Lake Rowing: Ichtya Takes Lead in Veneto Championship Standings
Home waters bewitched for the Bissaioli, representatives of the classic red wine area, while those from Garda lose their bearings midway through the race. The situation is therefore more than favorable for the rowers of Ichtya, who record their sixth win of the season and take sole possession of the lead in the standings with a two-point advantage over their persistent yet unfortunate opponents.
A “Flag of the Lake,” that of the Millennium, which leans more and more towards the black and white colors of the Arilicense rowers, ready to deliver the final decisive blow next Saturday to prevent losing the banner from the home display case, but instead keep it safeguarded for the second consecutive year.
In the penultimate of the ten races, the quartet from Remiera di Peschiera (Paolo Tacconi, Massimo Raimondi, Stefano and Osvaldo Mazzurega) responded magnificently, nullifying the consequences of the disastrous race in Gardone at the end of July, which due to poor lake conditions found them relegated to the lower heat, with the substantial advantage of points accumulated in previous races canceled out.
One of the most exciting lake rowing races of the season took place last Saturday in the waters in front of the port of Bardolino, featuring sixteen boats competing on both the western and eastern shores of Garda, as well as on Lake Iseo.
On a very favorable evening for weather conditions and fantastic for the high spirits, also fueled by foreign tourists carried along by the fans of the three Scaligero boats fighting for the top spot, it was Ichtya that emerged victorious in the final race, that of the elite boats.
Forceful surge in the last fifty meters, after a perfect start and a long head-to-head with Bardolino, with buoy turns neck and neck, the Arilicense rowers, nearing the finish line, unleashed their classic move, increasing their stroke rate so that they entered the final buoy with half a boat-length advantage over the hosts.
More distanced, instead, Garda and Clusanina, the boat from Lake Iseo, which nearly sent the Bissaioli from the other side of the Rocca to compete in the lower heat, in the very last race in Peschiera.
The representatives from Garda edged ahead by a narrow margin after a troubled race, losing precious seconds mid-course due to losing the right pacing.
A third place now puts Bardolino and Garda on equal footing, creating an open battle for the silver flag, if Ichtya wins the golden one in the blue Garda colors.
On the progress of the other races and the standings
In the other three previous races, dominance by Brescia boats, with Benacense from Toscolano Maderno leading Torricella and Betty of Cassone, and Lacisium in the first heat. Villanella from Gargnano defeated Breonda, Adelaide, and Sebina, while Portesina tamed Sirenetta of Gardone, Serenissima of Salò, and Birba of Lazise.
The standings after the penultimate race (ninth): 1) Ichtya points 262; 2) Garda 260; 3) Bardolino 260; 4) Clusanina 245; 5) Portesina 236; 6) Sirenetta 230; 7) Villanella 220; 8) Birba 207; 9) Serenissima 204; 10) Sebina 195; 11) Preonda 189; 12) Benacense 183; 13) Betty 161; 14) Adelaide 159; 15) Torricella 156; 16) Lacisium 153.