Makke Groen

Makke Lambers-Groen also written as Martha Groen (1 March 1917 - 31 March 1977) was a Dutch female kortebaanschaatsen speed skater.[1]

Groen was born in Oldeboorn. She rode her first competition in the 1932-33 winter season. In December 1932 she won her first prize, the third place in Oldeboorn. On 22 January 1933 she won her first race, in Bovenknijpe, and won a silver watch. The next day she won in Oosterlittens a gold watch. The day afterwards she won again a golden watch, now in Grouw where 40 skaters participated, and also a silver medal for the fastest race. She rode the lane in 14 seconds.

The next winter season (1933–34) she also won several more prices and competitions, including the first prize in Oldeboorn, Akkrum and Wolvega. In Wolvega she also won a silver medal for the fastest race (16.1 sec.). At a competition in Grouw with participants of among others Trijntje Hemminga and Janna van der Meulen, she was beaten by her with 2–1. At a competition in Ried one of the two lanes was very bad due to the many public watching the races. After winning one race, she started twice in the wrong race and fell twice due to cracks in the ice. She rode her last race on 17 December 1933 in Assen. She was not fit that day and was beaten with just a small difference by J. Helder.

She still competed in 1940, at the Frisian championships and according to the newspaper, "she wasn't the last year one of the fastest skaters anymore". However, she skated still strong against Trijntje Hemminga, but lost, and also the race against Sietske Pasveer.[2] She also competed in Leeuwarden.[3]

Groen married Christiaan Albert Lambers (24 April 1914 - 19 November 2005). She died on 31 March 1977, aged 60. She is buried at Essenhof in Dordrecht.[4]