The Sabandeños put the end point to a day in which the Canariedad overflowed the chicharrera capital. From ten in the morning until ten at night, there was a succession of sports, music, Canarian food, an animal exhibition and a multitude of events that filled the center of Santa Cruz with thousands of people, who were encouraged to participate in a festive day
The day began with a domino tournament in the Isla de la Madera square, where the I City of Santa Cruz Cup was held. There clubs and fans enjoyed a morning full of reunions and good times. Círculo de Amistad XII de Enero, Tenis Tenerife B, Siete Fichas El Sobradillo Clínica Darias and 6/5 ITV Cuesta-Taco Sairanac competed in the tournament.
Photo: Fran Pallero
Photo: Fran Pallero
Photo: Fran Pallero
Photo: Fran Pallero
Very close to there, in Campo de Castro, in the car park on Calle de La Noria, it was possible to enjoy the Animal Exhibition, where more than 20 species of native breeds from all the islands could be seen, and which was a delight of the smallest.
The activities also moved to the Pancho Camurria Municipal Pavilion, where the Ciudad de Santa Cruz de Tenerife Boxing Tournament was held, an amateur match in which athletes with FCCB federation license participated in the elite, male and female categories.
The Plaza de España became for a few hours a real fighting ground, where the traditional fight was held on the occasion of Canary Islands Day. The Campitos Canarian Wrestling Club participated in this match against Castro Morales from Gran Canaria, and in which there was also a challenge for wrestlers.
Another of the activities that brought together a large audience was the exhibition of native games, where it was possible to enjoy playing the stick game, the shepherd’s jump or the Canarian club fight.
And in the celebration of the Day of the Canary Islands, the gastronomy of the land could not be missing, with the traditional Contest of Typical Foods, the oldest contest in the national territory, and which was held in the Alameda del Duque de Santa Elena.
Thus, the prize for the best Canarian stew went to the El Cabito Cultural Association, which also won the highest award in the preparation of fish casserole and in the dessert section.
The best rabbit in salmorejo went to Juan Quesada, who also won first prize for the grouper recipe with two mojo sauces, wrinkled potatoes and kneaded gofio, as well as for the specialty of the contest, which this year was stew of watercress
In the liquor section, the winners were the members of the Rebotados-Sofocados Cultural Association, with a medlar liqueur, an association that also won the Nueva Cocina Canaria award, with a Canarian bigeye tartare. Some dishes that could be tasted not only by the jury, but also by the public that came to the Alameda del Duque Santa Elena.
The Plaza de la Candelaria became the center of operations for music and humor. At noon it was possible to enjoy the concert With a Canary Accent, in which the Insular Band of the Tenerife Federation and the soloists Candelaria González, Víctor Estárico, Pablo Díaz Estrada and Félix Morales participated.
The veteran group Achamán was in charge of opening the evening musical offer. Thus, at five in the afternoon, they began a concert in which, in addition to reviewing their main root music themes, they presented their new album Por amor, in which they performed different popular songs with Latin American airs. The group from La Laguna, in addition to counting the voices of its soloists Héctor González and José Manuel Ramos, incorporated that of Elena González into their performance.
Likewise, there was room for humor, and as has been the case in recent years, humorist Kike Pérez reserved a space in his agenda to perform before the chicharreros on Canary Islands Day.
After the laughter and the good atmosphere left by the comedian, the most institutional act of the day began, with the delivery by the acting mayor, José Manuel Bermúdez, of the recognitions of the Santa Cruz City Council. On this occasion, the protagonists were Dulce Rodríguez de la Rosa, from the Tenerife Traditional Clothing Sector Council; Cándido López, from OYE Producciones, and the Santa Cruz Cuesta Piedra Volleyball Club.
The finishing touch to this program was put by Los Sabandeños, who once again managed to fill the capacity of the Plaza de la Candelaria, a concert that ended with a fireworks display.
A goodbye
The sad note was put by the death of Laly Sierra, founder of the Chaxiraxi Musical Group, a classic of the chicharrero Carnival and the May Fiestas. Messages of condolences were repeated throughout the day, such as that of Bermúdez, who highlighted Laly’s dedication to the city’s traditions and expressed the debt that Santa Cruz will always have with her, which was also awarded the City of Santa Cruz- Canary Islands Day.
