Lido Filippi Beach Sprint Trophy: the University of Padua protagonist in Donoratico
On Friday 6 and Saturday 7 June, the fourth stage of the Lido Filippi Beach Sprint Trophy, an important event in the calendar of the National University Coastal Rowing Circuit, was held at the Marina di Castagneto Carducci shoreline.
Once again, the University of Padua fielded a large contingent of athletes, led by coaches Gherardo Gamba and Francesco Giurisato. Six crews presented in the mixed doubles speciality: Anna Cecchellero and Edoardo Santi, Gexi Sun and Riccardo Mancini, Vittoria Stangherlin and Giacomo De Lucchi, Leonora Roncon and Niccolò Rizzardini, Maria Teresa Perez Cartier Beignolea and Davide Mattevi, Francesca Zocca and Tommaso Merola. The students from Padova, although coming from mainly river and lake experiences, tackled the challenges of the coastal discipline with increasing skill, showing remarkable progress in their third participation in the beach sprint.
The opponents from the University of Palermo, who were more experienced in navigating the unstable waves of the sea, especially on Saturday, which was characterised by particularly challenging conditions, took first place in the speciality. However, the Padua crews did not miss out on the podium: Roncon-Rizzardini finished second, followed by Sun-Mancini in third place.
Particularly significant was the proof of fair play offered in the four mixed speciality, where athletes from the two universities joined forces in mixed crews. The team composed of Maria Teresa Perez Cartier Beignolea, Francesca Zocca, Tommaso Merola and Pietro Puglia (University of Palermo), with Andrea Giurisatoat the helm, won bronze. The silver went instead to the Cecchellero-Sun-Santi-Mancini crew helmed by Lara Perissinotto. The gold, after a race fought to the last wave and decided by just three seconds, was won by the quartet composed of Leonora Roncon, Vittoria Stangherlin, Giacomo De Lucchi and Niccolò Rizzardini, with Edoardo Ercolin at the helm.
With a total of 432 points, the University of Padua is confirmed at the top of the overall ranking of the National University Circuit, closing the first part of the season with enthusiasm and ambition, in view of the resumption of competitions after the summer break.
