Bumper time for Memorial D’Aloja

Raced in Piediluco, Italy, the 26th edition of the Memorial D’Aloja attracted 27 nations, almost double the 2011 tally of countries. This equated to nearly 400 competitors including a number from development nations that had completed a training camp over the week before the three-day regatta.

At the end of the three days Italy was at the top of the points table, followed by France with Spain in third.
With two separate days of finals, coaches used this regatta to try out different combinations as the first stage of the 2012 Samsung World Rowing Cup series to be staged in Belgrade, Serbia, looms into view in two weeks’ time.

On the Italian side coach Fiamme Gialle discovered he had a fast men’s double sculls in the form of Olympic Champion Alessio Sartori and Romano Battisti. Sartori and Battisti won on both finals days and beat France’s Julien Bahain and Cedric Berrest on one of those days.

Although this is not a selection regatta for the Italian team, it did give coaches a show of who was looking promising. The new-look Italian men’s four of Capelli, Agamennoni, Tranquilli and Palmisano showed potential by winning on both days ahead of France’s Macquet, Despres, Rondeau and Moineau on day one and then beating Serbia on day two of finals.

France proved strong in the men’s quadruple sculls, winning on both days ahead of the Czech Republic and Italy whose crew consisted of the great Rossano Galtarossa. The Swiss quad, helped by Andre Vonarburg, came into the picture on the first day of finals by finishing second behind France ahead of the Czech Republic and Italy.

Showing their readiness for the 2012 World Rowing season, Lithuania’s Mindaugas Griskonis and Saulius Ritter finished first and second respectively on both days of finals in the men’s single sculls. Both are reigning European Champions – Griskonis in the men’s single and Ritter in the men’s double.

Italy’s Niccolo Mornati and Lorenzo Carboncini, world bronze medallists in the men’s pair, did not manage to beat the French duo of Germain Chardin and Dorian Mortelette on the first day of finals. Chardin and Mortelette were also first on the second day of finals. The duo were part of France’s international men’s four in 2011

The Italian women’s double sculls of Laura Schiavone and Giada Colombo and the lightweight women’s double sculls of Erika Bello and Laura Milani look in good form to carry on to the World Rowing Cup races. These two crews may get a chance to try to qualify for the Olympic Games at the Final Olympic Qualification Regatta in late May.

Serbia's Iva Obradovic, with Ivana Filipovic, finished second behind Schiavone and Colombo in the double on day two of finals. Obradovic also raced on the first day of finals in the women's single sculls and won easily pushing Donata Vistartaite (LTU) into second and Frida Svensson (SWE) into third.

This regatta saw the return of Italian Olympian Gabriella Bascelli to top level racing on day two of finals. Bascelli finished fourth in the single which included 2010 World Champion Svensson in first (but just a fraction ahead of Vistartaite). Bascelli also competed in the Italian women’s quadruple sculls finishing second behind France.

The weather was not always favourable with some wind and some rain, but it was consistent for all of the athletes.

For full results, please click here.