Rowers from Orio emerged victorious in the Basque Batel Championship, which took place on Sunday, April 12, in the waters of the Benedicta dock in Sestao. This triumph marks the yellow club's first official title of the season. The competition saw a fierce battle with Donostiarra, the Gipuzkoa champion, whom Orio ultimately defeated by a mere three seconds at the finish line.
Initially, Kaiarriba led the first turn, closely followed by Orio and Zierbena. However, the team coached by Iker Zabala capitalized on the second leg to take the lead, a position they maintained until the end despite constant pressure from Donostiarra. Zierbena, the Bizkaia champion, had to settle for third place, six seconds behind, ahead of San Juan and Iberia. The winning crew consisted of Oihan Manterola as coxswain, along with rowers Ander Zabala, Adrián González, Mikel Lizarralde, and Diego Pérez.
In the women's category, San Juan claimed victory in the Basque Championship, finishing ahead of Zarautz and Hibaika. Ondarroa secured fourth place, followed by Deusto. The crews from Pasai Donibane and Zarautz engaged in a compelling struggle, which ultimately went in favor of the pink team, demonstrating superior performance in the second half of the race.
In the U23 category, San Juan won the gold medal in the men's final, defeating Zierbena, Isuntza, Deusto, and Orio, in that order. In the women's competition, Kaiku dominated with authority, establishing a 14-second lead over the second-place finisher, Isuntza. Pasai Donibane completed the podium, ahead of Hibaika.
In other categories, the double triumph achieved by the Ondarroa Arraun Elkartea teams in the youth finals, both male and female, is noteworthy. In cadets, Mundaka won in the girls' category and Orio in the boys', just 86 hundredths ahead of the Mundaka batel. Isuntza took home the gold medal in the children's female category, while Santurtzi did the same in the male final. The Legutio reservoir will host the Spanish Batel Championships next weekend, which will also mark the start of the Bizkaia Batel League in the waters of Elantxobe.
