Winter racing on Italy’s River Po

The regatta, held on the River Po, was first raced in 1982 and since then it has steadily grown to present day numbers of 1,500 competitors.

This year participants came from France, Switzerland, Portugal, the Netherlands and Great Britain. From Portugal, the duo of Pedro Fraga and Nuno Mendes won the men’s double sculls division. Fraga and Mendes are Portugal’s top Olympic contenders in rowing where they will race in the lightweight men’s double sculls. The biggest number of entries (28) was in the men’s senior single sculls. The Italian, French and German junior men’s eights and the Italian junior men’s quadruple sculls also took part with Italy proving to be the fastest.

Organiser Maurizia Pennaroli explains the beginnings of this regatta: “It came from an idea of Gian Antonio Romanini (former president of the Italian Rowing Federation and president of the Esperia Rowing Club). Romanini used to train on the river stretch between his club (Canottieri Esperia) and Moncalieri, a nearby town. During one of those training sessions he had the idea. The name of the regatta (“Winter on the Po” in English) refers to the time of the year and it is the natural time of the year where long distance rowing regattas are held, as it corresponds with the training programme of the athletes.”

The race is 6,000m long and curves around four bends and under four bridges which, Pennaroli says, is easy to navigate with no currents. The skill comes from knowing how best to approach the bends and the bridges. The event attracts many junior rowers with the under-14s racing over 4,000m.

The boats leave one at a time at 20-second intervals and this year the weather kept up to its winter reputation with cold temperatures, but fortunately no snow.

Pennaroli calls the regatta a unique experience. “The finish (of the race) is right in the city centre and the 6,000m are in the city itself. There is a Park (Parco del Valentino) and the spectators can follow the race all along the river. The landscape is remarkable and one of the most unique in the world.”

For a full list of results, click here.