Image: LanzaroteDeportiva.com
A frenetic Saturday was experienced at the thirty-second edition of the Canary Islands School Age Championship. For the first time in history, this competition was organized by a non-capital island, and Lanzarote has lived up to the challenge organizationally and sportingly. The organization has been excellent by the General Directorate of Sports of the Government of the Canary Islands and the Island Sports Service of the Cabildo of Lanzarote, with the thirteen sports modalities developing normally. And at the sports level, Lanzarote manages to climb to third place on the podium of the global classification by islands. Tenerife revalidated the title of champion in the mini "Olympics" of school sports.
The last day of competition served to recognize the individual and collective champions of the 13 sports modalities that were included in the Canary Islands School Age Championship. A marathon day of morning and afternoon, which led to the joy of all those who managed to conquer some of the medals that were at stake.
The best news of the day for the Lanzarote sport was starred by handball, with the double achieved by the cadets of San José Obrero and CB Zonzamas. They were two heart-stopping finals that were resolved in favor of the Lanzarote teams. In San Bartolomé, the girls of CB Zonzamas prevailed by 25 to 24 against Morro Jable. And in Titerroy, San José Obrero prevailed by 24 to 23 against Rocasa Remudas of Gran Canaria. These results demonstrate that handball in Lanzarote is very much alive and that the lower categories are hitting very hard. Both Lanzarote teams earn their ticket to play in the sector phase of the Spanish Championship.
The Lanzarote performance was also good in the modalities of badminton, athletics, canarian ball, judo and aquathlon. In badminton, the Lanzarote players dominated the competition. The Lanzarote athletes achieved a historic milestone for athletics by being the third best island in the competition, only behind Fuerteventura and Gran Canaria. The aquathlon modality was held in La Graciosa, with Lanzarote achieving third place. Position that they would repeat in the modalities of judo and canarian ball.
Once all the competitions are finished, a general classification is made by islands, which takes into account the results of all the athletes. Tenerife revalidated the title of champion of the Canary Islands School Age Championship. Gran Canaria would have to settle for second place. And brilliantly, Lanzarote conquered the third place on the podium. A result that reaffirms the work of grassroots sports in Lanzarote.
Closing in Tías
The more than 1,600 athletes, the technicians and the judges, met on Saturday night at the Tías Municipal Pavilion, where the closing ceremony of the Canary Islands School Age Championship was held. The event would begin with the parade of each representation of each of the islands, with the Lanzarote Olympian José Carlos Hernández being in charge of being the flag bearer with the flag of the Canary Islands.
The Minister of Sports of the Government of the Canary Islands, Inés Rojas, presided over the closing of the Canary Islands School Championship, being accompanied by the president of the Cabildo of Lanzarote, Pedro San Ginés, and the mayor of Tías, Pancho Bermúdez. They all highlighted the fact that Lanzarote and each of the municipalities were in charge of organizing a school competition that has stood out for its brilliance.
The trophies were then presented to the three best islands and the event was closed with an exhibition by the members of the Isla de Lanzarote Gymnastics Club. Three days of school competition are closed, in which coexistence and the exchange of experiences have stood out. Fuerteventura will take over from Lanzarote and has all the ballots to organize the Canary Islands School Age Championship next year.
