Anthony Savvides
The 39th annual “Giostra dell’Arme” (Carousel of Arms) came on Sunday in San Gemini after the two week tournament aroused old rivalries and drew the attention of many, both for the excitement of the competition as well as the controversies. The two-week medieval reenactment is rooted in the historical rivalry between San Gemini’s two main districts, Rocca and Piazza. On September 29, the tournament kicked off with the second annual “Motoclub Sangemini” exhibition featuring traditional medieval parades, drummers, banners and foods. On display are bikes from Yamaha, Triumph, Guzzi and Gilera, as well as Simone Corsi's bike 2 from IodaRacing, courtesy of the director general Sacchi. “Motoclub Sangemini” is meant to raise awareness of social issues and charitable initiatives while showcasing motorcycles for enthusiasts. It is also the first program within Umbria that teaches school children the rules of the road regarding motorcyclists. After the opening exhibitions, Rocca and Piazza – the city’s two districts – began the ousting tournament. But the fun of the competition was soon eclipsed by altercations among the fans; police had their hands full during the second round of the tournament, as the rivalry seeped into the crowd. One spectator attempted to throw a wood shield in the path of one of the horses. Luckily, the jockey wasn’t affected by the fan’s intervention. As the crowd became rowdy, municipal police intervened and escorted some spectators out of the arena, while also confiscatin their banners and other paraphernalia. Diego Cipiccia , one of the competing jockeys from Rocca, was found on the ground. Police heard two versions of the incident: first, that a member of Piazza, the opposing district, had knocked Diego off his horse; the second version of the story is that Diego fell off his horse on purpose, performing a sort of skit for the audience.
After receiving medical attention for about ten minutes, Diego returned to his saddle and completed his round. At the end of the day, it was announced that Piazza ended a five year drought and won “Giostra dell’Arme” with a total of 285 points against Rocca’s 263 points. Christian Liti was named best rider and best jouster after his showing during the second-round of the tournament, where he clocked in at 14.78 seconds and earned 63 points. Rocca, however, won the match between the two drum troupes and claimed the prize for best painting by Stefano Pannacci as well as best parade.