Italy Dominates at Memorial Paolo d’Aloja

Italy dominated the 16^th edition of the Memorial Paolo d’Aloja with 74 points, finishing ahead of the Czech Republic (18 points) and Mexico (10 points) this weekend at lake Piediluco in Italy.

The men’s coxless four was dominated by the strong host nation. Nicolo Mornati, Lorenzo Carboncini, Raffaello Leonardo and Carlo Mornati finished over five seconds ahead of their compatriots Catello Amarante, Lorenzo Bertini, Carlo Gaddi and Bruno Mascarenhas. The only foreign crew – from Czech Republic rowed in last, 22 seconds behind the winner.

The men’s coxless pair stood out for its line up of three interesting crews. Yugoslavs Djordje Visaki and Nikola Stojic – 2001 world silver medallists in the pair were up against a strong field of Italians including Olympian Mario Palmisano with partner Dario Dentale, and world A finalists Rosario Gioia and Dario Lari. The Palmisano- Dentale duo crossed the line in front with 3.50 seconds to spare in front of Gioia and Lari, followed, 1.5 seconds behind by their Yugoslav opponents.

The women’s lightweight single was one of the more international races. Tunisian rower Ibtissem Trimech beat the lot in 8:12.60. She was followed by Mexican rower Lourdes Montoya and Marta Dona from Italy. Olfa Khammessi, also from Tunisia rowed in last, over 15 seconds behind her predecessor.

The Italians were back on their winning streak by the men’s lightweight single sculls, as World Championship silver medallist Stafano Basalini took the field by 4.2 seconds. Second place came to Mexican Rolulo Bouzas, and third place was back to the Italians with Federico Dodero.

One of the most awaited races no doubt was the men’s double sculls won with little surprise in 6:30.50 by Rosano Galtarossa and Alessio Sartori, reasonably far ahead of Elia Luini and Leonardo Pettinari. The lightweight duo came in 6.2 seconds behind their compatriot, but still finished with a 10 second advance on their followers – Croatians Davorin Sindler and Mario Vekic.

The situation was reversed in the men’s quadruple sculls, where lightweights Daniele Gilardoni, Luca Moncada, Filippo Mannucci and Simone Forlani took an impressive victory of 3.5 seconds ahead of their heavyweight compatriots Franco Berra, Marco Ragazzi, Piergiorgi Negrini and Simone Raineri. This Italian doublé was followed by Czechs David Jirka, M. Pavelka, Patr Vitasek and V. Vochoska.

In the women’s double sculls Lucerne A finalist Erica Spinello confirmed she has a lot to prove by winning in her boat class with partner Gabriella Bascelli in front of two other Italian crews.

Qualification races were held on Saturday morning and final races on Sunday.

204 athletes from seven countries took part in the 2002 edition of this traditional race. The Italians proved once again that they are ready to take on the International field throughout the upcoming World Cup season, and especially for the World Championship event in Seville next September.