Anke Bonnes Beenen was a Dutchkortebaanspeed skater. Kortebaanschaatsen was in that era the most popular sport in Friesland, and became also more and more popular for women. She is named as the first women speed skater who became notable and popular. She became popular in couple competitions skating together with Jouke Schaap, winning thousand guilders in prize money.
Career
When Beenen was 16 years old, she started with skating on the ditch where she lived. It was noted by her father that she skated fast. She registered together with her brothers, Hendrik and Jan, for a major competition in Groningen. Beenen won one race after another and was even able to beat the main favorite in the final. She won f 150 and a gold medal. Villager Jouke Schaap won that day a men’s competition in Groningen. They agreed to start competing together in couple competitons. They would become one of the best couples and competed about ten years until 1881. They won many prixes; not only in Friesland but also in North Holland, South Holland and Groningen. Especially in their first winter of 1870-71 they won many prizes, among others the second prize in Bolsward, 1st prize in Heerenveen and the first prize in Amsterdam. According to her cousin, Beenen would have won that winter an immens amount of money of f 2500. Beenen also won prizes individually. She even competed in the week she was going to marry on 3 February 1880 in Grouw. Also shortly after her marriage on 18 January 1881 in Hardegarijp. That winter of 1880-81 was the last winter she took part in competitions.
Popularity
Around 1880 a large painting of Beenen and Jouke Schaap was exposed at a shop window in Gorredijk. On 22 December 1879 her speed skating club "Thialf" paid big attention to her silver anniversary. In front of the house of the mayor, a large gate was build out of ice blocks. On top where placed three figures: in the middle ice god Thialf and next to him Beenen and Jouke Schaap. A large wooden statue of Beenen en Jouke Schaap was for years at the ice stadium Thialf. 100 year after her career, on 14 December 1974, media paid attention to her career.
Personal
Beenen was born in Langezwaag. She married on 7 February 1880 with boatman Johannes Sijtzes Krist. It is said that she had a tough marriage, as she stopped with speed skating. They had four children: Bonne, Korneliske, Johanna and Geertje. Bonne drowned in Rotterdam in 1935. Beenen died young on 5 September 1886, aged 33. After her dead Johannes Sijtzes Krist married again and stayed living in Leeuwarden.
