The municipality of Albox has said goodbye to 2023 with its traditional San Silvestre Memorial ‘María Carmona’. This year it was undoubtedly the most familiar and with the highest participation of all those held in the last seventeen years. More than 450 participants, including some 175 children from the minis to children’s categories, came from different parts of Almeria; most of them from Albox, but also from municipalities such as Taberno, Oria, Arboleas, Huercal Overa, Vera, Olula del Río, Adra, Fines, or from other provinces such as Puerto Lumbreras or Alcantarilla.
On Sunday 31st December, from early in the morning, numerous families and groups of friends began to arrive at the Sports Pavilion. The volunteers and members of Somos Albojenses, together with the sports staff of the Town Hall and the Local Police, ensured that the whole organisation went according to plan. The delivery of bibs, food donations, safety on the route, and other aspects that have allowed this sporting event to become once again the best and most fun way to say goodbye to the year in the Almanzora Valley.
Inma Martínez Sánchez from the town of Albox won the race in the women’s category, Natalia Pruska came second and Ana Belén Sánchez Acosta third. The winner of the San Silvestre 2023 was Juan Manuel Tejada Martínez, followed by Raúl Guevara Castellar and in third position, Blas Quiles Parra.
This year’s San Silvestre has exceeded all of the organisation’s own forecasts. «We have had more participants than ever before, especially children, we have never had so many children. In addition, we have had many participants in fancy dress, it has been a real party,» says Diego Carrillo, president of the Association Somos Albojenses.
The San Silvestre de Albox has a route of 4.3 km through the town centre through the three neighbourhoods of the municipality. A sporting event that has managed to consolidate and become a reference in the north of the province. The mayoress of Albox, María del Mar Alfonso, was also present at the event. «For us it is a great joy to see our town like this. Where families enjoy themselves, young and old, everyone has a place. Congratulations to Somos Albojenses and thanks to all the volunteers, council workers and local police, because together we make the best team,» said the mayoress, insisting on continuing to support this type of event. «We will always be with our associations, with all of them, without distinction. By organising events like this and supporting each other, together, we will continue to make our town even bigger».
In addition, the event has a charitable nature. The participants have collaborated by donating 500 kilos of food for the two parish Caritas of Albox, and part of the registration fee is donated to the Local Board of the Spanish Association Against Cancer.
The San Silvestre Albojense is organised by Somos Albojenses in collaboration with the Albox Town Hall and the sponsorship of numerous local companies; Geocycle, Chema Neumáticos, Famim cleaning company, Comercial Ángel Oller, Construcciones José León, Peugeot Albox, Seat Navarro Segura, Alfarería Luis el Puntas, Almanzora Veterinaria, Inselma Electricidad, Tiendas Padel Powers, Tienda Comercial Deportes, González Cañabate Carburantes BP, Gimnasio Kronos, Exclusivas Sito Ibéricos and Guijuelos.
