The waters of Gran Canaria became the gathering spot for over three hundred schoolchildren from across the archipelago this past weekend for the LXII Canary Islands School Championships. From Telde to Mogán, the island’s coast turned into the exclusive venue for nautical and water sports, marking a landmark event for Canary Islands school sports.
The triathlon kicked off Saturday’s activities at Playa del Cura (Mogán) with a SuperSprint event that combined swimming, cycling, and running, featuring 55 athletes. The team from Lanzarote emerged as the dominant force, celebrating individual victories by Joel Izán and Elizabeth Rosa in the boys’ and girls’ categories, respectively.
In addition to the individual winners, Jorge Prados and Iker Vara in the boys’ category, and Carla Carreiro and Carmen Marcos in the girls’ category, also climbed the podium. Teams from Gran Canaria and Tenerife took second and third places, following Lanzarote. Notably, this year marked the debut participation of the team from El Hierro.
In Telde, Playa del Hombre hosted the debut of surfing and bodyboarding in the school competition. Around thirty young riders from four islands showcased their skills on the waves, in an event that emphasised technical prowess. Tenerife claimed victory, followed by Gran Canaria and Lanzarote.
Canoeing
Canoeing made its debut at the championships with the Sea Kayak (SS2 Mixed) category, gathering over twenty young paddlers in Puerto Rico (Mogán). The duo of Isabella García and Tobías Locreille (Club Marlines de Lanzarote) captivated the audience with the race’s intensity and pace. The Real Club Náutico de Gran Canaria secured second place with Irene Roca and Gonzalo Viera, while the team from Lanzarote, featuring Atenery Acosta and Kevin Cristian Gálvez, took third.
Sailing
The Optimist class sailing event featured sixty under-13 sailors from six islands off the coast of Mogán. Gran Canaria claimed the team championship, with Tenerife and Lanzarote securing silver and bronze, respectively.
In the girls’ category, Martina Quintana (Real Club Náutico de Gran Canaria) emerged victorious, followed by Patricia Sosa (Club Marítimo Varadero de Gran Canaria) in silver, and Carla Del Rosario (Real Club Náutico de Tenerife) in bronze. In the boys’ section, Pablo J. Medina won gold, Pablo Morales took silver (both from Real Club Náutico de Gran Canaria), and Enrique Giménez (Real Club Náutico de Tenerife) won bronze.
Debut of Barquillo Sailing
Barquillo sailing became the third traditional sport incorporated into the School Championships, alongside Canarian wrestling and Canarian bowls, with a single race held at Puerto Rico beach. Around thirty youngsters participated, with Lanzarote securing victory by island, followed by Fuerteventura, La Graciosa in third, and Gran Canaria in fourth.
Open Water Swimming
The event concluded with open water swimming, featuring nearly eighty swimmers in the benjamín and alevín categories. Athletes from eighteen clubs from Gran Canaria, Tenerife, Lanzarote, and La Palma completed the circuit laps, with Gran Canaria winning both the boys’ and girls’ categories. They were accompanied on the podium by Tenerife and Lanzarote.
Individually, Pablo Delgado and Odile Febles secured the top spots in benjamín 2015. Matteo Pérez and Bella Puig won in benjamín 2014, Alessandro Francesco and Tania Herrera triumphed in alevín 2013, while in alevín 2012, the champions were Ares González and Andrea Sarmiento.
Ángel Sabroso, the Vice Minister of Physical Activity and Sports of the Canary Islands Government, remarked on "a memorable day in sea-related sports, with some making their debut, such as sailing, barquillos, surf, bodyboarding, and open water swimming. These events, alongside triathlon, promote grassroots sports, education in values, and community, which are of utmost importance," he concluded.
In another note, Luis Becerra, the Councillor for Sports and New Technologies at Mogán Town Council, expressed pride in hosting the School Championships festival throughout various locations in the municipality, celebrating diverse and engaging sporting disciplines. "We look forward to continuing as a venue in future editions, welcoming an event that creates great camaraderie among the public and leaves a positive impact on the grassroots sports community."
Similarly, María Calderín, Deputy Mayor and District and Beaches Councillor for Telde, expressed great satisfaction "with the successful hosting of an event where surfing shines as a star sport in Telde. We are very proud to host this firm commitment by the Government of the Canary Islands to school sports at one of our emblematic beaches along our twenty-three kilometres of coastline," she noted.
Conclusion
The Joaquín Blanco Torrent sailing school became the perfect setting for the awards ceremony for the winners of the triathlon, sailing, canoeing, barquillo sailing, and open water swimming in an unforgettable finale filled with joy, camaraderie, and love for sport. The awards for surf and bodyboarding champions were given at Playa del Hombre in Telde.
This successful day was part of the LXII Canary Islands School Sports Championships, promoted by the Canary Islands Department of Education, Vocational Training, Physical Activity and Sports with support from the participating federations.
The competition calendar continues with the upcoming regional beach volleyball final, scheduled for 25th July in Los Cristianos, within the municipality of Arona on the island of Tenerife.
