The 23rd Balearic Canoeing Gala highlights the 2025 season

Last Saturday, April 4th, the Balearic Canoeing Federation held the 23rd Balearic Canoeing Gala at the Casal de Peguera in Calvià, in an event that paid tribute to the sporting achievements of the 2025 season. The ceremony recognized numerous athletes, clubs, and standout paddlers from the regional, national, and international scene.

In the clubs category, the Real Club Náutico de Palma was one of the evening’s main protagonists after being crowned champion of the 16th Balearic Junior and Senior Cup 2025 and the 24th Balearic Sea Kayak Cup 2025, as well as finishing runner-up in the 24th Balearic Young Promises Cup 2025. Also honored were the Club Marítimo de Mahón, champion of the 24th Balearic Young Promises Cup 2025, and the Club de Mar de Mallorca, champion of the 2nd Balearic Master Sea Kayak Cup 2025, among other clubs recognized during the gala.

Among the award-winning athletes were Lluc Matas Pomar, from the Real Club Náutico de Palma, Balearic senior champion in K1; Joan Rosselló García, also from the Real Club Náutico de Palma, champion in Under-23 K1; Lázaro Noel López Romero, from Club Nàutic Sant Antoni, junior champion in K1; and James Fitzsimmons, from the Real Club Náutico de Palma, champion of the Balearic Sea Kayak Cup in Senior SS1. Alongside them, the gala also recognized young talents such as Daniel Cortes Bueno, from Club Marítimo de Mahón, pre-benjamin K1 champion, as well as many other paddlers honored across the regional categories.

One of the most notable moments of the evening came with the tribute to Balearic paddlers who achieved outstanding results in national and international championships. Among them were Adrián Castaño Forteza, from the Real Club Náutico de Palma, Spanish champion in PK1; María dels Ángels Moreno Bennassar, from the Reial Club Nàutic del Port de Pollença, Under-23 world champion and European champion in C2 500 meters; Joan Toni Moreno Bennassar, from the Reial Club Nàutic del Port de Pollença, world champion in C2 500 meters at the Sprint World Cup; and Alex Graneri Larreal, from the Real Club Náutico de Palma, world and European medalist in senior K1 500 meters, among other standout names in an especially brilliant season for Balearic canoeing.

The gala also reviewed the main competitions on the regional calendar. In Young Promises, the federation recognized a large part of the Balearic youth system, with names such as Daniel Cortes Bueno, from Club Marítimo de Mahón, pre-benjamin K1 champion; Gabriel Mora Gaona, also from Club Marítimo de Mahón, benjamin A K1 champion; Pablo Cayarga Silva, from Club Marítimo de Mahón, alevín A K1 champion; and Albert Gomis Amengual, from Real Club Náutico Portopetro, cadet A K1 champion, in a section in which Club Marítimo de Mahón was also crowned club champion.

In the Balearic Junior and Senior League, some of the leading names were Lázaro Noel López Romero, from Club Nàutic Sant Antoni, junior K1 champion; Joan Rosselló García, from the Real Club Náutico de Palma, Under-23 K1 champion; Lluc Matas Pomar, from the Real Club Náutico de Palma, senior K1 champion; and Isaac Pons Seguí, from Club Nàutic Villacarlos, senior paracanoe champion. In this section, the Real Club Náutico de Palma was the season’s champion club.

The gala also reserved a space for Sea Kayak, one of the disciplines with the strongest presence in Balearic canoeing. Among the award winners were Lara Prats Ribas, from Club Nàutic Sant Antoni, infant A SS1 champion; Andreu Ferrer Ferrer, from Club de Vela Port d’Andratx, cadet B SS1 champion; Pablo Velasco Ortiz, from Club Náutico Santa Eulalia, cadet A SS1 champion; and James Fitzsimmons, from the Real Club Náutico de Palma, senior SS1 champion. In this classification, the Real Club Náutico de Palma finished as champion club.

In Master Sea Kayak, the ceremony recognized veteran paddlers such as Juan José Vallejo Company and Juan Luis Guillén Saez, both from CDSCM Mallorca Es Forti, champions in their respective categories; Christoph Gustav Graewert, from Club de Vela Port d’Andratx; and José Luis González Martín, from Club Nàutic Sant Antoni, among other award winners in a section that once again highlighted the high competitive level of veteran athletes. In the team category, Club de Mar de Mallorca received the award as champion club of the 2nd Balearic Master Sea Kayak Cup 2025.

With this gala, the Balearic Canoeing Federation once again paid tribute to the commitment, dedication, and successes of athletes, coaches, and clubs in a season that produced major results across all categories. The ceremony, held in Calvià, brought the curtain down on a year of competition marked by the talent and promise of Balearic canoeing.