It was the calm waters of Lake Piediluco that turned the spotlight on the 2024 Italian rowing season, where the National Meeting took place on Saturday 16th and Sunday 17th March, featuring some athletes from the sports group VV.F. 'Billy.Masi'.
After the pass obtained with the qualifiers of the selection regional race in San Miniato the previous weekend, the Billina expedition, racing in Umbrian waters under the guidance of Alessandro Simoncini, consisted of Maria Chiara Bellani, Azzurra Martirani, Eva Gagetti, Alessia Ragoni, Leonardo Pioli and senior Paola Piazzolla.
Pioli returns as a medalist with a third place in the 4 Senza under 23 mixed crew with Francesco Garrucci and Nicola Mancini (SC Pontedera) and Victor Kushnir (CUS Ferrara); fifth in Paolo Piazzolla's A final in mixed senior A Double with Vittoria Gallucci (SC Pontedera); Due Senza Ragazze was also fifth in Final A with the solid pair of Billino Bellani-Martirani. First place, but in the B final, for Gagetti and Ragoni, competing in the mixed girls' 4-pair with Giulia Bonelli and Anna Ricci from Pontedere.
“Satisfactory results not only for Leonardo's podium, but also for the placement of the boats in the girls' category: it was their first competition of national caliber and reaching the Final A for Maria Chiara and Azzurra is an excellent sign of their progress and goal. to be considered achieved”, coach Alessandro Simoncini commented after returning from the trip.
