It will be a busy weekend for the stages leading up to the Ardia on July 6-7. The ritual of preparing the cartridges is scheduled for the afternoon of Saturday, June 28, while the trials will take place on Sunday, June 29 at 7 pm, as tradition dictates on the day dedicated to Saints Peter and Paul.
The preparation of the cartridges, blank ammunition that the riflemen will use during the days of the event, is taken care of by the “Associazione Fusileris Ardia de Santu Antinu”, led by Mario Melosu. This year, about 2,500 will be loaded using gunpowder and polenta, as per the script. The "Fusileris" will have to guarantee the safety of both the knights and the public that will crowd the amphitheater of San Costantino. "We are preparing well - emphasizes President Melosu - because our task is also important for the Ardia to take place safely".
Twenty-four hours later, the race leader and the other two flags will be called to check the route and the adaptation of the horses. Leonardo Pes, Mario Nieddu and Andrea Pes will ride the horses that they have already chosen for some time. Sa prima pandela will lead “Ambra”, a chestnut mare of his own that knows the route well. Mario Nieddu will be riding “Quaglietta”, a very experienced mare with many Ardies behind her. Andrea Pes has chosen “Chirilla”, also in this case a 7-year-old chestnut mare. "We have already tested the horses both individually and together – explains Leonardo Pes – to improve the harmony and study the details”.
Seven days after the Ardia, the town is becoming more and more animated to welcome the thousands of people who will flock to the town and the natural amphitheater near the sanctuary of San Costantino. The health plan for the religious event has already been defined by the Municipality of Sedilo, drawn up according to the guidelines of the Gabrielli directive.
The means and resources employed have impressive numbers due to the presence of three medicalized ambulances, 5 basic ambulances, 20 rescuers on foot, divided into 6 teams, equipped with trauma devices for rapid interventions on the track, 12 portable radio transceivers, for continuous communication with the coordination center. And also 5 doctors, including Areus anesthetists, 15 nurses and expert rescuers, 5 volunteers from the Red Cross of Oristano, teams coordinated by the 118 Operations Center (Cagliari - Oristano). 9 ambulance stations are also planned at strategic points along the route.
