Strong turnout at the Balearic Winter Canoeing Championship

The Mahón-based club repeated last year’s title in the junior, U23, senior and veteran categories with 375 points, ahead of Real Club Náutico de Palma with 291. Sunday was dedicated to the Balearic Young Promises Championship.

Club Marítimo de Mahón claimed victory this Saturday, February 28th, at the Balearic Winter Canoeing Championship for Junior and Senior categories, organized together with the Balearic Canoeing Federation and also including the U23 and veteran divisions. The Menorcan club finished with 375 points, ahead of Real Club Náutico de Palma with 291 points, while Club Vela Port d’Andratx placed third with 110 points. On Sunday, the Balearic Young Promises Championship, from benjamín to cadet categories, was held in the same location, in front of the old Maritime Station of the Port of Mahón.

Saturday’s races were marked by strengthening winds throughout the morning in the Mahón harbor, creating choppy conditions. The organization, with the support of the Menorca Island Council, Mahón City Council and the Balearic Port Authority, installed spectator stands near the old Maritime Station, providing comfortable viewing for attendees who enjoyed the first of two championship days featuring more than 400 athletes from 16 clubs across the Balearic Islands.

In the senior category, Club Marítimo de Mahón achieved a double victory thanks to Vinca Escandell and Raquel Carbajo, who demonstrated excellent form. Inés Ramo (RCN Villacarlos) and Cristina Ulldemolins (CM Mahón) completed the women’s podium, while in the men’s event Lluc Matas (RCN Palma) and Beñat Arsuaga (CM Mahón) joined the top finishers.

In the veterans category, another double victory went to Mahón through Alexis Capdevila and Agathe Silvestre, ahead of Omar Calzón (CN Portitxol) and Ulises Luque (CM Mahón), and Mary Jane Parry (RCN Port de Pollença) and Violant Menorca (CM Mahón) respectively.

In the U23 category, Josep Joan Cifré and María Reus of Club Vela Port d’Andratx secured a Mallorcan double victory. They were joined on the men’s podium by Aimar Platero (CM Mahón) and Lázaro Noel López (CN Sant Antoni). In the women’s category, Marta Rosselló and Blanca Jaume, both from RCN Palma, completed the medal positions.

Among juniors, Djamila López (Club Marítimo de Mahón) and Joan Ginard (RCN Palma) were the fastest, with Paula Pericás (RCN Portopetro) and Irati Vidal (CM Mahón), and Pablo Velasco (CN Santa Eulalia des Riu) and Roy Kikozashvili (CN Sant Antoni) joining them on the podium.

Iván Carreras and Cristina Graneri (RCN Palma) won in the canoe category, while in paracanoe Adrián Castaño (RCN Palma) took victory ahead of Marc Servera (CN Ciutadella) and Isaac Seguí (CN Villacarlos).

The awards ceremony took place at the old Maritime Station and was attended by Mahón mayor Héctor Pons; the president of the Balearic Canoeing Federation, Juan Carlos Fuentes; Mahón naval base officer Francisco Cid; Club Marítimo de Mahón president Basilio Ferrer; club commodore Antoni Pomar; and the club’s canoeing board representative Ulises Luque.

The competition continued on Sunday from 11:00 a.m. at the same venue, the old Maritime Station of Mahón.