Lake Garda Rowing Championship Shocks: Ichtya Loses Lead
Ichtya, the undisputed leader of the standings, squandered the advantage painstakingly built over the first two-thirds of the long summer rowing challenge for the Lake Flag in a single race.
The boat from Peschiera, in the elite crew race, finished only fourth in the Gardone race, which concluded Saturday the series of events on the western shore of Lake Garda. Drawn to compete in the outermost lane, the most exposed, on a windy evening dominated by the Mistral, the quartet from Arilica (Paolo Treccani, Massimo Raimondi, Osvaldo and Stefano Mazzurega) was unable, partly due to the choppy lake, to find the right and necessary focus essential for facing, from a significantly advantaged position, the demanding challenge.
Race Results and Consequences
It was won by Bardolino, competing in the innermost lane, with a lead of 12 seconds over Clusanina, the boat from Lake Iseo, and 15 seconds ahead of Garda, which at the finish line narrowly beat Ichtya. A heavy blow for the Peschiera rowers, who next Saturday in Cassone will compete in the lower heat, thus allowing competitors valuable points for reclaiming the trophy.
Although it is certain that Ichtya will immediately climb back in the strong heat, the boat starts with a four-point deficit, which, combined with the three points lost in Gardone, will level the Peschiera crew with Garda and Bardolino, having burned through the enormous lead gained with four consecutive victories.
Therefore, the championship is now up for debate when everything seemed to indicate an overwhelming domination of the Peschiera crews. “Although bitter, there is nothing left but to accept the result from a sporting perspective,” says Gianfranco De Iseppi, president of Remiera di Peschiera. From this point of view, there is nothing we can do.
Weather Conditions and Heat Results
The confirmation that the crews racing along the coast in Gardone were favored due to weather conditions is reinforced by the successes of the winners of each heat. Already in the opening race, held under a bothersome drizzle, Adelaide, the Garda boat, drawn in the first lane, prevailed over Torricella of Cassone, Lacisium of Lazise, with Claudia Todesco paddling, which paved the way for potential rowers, and Betty.
The same applies to Preonda of Bardolino, in the sheltered lane, which finished first at the finish line ahead of Benacense, Serenissima, and Sebina, the latter exposed to the gusts of the Mistral wind. Also, Portesina benefited from starting in the second lane, allowing it to surpass in the final the Sirenetta of Gardone, Birba of Lazise, and Villanella of Gargnano.
Of the three Veronese boats in the last heat, the draw in the first lane favored Bardolino, with Clusanina in second, followed by Garda and Ichtya, in that order. At this point, the decisive races will be the last three, all held in Veronese waters, with the Peschiera crews positioned to fight equally with Garda and Bardolino.
Finally, here is the unofficial classification: 1) Ichtya points 206; 2) Bardolino and Garda 202; 4) Clusanina 190; 5) Portesina 183; 6) Sirenetta 180; 7) Villanella 177; 8) Birba 160; 9) Sebina and Serenissima 158; 11) Benacense 146; 12) Preonda 145; 13) Betty 128; 14) Torricella and Lacisium 123; 16) Adelaide 119.