Mixed crowd success for a first

HUY • Roller parade Mixed crowd success for a first COURSE SECURITY Police on bikes and rollerblades Huy police did not spare resources to ensure the safety of participants. Six vehicles, a motorcyclist, three bicycles, and one officer on rollerblades were present. In the end, Commissioner Colinet declared himself very satisfied. For the next two events, two Namur "roller cops" will reinforce the ranks. J.H. Between Huy and Amay, the roller parade stretched over several kilometers, everyone moving at their own pace. Scattered along the route, a few stops nevertheless allowed the ranks to close up. Heymans Tuesday evening, the Huy roller parade finally took place. Although there were only about a hundred of them, participants enjoyed the sun's rays in good spirits. AFTER being postponed at the end of June due to capricious weather, the organizers decided to take the risk and launch the Huy roller parade this Tuesday evening. On the public side, the reception was timid. Many had been put off by the previous experience where they had found the doors closed. Scheduled for 8 p.m., the start was postponed by half an hour to allow participants already present to visit the exhibition on Jean-Joseph Merlin's journey. A proposal from the officials that seemed more like a pretext so that the roller parade would not be limited to a few dozen participants, most of whom were organizers and law enforcement. This half-hour was ultimately welcome. The public began to gather at the starting line on Avenue des Ardennes. There were between 100 and 150 of them. Most participants were on rollerblades, but a handful had still chosen bicycles. “I've never rollerbladed,” explained one of the cyclists, “but I’m here because my son put on his skates.” For safety, rollerbladers and cyclists were kept separate by two organization vehicles. Among the cyclists, a little disappointment showed, but it was quickly forgotten when the parade set off on Quai de Compiègne towards Amay. Routined by dozens of parades With the first kilometers came the first falls. Sometimes spectacular, they were fortunately not very serious and were limited to a few. Among the organizers, one could feel that the mechanism had been rehearsed by dozens of previous parades. “To prevent the group from stretching over too long a distance, stragglers are taken into the bus that follows us,” indicates one of the staff members supervising the event. “In the bus, they can rest or readjust their equipment if it’s causing problems.” In total, only three or four people benefited from the services of the sweep vehicle. Following problems with his rental skates, Philippe fell and preferred to finish the journey in the bus. “I thought it would be accessible to a wider public. But I don't intend to stop at a failure. I’m going to train and I’ll come back next time.” In total, the route stretched over about twenty kilometers, between Huy and Amay. Far from being a race, it was truly a stroll. A way to reclaim the road, another approach to mobility. FROM AVENUE DES ARDENNES Departure under the sun The meeting point was set for Grand-Place, but the parade finally set off from Avenue des Ardennes around 8:30 p.m. After passing over Pont Baudouin, participants took Rue Neuve to head towards Place des Récollets and turn towards Amay by taking Quai de Compiègne. Heymans BY THE MEUSE RIVER All the charm of the river Huy, daughter of the Meuse. The Mosan city probably never deserved this slogan so much. On the quays of Compiègne or Arona, the spectacle was superb. It was a real pleasure to stroll peacefully along the Meuse, especially since the sun deigned to make its appearance. Heymans DETOUR VIA AMAY AT THE FOOT OF THE COLLEGIATE CHURCH The roller parade made a point to Amay. A stop was planned in the town square. In the streets, people came out of their homes or watched from their windows. At the foot of the collegiate church, the parade, which had stretched out considerably, reformed. Everyone then headed towards the Ombret bridge. Heymans HUY BY NIGHT In the light of flashing lights After passing through Quai d'Arona, the first rollerbladers crossed the finish line around 10 p.m. to a concert of horns and sirens. The ambient humidity did not encourage participants to continue the festivities, but the dates are already set for the next events. Heymans SUPERVISION Volunteer staff and first responders At each roller parade, an entire group supervises the participants. For the Huy stage, there were 18 staff members to ensure the smooth running of the event, to go back and forth within the group, or to intervene in case of technical problems. Among them were 3 first responders and a doctor. Heymans EACH TO THEIR OWN TECHNIQUE André and his great-nieces André and his wife live in Ampsin. This week, three great-nieces came to spend a few days of vacation with them. It was a great opportunity to participate in the roller parade. The Ampsin couple had planned everything. While André pedaled, his wife followed in the car, ready to intervene when the little ones were tired. J.H. CARL, THE ORCHESTRA LEADER On rollerblades or on the pickup truck Carl de Moncharline is the initiator and orchestra leader of the roller parade. The former owner of the Brussels nightclub, the Who's Who's Land, has more than one idea in mind to liven up the capital's evenings. In addition to the roller parade, Carl is also the organizer of “Nuits Blanches” or “Immeubles en fête”. Heymans By word of mouth The roller parade was launched three years ago by one of the princes of Brussels nightlife: Carl de Moncharline. Initially limited to the streets of the capital, the parade began to open up to other Belgian cities in 2003. “By word of mouth, I learned that Merlin, the inventor of the skate, was from Huy. I suggested to Anne-Marie Lizin that we organize a roller parade in the streets of Huy,” explains Carl de Moncharline. Three dates have been scheduled in the Mosan city as part of the bicentenary. These passages should unfortunately remain without follow-up in the coming years. The next dates are set for Saturday, August 7, and Saturday, September 25, for the close of the roller season. “It will be at the same times, but we will offer a different route each time.” Arnaud WÉRY http://www.belgiumrollers.com A Parisian collection Passionate about skates, Parisian Sam Nieswiski lent part of his collection to the exhibition tracing the journey of Huy native, Jean-Joseph Merlin. STARTING as a simple pastime, roller skating took on astonishing proportions for Sam Nieswiski. “One day, I wanted to know more about skating. I looked for a book on the subject but, in the end, it was I who wrote that book.” This Parisian is the author of “Rollermania,” a work in the “Découvertes Gallimard” collection, which traces the history of a pastime for eccentric aristocrats that has now become a trendy sport. Sam has been skating for 60 years, both roller and ice skating. So, he has all kinds of skates, whether for long strolls or for performing a few dance steps. Passionate, author, and skater. Sam Nieswiski is also a collector. He lends part of his private collection to the exhibition held at Galerie Juvénal. “This is the first time I've participated in such a long exhibition. I’ve always been a little hesitant to lend, but I had very positive contacts with the organizers.” For the Parisian, this passion also allows him to travel. “In the course of my research, for example, I went to Switzerland to visit a museum on cycling and to Nebraska, where the only museum on skating is located.” From this historical investigation, Sam Nieswiski primarily remembers that for 100 years, skates were inline. A. WÉRY Exhibition visible at Place Verte, Galerie Juvénal from July 13 to August 22 (except Mondays) from 2 p.m. to 6 p.m. Price: 1€. Surrounded by his skates, Sam Nieswiski is all smiles J.H.