In an impressive culmination of the competitive shooting season, the Pontedera Shooting Range 1883 has made its mark at the renowned Bologna shooting range. Last Sunday, Alessandro Matteoli clinched the bronze medal in the highly competitive men's 22Lr rifle - 50-meter diopter category, proving himself a talent to watch in the world of shooting sports. This season finale not only highlighted Matteoli's skills but also underscored the efforts of the Pontedera Shooting Range under the leadership of President Sandro Luperini, who managed to orchestrate a series of national competitions.
Throughout the year, the Pontedera section of the UITS (Italian Shooting Association) has been active, successfully organizing two major national competitions that contributed to the Italian championship—one at 25 meters and another at 50 meters—along with regional trophies such as Pegaso, Granducato, and Poligoni Toscani. These events not only showcased a breadth of shooting talent but helped cultivate the shooting community in the region.
Matteoli's journey this season has been particularly noteworthy. Selected among the top thirty shooters from a large pool of 127 athletes, he displayed remarkable prowess, particularly given his historic achievement of holding the Italian record with a remarkable score of 319.24 points out of 320, set back in 2021. However, this was his first time ascending to the podium in a final, marking a significant milestone in his career.
On the other hand, Graziana Forzoni, who had finished fourth last year in the Super Sporter category, faced challenges this time around. Struggling with a technical issue that hindered her performance on the second target, Forzoni ended up in the seventeenth position—a stark contrast to her previous year's success. Yet, the overall outcome of the season was still bright for Pontedera.
Additional successes came from Michele Niccolai, who took home silver in the BR Sporter Rimfire category, impressively fighting through the odds after recent surgery that rendered him to shoot with his left eye. Veteran shooter Carlo Mansi also proved his mettle by securing a bronze in the Diopter AC category, a discipline where Matteoli has also made a mark, setting an Italian record in 2019 with a score of 477.37 out of 480.
The Pontedera Shooting Range's efforts have not gone unnoticed, with Riccardo Poggianti finishing fifth in the Sporter Air category, and a series of commendable performances displayed by other competitors such as Dino Niccolini, Flavio Chini, Anna Mannucci, Alessandro Favilli, and Adolfo Filippi during the UITS qualifying races.
As the shooting community reflects on this season, the success of Pontedera demonstrates the vibrant ecosystem of competitive shooting in Italy. Events like these—supported by teamwork and ambition—serve as a vital foundation to promote the sport further.
This season, while it brought fresh stars and commendable performances, also reveals underlying challenges within competitive shooting, notably regarding equipment reliability and the physical demands placed on athletes. The competing experiences of shooters like Forzoni and Niccolai highlight the resilience required in this sport. With each competition, the trends point toward an increasing commitment to excellence, yet uncertainties remain regarding performance consistency and readiness. Participants and coaching staff alike must absorb these lessons as they prepare for upcoming seasons, ensuring that the legacy of Italian shooting continues to evolve.