The III Ajaches Children's Handball Tournament Easter 2026 concluded this Sunday at the facilities of CEO Montaña Roja in Playa Blanca, leaving a highly positive balance both in sports and organization. The event, promoted by the Ajaches Handball Club, gathered for five days 20 children's teams from all the islands of the archipelago with federated handball presence, consolidating itself as the largest regional event in the category.
Over five days, a total of 58 handball matches were played, in addition to an inclusive futsal match and various training and recreational activities. Among these, the talks given by Alberto Urdiales and Gonzalo Silió stood out, as well as the coexistence activities held at the THB Royal Hotel. Teams from Gran Canaria, Tenerife, Fuerteventura, and Lanzarote shared not only the competition, but also experiences off the court, reinforcing the values of coexistence and sportsmanship.
The Sunday day was marked by emotion in all the finals. In the Cabildo Trophy, which faced third and fourth classified teams of the group, Valsequillo prevailed in the women's category, while Tegueste did the same in the men's, beating Gran Tarajal and Caima, respectively.
Finals with packed stands
In the matches for third and fourth position of the Faro Trophy, main event, San José Ajaches defeated Zonzamas in the men's category, while Arona overcame Caima in the women's. Likewise, the previous day the matches corresponding to the Red Lantern were played in both categories.
The grand men's final pitted the Gran Canarian teams of Gáldar and Moya Tilover against each other in a high-intensity duel. After a favorable start for Gáldar, Moya managed to equalize the match and finally won by a tight 24-25, proclaiming themselves champions of the tournament. The event featured, beforehand, the presence of historical figures of Lanzarote handball, led by Jesús Casanova, distinguished with the Lanzarote Handball Lighthouse Trophy.
For its part, the women's final between San José Ajaches and Moya offered an equally exciting outcome. After a 22-all draw achieved in the last second by the local team, the title was decided in the penalty shootout from 7 meters, where the Gran Canarian team showed greater accuracy. Just as happened with the boys, Margot Cabrera led the group of legendary players from Lanzarote, who accompanied the players on their way out onto the court.
Parallel activities and institutional presence
The event was attended by a large audience in the stands of CEO Montaña Roja, in addition to some prominent figures, such as the Lanzarote player Miguel Ángel Martín, belonging to Fútbol Club Barcelona, who attended as a spectator during his injury recovery process. Likewise, before the women's final, an exhibition futsal match was held, featuring members of the Asociación Creciendo.
The awards ceremony brought together directors of the Ajaches Handball Club, public institutions, sponsors, and collaborators. Previously, a minute of silence was observed in memory of former international referee José Luis Argüello, who passed away this past Saturday.
During the event, the Exemplary Trophies were awarded, sponsored by the Yaiza City Council, with voting by clubs and organization. The awardees were:
* Exemplary Players: Lucas Pérez (Realejos) and Rama Sall Sarr (Chinijos)
* Exemplary Goalkeepers: Gabriel Izquierdo (Escuela Ajaches) and Eva Lorenzo (Tegueste)
* Exemplary Coaches: Jorge Saavedra (Gran Tarajal) and Itziar Márquez (Ciudad de Puerto)
* Exemplary Referee: Haría Figuero Parras
* Exemplary Teams: Tegueste (female) and Gáldar (male)
Only the awarding of prizes to the top three finishers of the Faro Trophy remained. The third-place finishers, San José Ajaches in the men's category and Tegueste in the women's category, received their medals, their trophy, and a 75-euro voucher for sports equipment at Intersport Todo Deporte.
The runners-up, Gáldar in the men's category and San José Ajaches in the women's category, also received the prizes and a voucher for 125 euros, while CB Moya Tilover, winner in both categories, went up to the podium to celebrate its double championship, receive its prizes and a voucher for 250 euros in each of the categories. In addition, all participants were recognized with medals and commemorative t-shirts, while the trophies awarded were made by the island artisan Carlos García.
The III Ajaches Easter 2026 Children's Handball Tournament closes its edition reaffirming itself as a benchmark for grassroots handball in the Canary Islands, standing out both for its competitive level and for its commitment to training and sports values.
The Councilor for Physical Activity and Sports of the Cabildo de Lanzarote, Juan Monzón, pointed out that “III Ajaches Easter 2026 Children's Handball Tournament has been an event, not only of handball, that deserves all the support of the institutions", while the Sports Councilor of the Yaiza City Council, Ángel Lago, explained that “the municipality feels proud and congratulates all levels of the entity's organizational chart, starting with the athletes and the families who support them”.
The organization, supported by the Insular Council of Lanzarote, the Yaiza City Council, CICAR and CEO Playa Blanca, has also had the collaboration of the Canarian Handball Federation, Insular Handball Federation of Lanzarote, Sands Beach Active, Líneas Romero, Loterías Playa Blanca, El Novo Gelato , Limpiezas Rosa, Furancho, La Cantosa, Furgolanz and Intersport Todo Deporte.
The club's officials, Roberto García and Manuel Parras, have positively valued the development of the event and are already looking towards the celebration of a fourth edition that continues to drive the growth of handball in the archipelago. Likewise, all the clubs coming from the other islands have not spared praise for the organization, certifying how well their girls and boys had it and willing to return in the next Holy Week of 2027.
