Hounds and Boars they face each other in Tuscany. By now the numbers are dizzying and they manage, more than ten pages, to tell the exponential growth of hounds on wild boar. Both in the classic form of the wetsuits, which is still divided into two categories, and in the brand new and exciting specialty of the "single" which took off in an unstoppable way in the short space of only three years.
To compete for the title of Italian Champion of Category A, in fact, about 100 drivers started the provincial elimination phase for a total of 650 dogs which gradually decreased, in the subsequent regional heats, up to the 11 finalists who competed in the three days of Arezzo on 23, 24 and 25 April, sponsored by BS Planet which offered a PDA and two collars.
As is now customary, this authoritative finale developed over 10.000 hectares of unfenced land in the municipalities of Anghiari, Pieve Santo Stefano, Sansepolcro, and Civitella in Val di Chiana and involved, as precious collaborators of the organizing company, Giotto and the Delegate federal Roberto Pro, i hunters of 6 different teams of beltlai.
The role of judges was held by Alberto Galdi and Luigi Desogus (Enci) and Silvia Mafucci (Race Official Fidasc); a pool that has carried out the delicate task of judging an Italian Championship in an impeccable way and with great technical (and athletic) preparation.
The first day of competition took place in the territory of the Municipality of Anghiari and more precisely within the company "La Barbolana" of Dr. Giancarlo Lippi, under the direction of Mauro Bergamaschi (this year also as a finalist but obviously engaged on a non-home field). The members of the two local teams “Libbiano” and “Anghiarese” intervened in support of the organizers and above all the historic “guard” Mario Senesi, now famous, together with his kind wife, also for the exquisite hospitality with which every year he welcomes the competition.
Only three wetsuits took to the field on Saturday, according to an order strictly determined by fate. That of Ariegeois by Emanuele Paoloni (Tosca, Mosè, Abele, Macchia, Brina and Bar), with only Moses, Abel and Macchia classified with 153 points, Mb. On the second one, another pack of Ariegeois, those of Alessio Alcini, was dissolved; pack not qualified by splitting but with all qualified dogs (Duca 137 points Ab; Pato 148, B; Zac 150, Mb; Vulcano 151, Mb; Asia 138, Ab and Luna 147, B.
In the third and last (wet) round it was Marco Antonini's turn with his Maremma Hounds. This suit was also not qualified by splitting but all the subjects went into qualifying: (Terry 137, Ab; Mozza 152, Mb; Lampo 150, Mb; Leo 150, Mb; Tosto 150, Mb and Gerry 138, Ab). —– (continues).