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Gerard van den Bergh

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For the econometrician, see Gerard J. van den Berg.

In this Dutch name, the surname is van den Bergh, not Bergh.
Gerard van den Bergh
Personal information
Full nameGerard Anne van den Bergh
Born(1882-11-19)19 November 1882
The Hague, Netherlands
Died22 October 1949(1949-10-22) (aged 66)
The Hague, Netherlands
Parent
Sport
CountryNetherlands
SportSports shooting
ClubOranje Nassau, The Hague
Medal record
Men's shooting
Representing  Netherlands
Summer Olympics
Winner 1900 Paris 200m rifle [nb 1]
World Championships
Second place 1911 Rome [it] 300m rifle prone
Third place 1912 Biarritz [it] 300 m free rifle 3 positions team

Gerard Anne van den Bergh (19 November 1882 – 22 October 1949) was a Dutch sports shooter and shooting sport administrator. He was a member of shooting club Oranje Nassau from The Hague. He had an international career of over two decades, then transitioned into a career as sport shooting administrator.

He won during the 1900 Summer Olympics in Paris the boys 200 meter rifle event. This achievement is recognized by the Dutch Olympic Committee, but he is not recognized by the IOC as an official Olympic champion; which is as of 2024 still under discussion.

He won the silver medal at the World Shooting Championships at the 1911 World Championships [it] and the bronze medal at the 1912 World Championships [it]. He competed at a range of international other tournaments, including the 1908 Summer Olympics and the 1920 Summer Olympics.

He became during his career multiple times national champion and national shooting master.

After the former international governing shooting body was discontinued in 1916, he was the co-founder of the Union Internationale de Tir (nowadays called International Shooting Sport Federation) after World War I.

He held multiple shooting administration functions, including the president of the Royal Association of Dutch Marksmen (nowadays called Royal Dutch Shooting Sport Association) where he has been credited for his impact in the shooting sport. He is credited for the success and organizing the shooting tournament during to the 1928 Summer Olympics where shooting was not included, and is regarded as a main moment in the 50-year history of the Royal Dutch Shooting Federation. After the tournament a successful propasal was sent for re-inclusion of shooting at the 1932 Summer Olympics.

Shooting career

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Van den Bergh trained at the Dutch national shooting facility Ockenbugh [nl] in Loosduinen.[3] He was referred to as a first-rate rifleman.[4] Described by Het Vaderland in 1911, he trained with “praiseworthy diligence”.[5]

International career

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Van den Bergh was at the 1900 Summer Olympics the winner of the boys 200 meter rifle event and is recognized by the Dutch Olympic Committee as an Olympic gold medalist.[1] However, the event is not considered official by the IOC.[2] Like Van den Bergh, there is an ongoing debate about four other Dutch sportspeople, if they can be considered an Olympic champion by the IOC.[6][7] Proposals to gain recognition for these athletes including Van den Bergh are as of 2024 ongoing, with two Dutch cyclists receiving this recognition in 2024.[8][9][10] In 2023 NOC*NSF paid attention to the achievement of Van den Bergh.[8]

At the 1908 Summer Olympics in London, van den Bergh competed in three events – the 50 yard pistol event, 50 yard team pistol event and 300 metre free rifle for teams event. His best ranking was sixth in the 50 yard team event.[11] The early results at the Games were disappointing; it was explained this was because there was every now and than a strong wind blowing over the shooting venue which the Dutch team was not familiar with.[12] With the Dutch team, he became seventh in the free rifle 300 m three positions event, where he was the best of his team with 751 points.[13]

Van den Bergh was a member of the national team for the 1909 World Championships [it] in Hamburg, Germany. He scored standing 280 points and laying 332 points.[14] He was selected as substitute for Dutch team for the 1910 World Shooting Championships in Loosduinen and competed in the practice match.[15][16] In 1911, via a national competition at Ockenbugh [nl], Van den Burgh was selected for the 1911 World Championships [it] in Rome, Italy.[17] At these World Championships he won the silver medal in the 300 metre military rifle prone event.[18] He finished 5th in the rifle competition,[19] and sixth in the pistol competition.[20] The next year he won the bronze medal in the 300 metre free rifle 3 positions team event at the 1912 World Championships [it] in Biarritz, France.[18]

At the 1920 Summer Olympics in Antwerp he took part in eight events. His best ranking was eighth place in the 300 metre free rifle event.[18]

He did not compete at the 1925 World Championships [it] and retired from international shooting.[21]

Main national achievements

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In July 1908, ahead of the 1908 Summer Olympics, he won a main national competition in the 300 metres event.[22] In June 1909 he competed with his club for the Jochems Cup, where Van den Bergh was the best lying shooter.[23] In August 1909 he became the Dutch master sniper shooter at Ockenburgh.[24] Van den Bergh was not able to win a medal at the 1911 national championships.[25] In 1912 he was one of the main shooter at the General van Merlen competition in Haarlem that lasted 1.5 months.[26] In July 1913 he became with Oranje-Nassau for the third time in a row Dutch national champion.[27] Later that month, he was main prize winner of the Dutch annual match over 200 metres.[28] In August 1913 he became the Dutch master pistol shooter at Ockenburgh.[29] In May 1914 he won, with his club Oranje-Nassau, the Hague-Rotterdam Cup.[30]

Shooting administration

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Van den Berg, as well as being a shooter, was also active as a shooting administrator at the national Dutch shooting associations. As of January 1914 he was secretary treasurer of the Neederlandsche Pistool en Revolververeeniging.[31] In April 1916 Van den Berg became a member of the newly formed technical committee of the Koninklijke Vereeniging van Scherpschutters (Royal Shooting Association),[32] and became the Dutch delegate to the Union Internationale de Tir.[33]

After the international shooting federation was dissolved in 1916,[32] Van den Bergh was one of the founders of the Union Internationale de Tir (nowadays called International Shooting Sport Federation).[34][35]

After being vice-president, Van den Bergh became in 1921 president of the Royal Association of Dutch Marksmen.[34] He was also president of the shooting association Oranje-Nassau.[36] He is credited for being a good leader and organizer.[37] It has been said that he had “all good qualities” of his father who was before a beloved and honored president.[38] An example, Van den Berg is credited for the successful shooting tournament that he organized next to the 1928 Summer Olympics in Amsterdam where shooting was not included and is regarded as a main moment in the 50-year history of the Royal Dutch Shooting Federation. For this tournament the neglected shooting facility Ockenbugh [nl] had to be renovated.[39][40][41] A few days after the tournament it was urged to include shooting again at the Olympics at the congres of the Union Internationale de Tir. It was decided to propose at the 27th IOC meeting in 1929 inclusion of shooting at the 1932 Olympics what eventually happened.[42][43]

In 1924 and following years he also served as the team leader of the Dutch national shooting team at Olympic Games and World Championships.[44][45]

Due to his busy schedule and moving abroad, he resigned from his president position of Oranje-Nassau in 1928 and of the Royal Dutch Shooting association in 1929.[46][47] He was subsequently appointed honorary chairman of the Oranje-Nassau and honorary member of the Royal Dutch Shooting association.[46][48] His resignation was regretted by the Dutch association as well as by foreign administrators of shooting associations.[49]

After resigning as president, he remained a member of the international committee and team leader of the Dutch shooting team at Olympic Games and World Championships until the 1939 World Championships [it], the last world shooting championships before World War II.[45]

Personal and death

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Van den Bergh was born on 19 November 1882 in The Hague. He was the son of Solko van den Bergh, who won a bronze medal at the 1900 Summer Olympics. Gerard van den Berg married Theodora Stelzl in 1913.[50] He was secretary of Grovestins Stichting (Grovestins Foundation) from 1917 until his death.[51] He died on 22 October 1949 in The Hague at the age of 66 years old, survived by his wife and daughter.[52]

Notes

[edit]
  1. ^ Achievement recognized by NOC*NSF,[1] but is unofficial according to the IOC.[2]

References

[edit]
  1. ^ a b "Gerard van den Bergh". NOC*NSF. Retrieved 28 April 2025.
  2. ^ a b "Olympische Spelen van Parijs 1900". NOC*NSF. Retrieved 28 April 2025.
  3. ^ "Schieten. Naar Rome". De Maasbode. 18 May 1911. Retrieved 28 April 2025.
  4. ^ "Schieten. De internationale wedstrijd 1914". De Telegraaf. 12 May 1914. Retrieved 28 April 2025.
  5. ^ "Schieten". Het Vaderland. 13 June 1911. Retrieved 28 April 2025.
  6. ^ "De gouden olympische medailles van Nederland". NOC*NSF. Retrieved 28 April 2025.
  7. ^ Bijkerk, Ton (2012). "De honderdste gouden medaille – enen verkeerde voorstelling van feiten!" (PDF). De Sportwereld. 63 (3): 18–23. Retrieved 29 April 2025.
  8. ^ a b "123 jaar na dato alsnog olympische erkenning". Omroep Venlo (in Dutch). 12 July 2023. Retrieved 28 April 2025. Het Nederlandse comité staat in oktober stil bij de prestaties van alle kampioenen uit 1900. Dat zijn naast Cordang en roeiers Brandt en Klein, ook de Limburgse wielrenner Harry Meijers (winnaar 2.000 meter sprint en tandem over 2.000 meter) en de winnaar van 200 meter militair geweer bij de junioren Gerard Anne van den Bergh. [In October, the Dutch Olympic Committee will commemorate the achievements of all champions from 1900. In addition to Cordang and rowers Brandt and Klein, these include Limburg cyclist Harry Meijers (winner of the 2,000-meter sprint and tandem over 2,000 meters) and the winner of the 200-meter military rifle for juniors Gerard Anne van den Bergh.]
  9. ^ "Is Mathieu Cordang, de onverschrokkene, na 123 jaar op weg naar olympische roem?". de Volkskrant. 10 October 2023. Retrieved 28 April 2025.
  10. ^ "Krijgt Limburg met terugwerkende kracht vier gouden plakken? Nieuwe hoop op Olympische erkenning voor wielrenners Cordang en Meijers". De Limburger. 3 July 2024. Retrieved 28 April 2025.
  11. ^ "Sports Reference: Gerard van den Bergh". Sports Reference. Archived from the original on 21 February 2014. Retrieved 16 February 2014.
  12. ^ "De Olympische Spelen in Londen. De schietenwedstrijden". De Telegraaf. 10 July 1908. Retrieved 28 April 2025.
  13. ^ "De Olympische Spelen in Londen. Schieten". Land en Volk. 14 July 1908. Retrieved 28 April 2025.
  14. ^ "Schieten. De internationale schietwedstrijd te Hamburg". De Telegraaf. 9 July 1909. Retrieved 28 April 2025.
  15. ^ "Schieten". Het Vaderland. 30 July 1910. Retrieved 28 April 2025.
  16. ^ "Schieten. Internationale Match The Loosduinen". De Nieuwe Courant. 22 June 1910. Retrieved 28 April 2025.
  17. ^ "Schieten". De Courant. 19 May 1911. Retrieved 28 April 2025.
  18. ^ a b c "Gerard van den Bergh". Olympedia. Retrieved 8 April 2021.
  19. ^ "Schieten. De Internationale match te Rome". De Telegraaf. 4 June 1911. Retrieved 28 April 2025.
  20. ^ "Schieten". De Tijd. 12 June 1911. Retrieved 28 April 2025.
  21. ^ "Wedstrijd te St. Gallen". Het Vaderland. 13 August 1925. Retrieved 28 April 2025.
  22. ^ "Schieten". Algemeen Handelsblad (in Dutch). 4 July 1908. Retrieved 28 April 2025 – via Delpher.
  23. ^ "Schieten. Om den Jochems-beker". De Nieuwe Courant. 14 June 1909. Retrieved 28 April 2025.
  24. ^ "Schieten op Ockenburgh". De Courant. 12 August 1909. Retrieved 28 April 2025.
  25. ^ "Schieten". De Nieuwe Courant. 25 October 1911. Retrieved 28 April 2025.
  26. ^ "Schieten". De Nieuwe Courant. 26 November 1912. Retrieved 28 April 2025.
  27. ^ "Schieten". Het Vaderland. 22 July 1913. Retrieved 28 April 2025.
  28. ^ "Schieten. Zesde Groote Nat. Schietwedstrijd te Arnhem". Het Vaderland. 25 July 1913. Retrieved 28 April 2025.
  29. ^ "Schieten op Ockenburgh". Algemeen Handelsblad. 7 August 1913. Retrieved 28 April 2025.
  30. ^ "Schieten". Algemeen Handelsblad. 22 May 1914. Retrieved 28 April 2025.
  31. ^ "Schieten". Algemeen Handelsblad. 9 January 1914. Retrieved 28 April 2025.
  32. ^ a b "Kon. Ver. v. Scherpschutters". Algemeen Handelsblad. 4 April 1916. Retrieved 28 April 2025.
  33. ^ "Schieten". Het Vaderland. 26 April 1921. Retrieved 28 April 2025. De heer G. A. v. d. Bergh, vice-voorzitter der vereeniging, zal als afgevaardigde voor Nederland op de vergadering van de Union International, in de vorige maand te Parijs gehouden, verslag daarvan uitbrengen. [Mr. G. A. v. d. Bergh, vice-president of the association, will report on this as a delegate for the Netherlands at the meeting of the Union International, held in Paris last month.]
  34. ^ a b "Scherpschutters. Jaarvergadering Kon. Ver. van Nederl". De Nieuwe Courant. 2 May 1921. Retrieved 28 April 2025.
  35. ^ "Nederland naar Wereldkampioenschappen in Polen". Het Vaderland. 30 April 1931. p. 10. Retrieved 28 April 2025 – via Delpher. De training voor de Amsterdamsehe Schutters van Intern, klasse zal op de banen te Zeeburg aanvangen op 3 Mei, a.s. en door den ex-voorzitter der Kon. Ver. van Nederl. Scherpschutters en oud-internationaal, den heer G. A. van den Bergh geleid worden. [The training for the Amsterdam Shooters of the International class will start on the ranges in Zeeburg on May 3, and will be led by the former president of the Royal Association of Dutch Shooters and former international, Mr. G. A. van den Bergh.]
  36. ^ "Scherpsch.Ver. "Oranje-Nassau"". De Avondpost. 29 October 1926. Retrieved 28 April 2025.
  37. ^ "Internationale werdstrijd op Ockenburgh". De Maasbode. 2 October 1928. Retrieved 28 April 2025.
  38. ^ "Wedstrijd op Oekenburgh". NRC (in Dutch). 14 July 1928. Retrieved 28 April 2025 – via Delpher. In de heer G. A. v. d. Bergh, diens zoon, zijn blijkbaar alle goede kwaliteiten van den vader overgegaan. [Apparently all the good qualities of his father were passed on to Mr. G. A. v. d. Bergh, his son.]
  39. ^ "De Kon. Vereeniging v. Nederlandsche Scherpschtters viert het 5-jarig bestaan". Algemeen Handelsblad. 16 June 1940. Retrieved 28 April 2025. Een groot moment in de geschiedenis van de K. V. v. N. S. was de organistatie van de Internationalen Schietwedstrijd op Ockenburgh in 1928, ter gelegenheid van de Olympische Spelen te Amsterdam, op welker programma het schieten niet voorkwam.... ...De internationale wedstrijd slaagde schitterend, niet het minst dank zij de bemoiingen van den heer G. A. van den Bergh, die in de voetstappen van zijn vader, de heer S. J. van den Bergh was getreden en de K.V.v. N. S. vertegenwoordigde in de Union Internationale. [A main moment in the history of the K. V. v. N. S. was the organization of the International Shooting Competition at Ockenburgh in 1928, on the occasion of the Summer Olympic Games in Amsterdam, on the program of which shooting was not included... ...The international competition was a brilliant success, thanks to the efforts of Mr. G. A. van den Bergh, who had followed in the footsteps of his father, Mr. S. J. van den Bergh, and represented the K. V. v. N. S. in the Union Internationale.]
  40. ^ "Ned Scherpschutters zijn zwaar gedupeerd | Er moet weer schot in komen". Sport (in Dutch). 30 December 1946. Retrieved 29 April 2025 – via Delpher. In 1928 werd er op Ockenburgh een internationale wedstrijd gehouden, die schitterend slaagde, dank zij de bemoeiïngen van den heer G. A. van den Bergh die zijn vader, den heer S. J. van den Bergh, als voorzitter van de K.V.v.N.S. was opgevolgd en zitting nam in de Union Internationale de Tir. [In 1928 an international competition was held at Ockenburgh, which was a resounding success, thanks to the efforts of Mr. G. A. van den Bergh, who had succeeded his father, Mr. S. J. van den Bergh, as president of the K.V.v.N.S. and took a seat in the Union Internationale de Tir.]
  41. ^ "Internationale Schietwedstrijden op Ockenburgh". Rotterdamsch Nieuwsblad (in Dutch). 13 July 1928. Retrieved 1 May 2025 – via Delpher. De organisatie dezer internationale wedstrijden... ...Tijd noch moeite heeft men zich gespaard om de banen op Ockenburgh, welke in een verwaarloosden toestand verharden, dit belangrijk tournooi weder in orde te krijgen. Hierbij komt een woord van lof toe aan de heeren G. A. v. d. Bergh en kapitein Linden, resp. voorzitter en secretaris van de Kon. Vereeniging van Neder landsche Scherpschutters, opwie een zeer groot deel der organisatie neerkwam... ...Hierbij werd het woord gevoerd door den voorzitter der organiseerende vereeniging, den heer G, A. v. d. Bergh. Spreker memoreerde het feit, dat op deze banen, welke destijds door zijn vader gesticht waren, in 1910 eveneens de internationale wedstrijden waren gehouden... [The organization of these international competitions... ...spared no time or effort to get the shooting range at Ockenburgh, which are hardening in a neglected state, back in state for this important tournament. Praise for Messrs. G. A. v. d. Bergh and Captain Linden, respectively chairman and secretary of the Royal Association of Dutch Sharpshooters, who were responsible for a very large part of the organization... ...The chairman of the organizing association, Mr. G. A. v. d. Bergh, spoke at this event. The speaker recalled the fact that the international competitions had also been held on these courses, which were founded by his father at the time, in 1910.]
  42. ^ "Int. Schietwedstrijden op Ockenburgh". Algemeen Handelsblad. 19 July 1928. Retrieved 29 April 2025.
  43. ^ "CONGRES UNION INTERNATIONALE DE TIR. Schieten weer op het programma der O. S.?". De Telegraaf. 22 July 1928. Retrieved 29 April 2025.
  44. ^ "Schieten op de Olympisch Spelen". De Avondpost. 21 June 1924. Retrieved 28 April 2025.
  45. ^ a b "Wereldkampioenschappen Schieten". Nieuwe Apeldoornsche Courant. 26 June 1939. Retrieved 28 April 2025.
  46. ^ a b "Jaarvergadering Oranje Nassau". Het Vaderland (in Dutch). 10 March 1928. Retrieved 28 April 2025 – via Delpher. De Scherpschutters Vereeniging Oranje Nassau heeft gisteren haar druk bezochte jaarlijksche algemene vergadring gehouden, onder voorzitterschap van den heer G. A. v. d. Bergh, die door drukke werkzaamheden gedwongen was zijn functie ter geschikking te stellen. De afgetreden voorzitter, de heer G. A. van den Bergh, werd bij acclamatie tot eere-voorzitter der vereeniging benoemd. [The Sharpshooters Association Oranje Nassau held its well-attended annual general meeting yesterday, chaired by Mr. G. A. v. d. Bergh, who was forced to resign as president due to busy work. The retired president, Mr. G. A. van den Bergh, was appointed honorary chairman of the association by acclamation.]
  47. ^ "Kon. Vereeniging van Nederlandsche Scherpschutters". Utrechtsche Courant (in Dutch). 3 May 1929. Retrieved 1 May 2025. Spr. herdacht in zijn openingswoord o.m. het succes van den Internationalen Schietwedstrijd te Loosduinen en deelde mede dat de voorzitter de heer G. A. v. d. Bergh, wegens vestiging in het buitenland zijn mandaat had neergelegd. Met algemeene stemmen werd de heer v. d. Bergh tot eere-lid der K.V.v.N.S. benoemd. [In his opening speech, Spr. commemorated the success of the International Shooting Competition in Loosduinen and announced that the president, Mr. G. A. v. d. Bergh, had resigned due to moving abroad. By unanimous vote, Mr. v. d. Bergh was appointed honorary member of the K.V.v.N.S.]
  48. ^ "Kon. Ver. van Ned. Scherpschutters". Algemeen Handelsblad. 29 April 1929. Retrieved 29 April 2025.
  49. ^ "Kon. Ver. van Ned. Scherpschutters". Haagsche Courant. 27 February 1929. Retrieved 28 April 2025. Met hem gaat uit de schietsport een man heen, die als geen ander doorkneed was in alles wat het schieten in Nederland en in het buitenland aangaat. Hij mag de overtuiging met zich meenemen, dat zijn vertrek een leegte achterlaat die moeilijk te vullen zal zijn. [With him, a man leaves the shooting sport who, like no other, was thoroughly versed in everything that concerns shooting in the Netherlands and abroad. He may take with him the conviction that his departure leaves a void that will be difficult to fill.]
  50. ^ "Bevolkingsregister gemeente Den Haag, archive 0354-01, inventory number 127, 1913-1939, Haags Bevolkingsregister (gezinskaarten)". Municipal archive The Hague, Population register. hdl:21.12124/6166494574564AA3A4269DA758AB39E0.
  51. ^ "Familiebericht". Algemeen Handelsblad. 24 October 1949. Retrieved 29 April 2025 – via Delpher.
  52. ^ "Familiebericht". Tubantia. Enschede. 24 October 1949. Retrieved 29 April 2025 – via Delpher.
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