First jumps at CSIO Rome Piazza di Siena

“Exciting, higly impressive, ideal for the foot and elastic.“ This is what course designer Uliano Vezzani said about the new grass surface of Piazza di Siena.
The ‘chef de piste’, who started working in the oval of Villa Borghese in 2000 (the move to the sand was in 2007) came to Rome on Tuesday for the first test, organised by CONI and FISE, which took place in the morning and involved 6 pairs in the show jumping.
“The CONI specialists did a great job,“ Vezzani added. “Now it will be enough to follow the routine proceedings, with mowing, watering, sanding and fertilizing, in order to approach the event late May with an excellent field. It was really exciting to see Piazza di Siena with the new look. The view is amazing.“
The opening of the Piazza di Siena for a further work on the fences is scheduled on May 5th. 
THREE NAMES OF THE AZZURRI COMING FROM THE ITALIAN CHAMPIONSHIPS
The 2018 Italian Champisonhips at the Arezzo Equestrian Centre last weekend gave the first three names of the Azzurri riders who will be included in the starting list for the Piazza di Siena CSIO in Rome.
Top step on the podium was Giulia Martinengo Marquet, followed by Michael Cristofoletti (silver medal)and third place Emilio Bicocchi. The Italian riders will be 18 in total: 5 in the first team and 13 competing for the individual titles. Among these three Under 25 youngsters are included.

Giulia Martinengo Marquet (gold) – For the 39-year-old rider this is the second national title and this is the first time ever that a woman clinches a double in the Italian Championships. “I have to be honest, this success was a wonderful surprise,“ the Friuli-born rider said. “Verdine SZ has just returned to the courses after a serious injury which had seemed to block her competitive activity. We bought her in Belgium, her country of birth, and I have always had great expectations about her. She has not an easy temperament, as all the quality horses, but has great potential and promises to reach to the highest levels. The forced stop did not fortunately affect his nature. Thanks to the Ovum Pick Up, she has already given birth to two foals this year.“Michael Cristofoletti (silver) – The 27-year-old Italian rider, who has been living in Germany for years, won his first medal in the senior category at Arezzo. This was his target from the start of the season. “My schedule for the first part of 2018 was mainly focused on the partecipation to the Tuscany Tour and the Italian Championships,“ he said. “My horse Belony has just recovered from a small injury and for this reason I decided to restart step by step, according to his condition. I must admit that he reacted very well.“ It will not be a real debut for Cristofoletti: “I have already competed in Rome in 2016 after being selected as Under 25.“ 
Emilio Bicocchi (bronze) – Having gathered three victories (2005, 2009 and 2016) and a third place in 2015, the 41-year-old Tuscany rider could be considered an habitué of the national podiums. He said: “Apart from the bronze medal which I can add to my personal collection, I’m also very happy to have secured the access to Piazza di Siena and to have had a good response from Call Me. Now that Ares is no more in my stable, he is my horse number one. Unitl now, though he had been competing at high level, he has always played second fiddle. He is 11 years old and I started riding him at the end of 2016.“© Equi-Equipe – Press Office CSIO Roma Piazza di Sienaphoto credits Podio Campionati Italiani Assoluti: Horsesmedia ©