Bisse Race in Peschiera Highlights 2000 Winners and Team Performances
Ichtya also won the last race of the bisse, held in Peschiera in front of its home crowd, and secured the Palio del Lago, now in its 33rd edition. Paolo Tacconi, 33 years old, worker; Massimo Raimondi, 27, typographer; Stefano Mazzurega, 26, chemical technician, and Papa Osvaldo, 51, warehouse clerk, repeated their 1999 success, lining up behind Bardolino (Silvano Dall’Agnola, 39, plumber; Mauro Faraoni, 41, gardener; Bruno Maffezzoli, 35, surveyor; and brother Pierfrancesco, 36, electrician).
In third place was Garda, crewed by Matteo Pincini, 25, fisherman; son of the legendary Aligi; Michele Bertoncelli, 26, electrician; Ferdinando Sala, 32, bricklayer, former Berengario; and the venerable 51-year-old Alberto Malfer.
The Verona team dominated the ten races of 2000 from start to finish, securing the Flag (which would be presented to them during a festive ceremony on Friday, September 8, at Casimiro di Portese) for the 21st time. The arrival of the last race further confirmed their strength.
Ichtya only lost at Gardone Riviera, and not due to fault, but because of the draw, which forced them to race in the outside lane, the most exposed to wind and waves. It could have been the beginning of the end; however, the men of Gianfranco De Iseppi’s club did not lose heart, asserting the rights of their class.
Results and New Attendees
And the Brescia teams? Clusanina, which won the last heats, finished in a clear fourth place on the overall ranking. Danilo Bracchi, 44, Antonino Scardi, 57, Enzo Barbieri, 43, and Giuseppe Bosio, 65, the group’s dean, are beginning to feel the weight of age, even though they still outperform many young players.
The good performances of Portesina (Davide Manovali, Ivano Baccolo, Renato Zanoni, and Mauro Reghenzi) and Sirenetta-Gardone (Marco Bargellesi, Marco Righettini, Franco Baruffaldi, and Bruno Bignotti): finishing fifth and sixth respectively, marked notable progress compared to last year.
Instead, Villanella-Gargnano, in seventh, was betrayed by Luca Dominici, who tore his knee ligaments while playing soccer. His cousin Roberto replaced him but struggled to find the right chemistry with Marco, Cristian (Dominici, of course, from a large fishing family headed by patriarch Franz), and Mario Banalotti.
Following Birba-Lazise, came Serenissima-Salò (ninth) and Sebina, the other boat from Lake Iseo.
That evening, during the awards ceremony, the Mayor of Peschiera, Umberto Chincarini, praised the athletes and officials of the entire Lega bisse, presided over by Franco Poli, for “their love of tradition, respect for the lake, and devotion to its people.” The Palio is supported by the Regione Veneto, the Province of Broscia, the Parco community, and that of Garda, with Bruno Frazzini serving as an excellent director.