Seville Hosts 1,075 Rowers at the Spanish Olympic Rowing Championship

The CEAR of La Cartuja hosts the Spanish Olympic Rowing Championship in the alevín, infantil, and veteran categories, featuring 1,075 athletes and 372 boats from 62 clubs.

The Specialized High Performance Centre on La Cartuja Island in Seville becomes the epicentre of national rowing from this Friday. The Spanish Rowing Federation has organised the Spanish Championships for alevín, infantil, and veteran categories, which will run until Sunday. In total, 1,075 rowers (631 men and 444 women) from 11 autonomous communities will compete in 372 boats from 62 clubs.

A Championship with Record Female and Mixed Participation

The competition includes 34 events, with the addition of mixed double and four scull races, as well as the mixed four without for veterans. The distances vary: 500 meters for alevín and 1,000 for infantil and veterans. In the alevín category, there are 16 boats in men's skiff and double scull, rising to 24 and 26 in men's infantil and 18 and 16 in women's. In veterans, there are 16 and 18 registered in men's skiff and double scull, and 12 and 14 in women's. Additionally, there are 19 mixed double boats competing.

The Andalusian delegation, one of the largest alongside the Galician and Basque, comprises 10 clubs: the Seville clubs Club de Remo Ciudad de Sevilla, Guadalquivir 86, Remeros y Piragüistas Veteranos de Sevilla, Remo San Jerónimo, Club Náutico Sevilla, and Real Círculo de Labradores; the Cádiz clubs Barbate and Remo de Mar La Línea; the Real Club Mediterráneo de Málaga; and the Club Tiempo Libre El Ejido from Almería. For local fans in Seville, it is a unique opportunity to see local clubs in action at home.

Schedules, Heat, and Live Broadcast

The programme kicks off on Friday at 8:00 AM with elimination heats and repechages, scheduled until 12:41 PM. On Saturday, the eliminations continue from 8:00 AM to 12:26 PM, and in the afternoon, from 9:00 PM to 9:36 PM, the semi-finals will take place to avoid the heat. On Sunday, the finals will be broadcast live on the YouTube channel of the Spanish Rowing Federation (@federemotv), featuring 55 events from 8:00 AM to 12:02 PM. The medal ceremony and the Iberdrola Trophy (best women's club) and Promotion Trophy (best entity in alevín, infantil, and cadet) will conclude the event.

The high temperatures expected in Seville these days have forced the organisation to establish a morning and evening schedule to avoid the hottest hours. Attendees can follow the competition from the stands of CEAR La Cartuja, with free access. For the people of Seville, it is a top-level sporting event that also energises the area around La Cartuja Island, creating a festive atmosphere around rowing.

The championship also serves to decide the Promotion Trophy, which aggregates the results from the cadet National Championship held in Banyoles (Girona). Thus, clubs arrive with their eyes set on this additional prize. The Spanish Rowing Federation has confirmed that Miguel Ángel Millán (national president) and Fernando Briones (Andalusian president) are overseeing the event, alongside representatives from the Junta de Andalucía and the City Council of Seville.

In short, Seville consolidates its position as a reference point for national rowing, with participation nearing record levels. Those who come to CEAR these days will enjoy a high-level sporting spectacle, with the Guadalquivir as a backdrop. And if the heat becomes too much, there's always the option to watch the finals on Sunday from home, streaming with popcorn.