At the junior and under 23 continental championships the athletes of the Paddle College precede the Czechs and the Germans. In the Canadian 3 silvers for Tommaso Mapelli
PAVIA
A European-size Paddle College illuminated the blue expedition to Solkan (Slovenia) for the Junior and Under 23 downhill canoe continental championships. Among the rapids of the Isonzo river, the athletes from Pavia have hoarded up medals, once again showing the goodness of the project carried out by the Cus and the Italian Canoe and Kayak Federation to gather the best student athletes in Pavia.
In a historical review, the heaviest medal was put around her neck by Giulia Formenton who in the classic team competition was crowned European champion together with her companions Cecilia Panato and Valeria Donatelli, first in front of the Czech Republic and Germany. Gold in the classic was followed by an excellent bronze medal in the sprint.
In the men’s field only Tommaso Mapelli, Canadian canoe specialist, missed the European title. Presenting himself in Solkan in great shape Mapelli closed with a loot of 3 silver and 4 bronze medals, dragging the entire Canadian team with him. To silver and bronze in the individual races, Mapelli then added a second place in the C2 sprint race paired with his friend and college mate, Giacomo Bianchetti, who then celebrated the medals together with Mapelli (a silver and three bronze) won in team competitions. Jonathan Allen also put a very heavy bronze around his neck, at the first international downhill canoe competition: the junior of Cus Pavia, together with Matteo Muzio and Lorenzo Corti, conquered the continental podium before flying to Italy in time to earn the selection at the world canoe marathon with a splendid second place.
A shower of medals also for the Italians
While a tricolor triumph was taking place in Solkan, the Italian speed canoe championships were staged at the Milan seaplane base. Absent Manfredi Rizza, on vacation after the hardships in Tokyo, it was the junior Matteo Bazzano who gave the Canottieri Ticino Pavia the gold in the K1 200 meters, a race that saw a beautiful double from Pavia with the silver of Jacopo Sorzini of Cus Pavia . Still unbeaten in Italy, Bazzano will now prepare for the world championships scheduled in Portugal next weekend. Elena Ricchiero, Under 23 of Cus Pavia, second classified in both K1 200 and K1 500 meters will wear the blue jersey with the young star of Canottieri. Another silver came from Giovanni Penasa on 500 meters, while Mathilde Rosa had to settle for third place on 1000. In the paracanoa, successes for Angelo Lova (Canottieri Ticino) and Riccardo Novella (Cus). –