Palio di S. Cristoforo – Campionato Regionale Tiro alla Balestra da Banco – Barga has a medieval feel today as the Contrada di San Paolino from Lucca organised the seventh bench crossbow regional championship. This morning outside the Duomo contestants in mediaeval costume were firing small hand crossbows as they tested wind and conditions and this afternoon the “big guns” – the bench crossbows were brought into action.
The three contrade – Compagnia Balestrieri from Pisa, la Compagnia Balestrieri from Volterra and the Contrada di San Paolino from Lucca fought a long match to see just who would be the final victor of the Palio di S. Cristoforo 2008 – the whole event was dedicated to the patron saint of Barga; St Christopher
And the the end of the day … just who were the winners at the Championship ?
Step forward and take a bow the Compagnia di Balestrieri della Città di Volterra (National champions 2007 and 2008 ) Second came the geroup from Pisa and bringing up th rear – the Contrada di San Paolino from Lucca