It’s Drysdale again for Silver Skiff

On the women’s side, Silver Skiff first timer Emma Twigg made it a New Zealand clean sweep by winning the women’s senior race and placing 28th overall. Coming in second for the women was Julia Levina of Russia, over a minute behind Twigg and in position 55 overall.

The top three female finishers from 2008 did not race this year opening up the race to Twigg and Levina with relatively unknown Mae Joyce Gay of the United States finishing third and Jacobine Veenhova of the Netherlands in fourth. Twigg’s speedy time and 28th place had her finishing three spots ahead of Italian Olympian Marcello Miani who is better known for his racing prowess with Elia Luini in the lightweight men’s double.

For Drysdale, this is his fourth win in five years of the Silver Skiff while Cohen put last year’s 12th place finish well behind him by finishing second. Cohen knocked American Michael Sivigny back into third. Sivigny was second in 2008 and thus started second this year, while Cohen started back in 40th. Switzerland’s Mario Gyr, who challenged Drysdale recently in the Swiss Armada Cup, finished fourth behind Lorenzo Bertini of Italy. Both Gyr and Bertini are international lightweights with Bertini a 2009 World Champion in the lightweight quad.

Cool conditions with steady rain greeted the 796 entries representing 19 countries including Australia, Monaco, Poland, Egypt and Sweden. Half of the entries were from Italy with Switzerland having the second biggest number of entries with 40 scullers.

The race also attracts masters rowers of all ages and racing in the masters women’s ‘b’ category was Turin resident and one of the most regular competitors, Elisabetta Brugo. Brugo set the women’s course record in 2001 and this year the 37-year-old raced to first in her category. Brugo was also the fastest Italian woman overall.

This is the 18th edition of the Silver Skiff and the event continues to grow for the solely single sculls race of the 11km stake race on the River Po. The regatta also features the 4km Kinder Skiff race for junior scullers.

For full results, click here.

The World Rowing team values feedback.