THE PALIO OF 2 JULY 2003

Won by the Contrada of SELVA

The Palio of 2 July, dedicated to the Madonna of Provenzano has been won by the Contrada of Selva

This is the starting line-up and the respective mounts:

CONTRADE	FANTINI	CAVALLI
CHIOCCIOLA	Massimo Columbu called Veleno II	Baresi
NICCHIO	Giovanni Atzeni called Tittia	Alesandra
PANTERA	Luigi Bruschelli called Trecciolino	Zilata Usa
CIVETTA	Giuseppe Pes called Il Pesse	Berio
DRAGO	Luca Minisini called De	Ugo Sanchez
GIRAFFA	Dino Pes called Velluto	Zoarco
AQUILA	Martin Ballesteros called Pampero	Altoprato
LEOCORNO	Walter Pusceddu called Bighino	Urban II
TARTUCA	Dario Colagè called Il Bufera	Brento
SELVA	Antonio Villella called Sgaibarre	Zodiach

THE PALIO OF THE VIRGIN MARY OF PROVENZANO GOES TO SELVA

The newcomer Antonio Villella, called Sgaibarre, in a triumphant gallop wins the career.

A Palio won with the strength of a great Villella, at his first Career, on Zodiach, an eight years old grigio.
The start had Chiocciola, Nicchio, Pantera, Civetta, Drago, Giraffa, Aquila, Leocorno,Tartuca and Selva on the line, with Selva giving the start.
After twenty minutes of exhausting wait and a not valid start, the time for hopes and prayers ended in Siena.
At the start, with a Nicchio out of place, Pantera is leading followed by Chiocciola and Civetta. Surprisingly Tartuca doesn’t move at all from the “canapi” (the starting line).
At the first S. Martino turn Chiocciola gets the main place, tracked down by Pantera, Nicchio and Civetta. From the inner side of the tufi ring Pantera gets over Chiocciola and Selva takes the third place.
At the Casato turn Pantera is first, followed by Chiocciola, Selva and Nicchio.
A burst and at the second S. Martino turn Selva gains the first position, chased by Pantera and Chiocciola, whose jockey gets dismounted.
Speedy and nervous race with a Selva that is by now leading the Career and victoriously hits on the “bandierino” (a little flag).

Villella brought, after only two years of wait, the 35th Palio to the people of Vallepiatta (Selva); the “murales” Palio, how it has already been called, drawn by the hand of Francesco del Casino and consecrated to S. Ansano, patron saint of Siena.

From the “trifore” (medieval windows) of the Town Hall it’s the green and orange flag of Selva that is waving, while Piazza del Campo is slowing letting its people out.

The return game is postponed to August the 16th. Now the coral explosion of joy is only for the people of Selva, who has won this endless challenge this time.

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