Mahé Drysdale and Emma Twigg are the winners of 18th edition of the long distance Silver Skiff regatta. An annual event on the international rowing calendar, the regatta is held on the Po river in autumn and attracts rowers from all over the world.
Under an unending drizzle the two New Zealander rowers overcame the main rivals by opening a lead on them, setting the time of 40:44. and 44:09, respectively. As for Drysdale, world champion since 2005 in single scull and bronze medal at the Beijing Olympics, this represents his fourth success in the regatta: his course record 40:18, set in 2007 is not broken, but Drysdale performance is nonetheless a striking result: 38 seconds lead over his fellow-countryman Nathan Cohen and a 1:05 second lead over the American, bronze medalist Michael Sivigny. First of the Italians (fourth place for him) is Lorenzo Bertini; Francesco Rigon (sixth), Franco Sancassani (eighth) and Elia Luini (tenth).
Her first participation in the Silver Skiff has rewarded Emma Twigg with the gold medal. The female winner had issued a challenge to the Russian Yulia Levina (second, with a 1 minute:13 second gap). Third place went to the USA rower Joyce Gay. In eleventh place was the among the Italian entrants, Tourin's rower Elisabetta Brugo: The course record is still hers with 43:11, at the Silver Skiff 2001.
In the men's lightweight category, first place went to Francesco Rigon (42:23.), second place to Jonathan Winter (USA), and third place to Franco Sancassani.
The best in Under 23 level is Federico Ustolin (43:01), silver medal to the Swiss rower Schmid and bronze medal to Tommaso Sacchini.
The Junior "A" winner was Swiss as well: Stahlberg was fastest, behind him the world champion Overlack (Germany), third Michele Manzoli.
Francesco Pegoraro was the undisputed master's entrant (43:45.), with an excellent result for Alessandro Padoa who forces Lorenzo Baldini in second place.
Two Italians stood on the Under 23 podium. By the Swiss winner Hauser 's sides were Sara Bertolasi (second) and Gaia Palma (third). Winner in the light weight category was Victoria Burke (USA). Also the Junior "A" winner is a girl from Tourin, Laura Basadonna, who defeated the Swiss Burkard and Cron. Paola Gelpi, Ludovica Lucidi, Arianna Ragnoli: these are the three medal winners in the Junior "B" regatta.
Great enthusiasm for Master categories included many winners who have been celebrated by the president of Cerea Royal Rowing Club, Umberto Dentis, the president of Italian Rowing Federation, Enrico Gandola, his vice-president, Stefano Comellini, and the councillors Sergio Morana, Giovanni Calabrese and the president of Rowing Regional Committee, Stefano Mossino.
First place in the man event for the Swiss, Torsten Maas (Master"A"), second place for Vittorio Altobelli (Master "B").
Elisabetta Brugo dominates the female Master "B" regatta .