The Rey Juan Carlos University, from Madrid, joins this year the universities of the Region of Murcia that will measure their forces in the XXII edition of the Inter-University Canoeing Regatta, which will be held next Saturday 6th May from 09:00h at the Barnuevo beach, in Santiago de la Ribera. The regatta, organised by the Club Escuela de Piragüismo Mar Menor and the San Javier Town Hall, will have other novelties this year such as a fighter plane flight deck, open to the public and a giant paella for the participants.
The regatta, whose trophy is only awarded after three consecutive or five alternate victories, was presented this morning at the athletics track of the AGA, with the participation of the colonel director, Pascual Soria, the mayor of San Javier, José Miguel Luengo, a representative of the Canoe Federation of the Mar Menor and the Mayor of San Javier, José Miguel Luengo; a representative of the Canoe Federation of the Region of Murcia, Sebastián Espín; of the University of Murcia and Dean of the Faculty of Sports Sciences, Jesús García Pallarés; of the UPCT, Miguel Díaz; of the UCAM, Fernando Rosique and of the University Centre of Defence, Captain Abel Marín.
The presence of the Universidad Rey Juan Carlos, from Madrid, is one of the main novelties of this edition which brings back the participation of other national and international universities in the Regatta in which men’s, women’s and mixed teams as well as masters teams including faculty and staff are taking part. The first starts will take place from 09:00h with a course parallel to the coast that can be followed from the beach. In addition, the Youtube channel of the Canoe Federation will broadcast the regatta live, so it can be seen from anywhere in the world. The AGA reinforces its presence with an Army information stand related to employment and training and a simulator where the public can experience what it feels like in the cockpit of a fighter plane. The presentation of trophies is scheduled for around 13:00h on the Barnuevo beach.
The Mayor of San Javier, José Miguel Luengo thanked the AGA for their contribution with means that complement the Regatta and emphasised that this inter-university meeting “forms part of the municipal sports calendar, consolidated as one of the events most loved by the local residents”. Luengo highlighted the values that the Regatta transmits, as well as the promotion of the university and the coexistence between the different university centres, as well as promoting the municipality and the Mar Menor as an ideal setting for the practice of nautical sports, an objective with which it was created 22 years ago.
In the 21-year history of the Regatta, only UCAM has taken home the trophy four times, having won 15 of the 21 editions of the championship. On this occasion, it could extend its record, since after winning the last two editions, it could take home a fifth trophy if it manages to revalidate first place next Saturday. UMU and UPCT have won twice each and the AGA once, the first edition being held in 2000. All the universities emphasised the enthusiasm with which they are facing this new edition, to which they come more prepared and with more training than on other occasions.
