Balearic paddlers triumph in the 1st Spanish Olympic Sprint Cup

Bright and encouraging results achieved by the Balearic paddlers this weekend, in the reservoir of Pontillón de Castro, in Verducido (Pontevedra), where the I Olympic Sprint Canoe Cup of Spain was held.

A total of 660 canoeists from 81 national clubs met for the first time this year to battle it out from the stocks, including paddlers from Club Nàutic Sant Antoni, Club de Vela Puerto de Andratx, Club Nàutic Portitxol, Real Club Náutico de Palma, Reial Club Nàutic Port de Pollença, and Club Marítimo Mahón.  

The rower of the Club de Vela Puerto Andratx, María Reus, has been proclaimed Champion of Spain, winning the gold medal in K1 women sub23 in the distance of 1000 meters (5th classified Absolute) and thus qualifying for the World Championships in Bulgaria to be held in July in the ancient city of Plovdiv. 

Among the results obtained by the Es Nàutic paddlers, it is worth mentioning the surprise of the team formed by Raúl Prendes, Ilhan Velasco, Álvaro Rubio and Noel López, all of them members of the Ibiza Canoe Follow-up Programme, who came close to the podium by crossing the finish line in fourth position in the K-4 1,000m with a time of 3'20"67.

In addition, Raúl Prendes and Noel López achieved the second place in the Final B of K-2 1000 m. (11th overall), with a time of 3'42"63. In the same final, Ilhan Velasco and Álvaro Rubio took seventh place with 3'49"25. Noel López completed a fantastic weekend by qualifying for the Final B in K-1 500 m., in which he finished sixth (15th overall), with a time of 1'48"39. This position gives him the right to compete in the national selective in which the members of the team that will represent Spain in the World and European Championships will be decided.

Ilhan Velasco and Álvaro Rubio also competed in the final B of the K-2 200m, finishing eighth. In addition, the CNSA also sent to Galicia the pair formed by the junior Andrea Ribas and Andrea Barrionuevo, whose most outstanding result was sixth place in the Final B of the K-2 1,000 m. (4'33"03).

María José Mailliard, canoeist of the Reial Club Nàutic Port de Pollença, won the gold medal in the C1 1000 and in the C2 1000 with her partner María dels Angels Moreno. The canoeist of the Real Club Náutico de Palma, Marta Rossello also did a double, winning bronze in Junior K1 1000 and in Junior K2 1000 with her partner Jaume Munar. Her club mates, James Fitzsimmons and Joan Rossello have won gold in Senior K2 1000. 

In six weeks, on the 25th and 26th of May, the Balearic paddlers will have the opportunity to show once again what they are capable of at the II Spanish Olympic Sprint Cup, which will be held at the CEAR of La Cartuja (Seville).