Athletes from across Italy gathered at the Arcieri Varian shooting grounds in Settimo Torinese on Saturday, July 5, to compete in the second interregional Run Archery observation event, testing their stamina and precision in pursuit of a spot on the national team heading to France.
The competition, organized by the Arcieri Varian club under the coordination of President Giampiero Arrigoni, served as a key evaluation stop ahead of the European Cup scheduled for October.
The Road to the European Cup
Federal Run Archery technical manager Giancarlo Costantini, joined by coach Benedetto Renzetti, addressed competitors before the races to outline the selection criteria for the upcoming international calendar. Costantini confirmed that the Settimo Torinese meet, alongside upcoming fixtures on July 13 in Monte Livata and September 21 in Roma, will determine the Azzurri roster for the European Cup. That continental championship is set to take place in Montigny-les-Cormeilles, France, from October 10 to 12.
Officials noted that several participants were experiencing run-archery competition for the first time.
Dignitaries and Institutional Support
Local and national sports leadership turned out in force to support the growing discipline. The mayor of Settimo Torinese, Elena Piastra, and Deputy Mayor with responsibility for Sport, Giancarlo Brino, attended the event alongside senior federation figures. The delegation included FITARCO Vice President and Federal Councilor Enrico Rebagliati, Federal Councilor and Olympic champion Marco Galiazzo, FITARCO Piemonte Committee President Paolo Ferrero, and World Archery Europe President Mario Scarzella.
Officiating duties were managed by a referee crew consisting of Stefano Murgia, Giuseppe Pisan, and Francesco Merlo. Organizing bodies highlighted that despite it being the officiating trio’s first experience managing a run-archery competition, the races ran smoothly from start to finish.
Standout Local Performances
Piedmontese athletes posted several notable results across the card. In the youth and senior divisions, Aurora Masiella of Arcieri Varian led the way in the Allieve category. Aiko Rolando, representing Fiamme Oro and Arcieri Iuvenilia, claimed top marks in the Seniores A and Sprint divisions.
Additional category standouts included Gianfranco Napolitano of Arcieri delle Alpi in Master A, alongside clubmates Gian Lorenzo Soldi, Simone Derzani, and Francesco Roppa in Seniores A. Marco Enrietti of Arcieri del Canavese topped the Seniores C standings. In team competition, Arcieri Iuvenilia secured the mixed team victory with Rolando and Soldi, while Arcieri delle Alpi took the men’s relay crown.
Next Steps on the Calendar
Following the successful meet in Settimo Torinese, the Italian run-archery circuit moves to Monte Livata on July 13. Athletes aiming for the national team selection will then converge on Rome on September 21 for the final qualifying test before the October European Cup in France.
