Loads of excitement and expectation during Saturday's event of the Concurs de Castells. The Castellers de la Vila de Gràcia were the winners of an event in which 17 colles from the 'casteller' world competed by raising their 'castells' in the Tarraco Arena.
The blue-shirt 'colla' completed the 3de8, 2de8f (the best castell of the day) and 4de8. Eduard Cecília, 'cap de colla' of the Gràcia colla, highlighted the difficulties they had in some parts of the season, but that despite everything "we have grown a lot as a 'colla'". Cecília added that "all this demonstrates the good health of the 'casteller' world".
In second position, the Marrecs de Salt completed 3de8, 4de8 and 2de7, in a performance in which they have also added the 9de7. The 'cap de colla' of the Marrecs, Baltasar Bosch, assured that, despite coming from very far away, "in the Concurs, we always manage to bring many people together". Bosch congratulated his team for their performance, but also the rest of the participants of Saturday's event.
The Nens del Vendrell and the Sagals d'Osona completed the podium, completing 4de8, 2de7 and 5de7. The 'cap de colla' from Vendrell, Jordi Risa, highlighted that for the Nens "the contest is very important: we have won twice.". He also seemed satisfied with having completed both 4de8 and 2de7 for the first time. The 'cap de colla' of the Sagals d'Osona, Griselda Riera, assured that "it is a pride to share this third position with the Nens del Vendrell, a colla we are very fond of."
The Ministre de Cultura i Festes de l’Ajuntament de Tarragona, Inés Solé, congratulated all the participating colles and, especially, the four winners. Solé highlighted the value of the Concurs de Castells, which "makes sense thanks to the perseverance of the 'colles'".
On the other hand, the Directora Castellera del Concurs de Castells, Ester Roca, thanked the efforts of the participating 'colles', but also the work of the human team that worked on the organization of the contest. Roca explained that the medical services "have had to provide 42 assistances, 5 of which ended in hospital referral." Out of these 5 referrals, 3 people have been able to return to the TAP.
Furthermore, the director of the Concurs de Castells, Xavier González, has defined Saturday's event with two words: "Excitement" and "emotion." For Gonzàlez, the Concurs de Castells would not be possible without the effort and work of all the 'colles'.”
One notable fact is that out of the 17 participating colles, 13 have performed, at least once, a new structure for the first time in the Concurs de Castells.
In total, 60 castells have been completed, without counting the farewell pillars, with only 3 crowned castells and one single attempt (6.6% falls).
The jury of the Concurs de Gralles, chaired by Roser Olivé, decided to classify 2 groups for the final: the 'gralles' of Castellers de Sant Cugat and Castellers de la Vila de Gràcia. The jury saw it pertinent not to classify a third group for the final.
A recovery Diada Castellera Internacional
This morning, the 3rd Diada Castellera Internacional was held with the participation of 5 'colles': The Castellers of London, the Xiquets de Copenhagen, the Castellers de París, the Castellers d’Andorra and the Colla Castellera de Madrid built 'castells' on an event which, in the end, meant the recovery of the six-storey towers by some of these formations, deeply affected by the pandemic.
Castellers d'Andorra also secured a performance with 3 six-storey 'castells', a milestone they had not reached since before the pandemic.
The Colla Castellera de Madrid left the plaza with 2 six-storey 'castells' completed, with the 3de6a as the main tower.
Castellers de París and Xiquets de Copenhagen managed to complete their first 6-storey 'castell' since the start of the pandemic, while Castellers of London did not go all the way and were only able to crown a 'castell'.
To close the performance, the 5 'colles' raised a 4de6 of brotherhood.
Final classification of Saturday's event of the Concurs de Castells
