Strunnikoff!
A hundred years ago today, Nikolaj Strunnikov skated his first known 10000m in 18.27,2 at Moscow, jumping into 9th place in the all-time 10000m list, and to third place in the all-time lowland 10000m list, with only Eden and Öholm ahead of him. Apparently quite some skater. Wonder if he will have some surprises for us at Frogner next weekend...
Meanwhile, Oscar was on his way to Finland for the annual match between the Helsingfors and Kristiania clubs. He travelled with his brother and Magnus Johansen, and the fourth man on the team was Christian Andersen. Andersen was the son of Carl August Andersen, who had a butcher’s shop (evidently) at Engen or Engens gate, and who lived at Arbiensgate 2 with his family. And the train was not long underway before he started pulling out packets full of beefs, cutlets, sausages and luxuries of every kind, grinningly appreciating for every item the expressions appearing on the faces of his comrades. No hungry skaters on the train this time around, that was for sure!
This Christian Andersen, born 1886, was listed with no known death date in 1999, so evidently his diet must have been very healthy...