes, while the second-place finisher, Jan Uitham, arrived a full 22 minutes later. Because of the horrendous conditions—which included bone-chilling cold of −18 °C—his long solo escape, and the fact that the next Elfstedentocht was not held until 22 years later, Paping became a national hero and the tour itself legendary.[2]
Death
Paping died on 20 December 2021, at age 90.[3]
References
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Year | Date | Temperature | Winner (*) | Time | Distance | Average speed | |
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1909 | 2 January | n/a | Minne Hoekstra [nl] | 13:50 | 189 km | 13.7 km/h | |
1912 | 7 February | 3.8°C | Coen de Koning | 11:40 | 189 km | 16.2 km/h | |
1917 | 27 January | -1.8°C | Coen de Koning | 9:53 | 189 km | 19.1 km/h | |
1929 | 12 February | -10.1°C | Karst Leemburg [nl] | 11:09 | 191 km | 17.1 km/h | |
1933 | 16 December | -2.0°C |
| 9:53 | 195 km | 19.7 km/h | |
1940 | 30 January | -6.1°C |
| 11:34 | 198.5 km | 17.3 km/h | |
1941 | 7 February | 0.0°C | Auke Adema | 9:19 | 198.5 km | 21.3 km/h | |
1942 | 22 January | -11.7°C | Sietze de Groot [nl] | 8:44 | 198 km | 22.7 km/h | |
1947 | 8 February | -8.5°C | Jan W. van der Hoorn [nl] | 10:51 | 191 km | 17.6 km/h | |
1954 | 3 February | -5.4°C | Jeen van den Berg | 7:35 | 198.5 km | 26.2 km/h | |
1956 | 14 February | -4.9°C | no winner declared (**) | — | 190.5 km | — | |
1963 | 18 January | -7.7°C | Reinier Paping | 10:59 | 196.5 km | 17.9 km/h | |
Winner men | Winner women (*) | ||||||
1985 | 21 February | 0.3°C | Evert van Benthem | Lenie van der Hoorn [nl] | 6:47 | 196.8 km | 29.0 km/h |
1986 | 26 February | -6.9°C | Evert van Benthem | Tineke Dijkshoorn [nl] | 6:55 | 199.3 km | 28.8 km/h |
1997 | 4 January | -3.6°C | Henk Angenent | Klasina Seinstra [nl] | 6:49 | 199.6 km | 29.3 km/h |
* Women were first allowed to take part in the tour proper in 1985; before then they had to skate with the amateurs and no award was given. ** After shared wins in 1933 and 1940, when the front-runners decided not to compete but join hands to cross the line together, this practice was forbidden by the organisation. Jan van der Hoorn, Aad de Koning, Jeen Nauta, Maus Wijnhout and Anton Verhoeven however ignored this rule when they crossed the finish line in unison. They were not disqualified, but no winner was declared.
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- Leeuwarden (start)
- Sneek
- IJlst
- Sloten
- Stavoren
- Hindeloopen
- Workum
- Bolsward
- Harlingen
- Franeker
- Dokkum
- Leeuwarden (finish)
![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/5/5a/Elfstedentocht-Plaatsnamen.png/100px-Elfstedentocht-Plaatsnamen.png)