The Nice Pogrom, or how the Poles won the first Cup of Nations.
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The spring of 1925 came to Nice exceptionally late. It rained for half of April and only on the 18th the beautiful weather came to the Côte d'Azur. A calm, warm wind was blowing from the sea, and multicolored flags fluttered above the "California" hippodrome: Polish, French, Portuguese, Belgian and Czechoslovak. The International Military Equestrian Competitions began.
This is the third time that cavalrymen with eagles on their caps were to compete with the best military equestrian teams in Europe. Already in the previous two years, Poles proved to be very dangerous competitors, winning, among others, the the most important individual award of the local competitions - the Grand Prize of the City of Nice (Grand Prix de la Ville de Nice). This was done in 1924 by Lieutenant Adam Królikiewicz on "Jaśko". However, they still could not boast of winning the team competition, called the Cup of Nations. It was particularly important because it proved the uniform form of the entire victorious team and confirmed that the individual successes so far had not been accidental. Lieutenant Colonel Karol Rómmel, the manager and instructor of the Polish team, in an interview for the capital's press did not hide that this year he was particularly interested in winning this prestigious award.
But were there any chances? The Equestrian Sport Preparatory Group, training before competitions in Nice and London, was established only at the beginning of February 1925. Our officers have little time left - less than two months - to prepare themselves and their horses to compete with other nations. The most dangerous opponents seemed to be the hosts, who had been training for over half a year. Their representation not only knew the hippodrome perfectly, but was also the most numerous (11 riders and 33 horses). Among the most famous names were certainly Olympians: Lieutenant T. Carbon and Lieutenant P. Clavé. They both competed at the Olympic Games in Paris (1924), and Lt. Carbon additionally in Antwerp (1920). (…)
Read more... (click to go to the Polish Digital Equestrian Library)
Author: Ewa Pawlus, "Tropem Hubala" portal
Entry updated: 25.10.2023/XNUMX/XNUMX
Publications in the Polish Digital Equestrian Library:
Click on the links below to access related materials in the Polish Digital Equestrian Library (will open in a new tab):
“Competitions in Nice” (1925) – Editorial team of the magazine Rider and Breeder
“The Nice Pogrom, or how Poles won the first Nations Cup” (2019) – Ewa Pawlus
“Poles in the Nations Cup, 1923-1982” (1982) – Witold Domański
"From Nice to New York" (1927) - Adam Królikiewicz
“International Equestrian Competitions in Warsaw” (1927)
Photos from the Museum of Sports and Tourism – Warsaw
Sergiusz Zahorski
Brigadier General of the Polish Army, head of the Military Cabinet of the President of the Republic of Poland, co-founder of Polish equestrian sports, participant of the 1912 Olympic Games in the Russian national team.
White and Red Nations Cup – New York, 1926-29
On November 25, 1926, Polish riders won the prestigious Nations Cup in New York. This success was treated as an emanation of the national spirit and a demonstration of the strength of the Polish army.
Zdzislaw Dziadulski
Two-time Olympian (IO Paris 1924 - horse 'Zefir', IO Amsterdam 1928 - 'The Lad' - reserve horse). 7th Mounted Rifle Regiment in Biedrusko (Poznań).
Henryk Dobrzanski
Soldier, rider, Olympian. The last Polish commander of a Detached Unit during World War II. He died with a gun in his hand.
Casimir Szosland
Maj. Sergeant of the Polish Army, the leading Polish equestrian in the years 1923-1935, two-time Olympian (1924 and 1928 - silver).
Charles Rommel
Soldier, trainer, artist in painting, drawing and horse riding. Three-time Olympian (1912 - Stockholm, 1924 - Paris, 1928 - Amsterdam). He was active in KJK in Łódź (1937) and JLKS Sopot (after the war).
Adam Królikiewicz
The first Polish Olympic medalist - bronze medal, Olympic Games Paris 1924 (Picador horse).
Gallery:
Nations Cup winners. From the left: Lt. Col. K. Rómmel, Capt. H. Dobrzański, captain A. Królikiewicz, lieutenant K. Szosland.
Col. W. Anders, the head of the team, stands with the cup. Nice, 1925
