Editorial board
Tuesday, September 5, 2023 – 10.34 pm
Interview with Carlo Maria Cavalli, councilor of the Peccioverardi district and archer of the Compagnia degli Arcieri della Civetta.
How many years have you been part of the Peccioverardi district?
I joined it with my brother and my mother, immediately after our Ward’s first victory, in 1996. So we officially entered as extras in 1997, when I was 7 years old.
What roles have you played within your Ward?
It can be said that I have covered almost all the roles. I started as an extra as a child. I have been standard-bearer and consul. During the last 5-6 editions of the Giostra dell’Archidado I was Arms Master. During the Giostra of this 2023 I played the role of Crossbowman. Unfortunately it didn’t go as I hoped, but for me it was my first time ever.
The Peccioverardi district, where your mother (Elina Casetti) is President, is a fundamental point of reference for you. What kind of initiatives have you carried out internally?
Even before the birth of Archidado we used to have local dinners in Ruga Piana (ndr Via Nazionale). This manifestation is now no longer in use. We don’t have our own local festivals, but we still participate in the organization of the Mushroom Festival and we are always very helpful with the Historical Group in case of need.
In recent years your Quintiere has been very victorious during the Giostra dell’Archidado thanks to the crossbowmen Leo and Carla Falomi. What emotions did you feel during these victories?
The emotions were very strong! I’ve always experienced them firsthand as a Weapon Master. When you are above the shooting bench, you know that you have a delicate and fundamental task, such as positioning the verretta correctly, without being able to move it, otherwise the shot will be cancelled. So your mistake can invalidate the result of the crossbowman and therefore of the whole district. It definitely takes empathy, collaboration and lots and lots of trials to get to the results we’ve achieved. Then clearly a bit of luck doesn’t hurt.
You are an Archer in the Company of the Civetta Archers. When was the company born and where did the idea of historical archery come from?
The company was born in 2011 thanks to a group of girls who served in the GS. I joined in 2012. In August 2012 we signed up for the Medieval Archers League (LAM), which carries out the Italian Historic Bow Championship. In September 2012 (more than ten years ago!) we participated in our first ever race in Montopoli. It was a wonderful experience. In fact, each race takes place in historic villages. There are various tests to pass. The targets, about 18, are positioned throughout the country. With the “patrol”, ie the shooting group, you move inside the city. They are not the classic concentric circles that one can imagine. There are many different target types (stationary or moving). So you must also be able to manage the best shot based on the target in front of you and create the best game strategy for the team.
How much time do you spend practicing archery?
Training rehearsals take place on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Fridays from 9:30 until approximately 23:00 at the Municipal Gym of Cortona. They are open to everyone.
The arrows and the bow must respect some rules to be admitted to the competitions. Who do you rely on for their construction?
We forge the arrows, i.e. we buy the material and assemble them personally. The color of the arrow can be customized; feathers must always be natural; the nocks (ie the point where the string is fixed to the bow) must be made of wood, as plastic is prohibited. It’s simple and fun to assemble them, because you can spend a different evening all together.
The Championship foresees the use of historical bows or of historical shape. We use those of historical shape, i.e. those that take up the geometries and wood of historical arches. The difference is linked to the fact that it is a laminate, i.e. an arch made from several layers of glued and fixed wood, whose color and type of wood can be different (olive in my case). In fact, the arches can be customized, even if they have to respect some standards of historicity. For example the point where the string binds to the bow is at the horn. A particular note that I would like to underline is that the bows of our company have all been forged by Massimo Pierini, a well-known carpenter from Cortona and archer of our company.
With the Compagnia degli Arcieri you compete throughout Italy. These moments represent an enrichment and an exchange of information. How many companies exist in Italy?
It is definitely a growing sport. In fact, there are different types of Leagues of Archers, based on the type of shooting and on the type of target during the competition. As a result, there are also various national championships. In Italy I don’t know exactly how many archer companies there are overall. In our Medieval Archers League there are about 60 teams. During the competitions we carry out an instinctive shot or with our eyes open.
How is your relationship with the new generations? From what age can you join the Company of Archers?
After the forced stop due to the SARS-CoV2 pandemic, we had to pick up the lines of practice and races a bit. In 2023, two boys and a girl joined our group with their respective parents. They are fabulous! They gave us the incentive to resume activity 100%. My relationship with them is great. In general, we accept children from the age of 9 with the obligation that one of the two parents join the Company and participate in training and competitions.
The thirtieth anniversary of the GS will be celebrated next year. What further goals do you think your company can achieve?
We do not set limits of any kind. To celebrate the thirtieth anniversary we have various ideas in the pipeline, which we will bring up for discussion to the Council of Terzieri, which may or may not approve them also on the basis of the other proposals that will be there.
Carlo Maria’s words bring out a passion, born from the tender age of 7, which continues unchanged over time.
The photos published here are by Massimiliano Giorgeschi.
Clare Camerini
2023-09-05 20:34:00
#protagonists #Historical #Group #City #Cortona
