Ibiza Archers Shine in Madrid with Six Podiums at Gran Premio Promesas Iberdrola
The youth archery talent from Ibiza and Formentera delivered a masterclass in precision this past weekend in Madrid, securing six podium finishes at the I Gran Premio Promesas Iberdrola Junior, Cadete y Menores de 14 años 2026. The event, organized by the Real Federación Española de Tiro con Arco (RFETA), took place on April 11 and 12, serving as a national showcase for the next generation of Spanish archers.
The “pitiusa” delegation returned from the capital with a balance that confirms the current surge of the sport in the islands. Across multiple age brackets and bow categories, athletes from S’Arc d’Eivissa, Club de tir amb arc Formentera, and Club de tir amb arc Es Cubells demonstrated that their regional training is translating into national competitiveness.
Dominance in the U15 Categories
The under-15 divisions provided some of the most consistent results for the islands. In the Recurvo U15 Hombre category, Hugo Alejandro Manrique Yern of the Club de tir amb arc Formentera claimed a strong second-place finish. He was joined on the podium by Pau Altadill Cardona of S’Arc d’Eivissa, who took third. Adding to the depth of the Formentera squad, Víctor López Mayans finished in a notable seventh position.
The female youth pipeline showed equal strength. Emma Moya Juan, representing S’Arc d’Eivissa, earned the silver medal in Recurvo U15 Mujer. María Valente Ribas of Club de tir amb arc Es Cubells rounded out the podium in third place, signaling a bright future for the women’s recurve program in the region.
Breakthroughs in U18 and U21
The competition intensified in the older brackets, where the Pitiusas continued to challenge the national elite. Aitor Ramiro Poley of S’Arc d’Eivissa secured a brilliant second place in Recurvo U18 Hombre. Jason Antonio Ferrer Morera of Es Cubells followed closely to take third. Eduardo Santolaria, also of S’Arc d’Eivissa, narrowly missed the podium with a highly competitive fourth-place finish.
In the U21 categories, the success spanned both bow types. Paula Hidalgo Marí of Club de tir amb arc Es Cubells continued her national ascent with a second-place finish in Compuesto U21 Mujer. Meanwhile, Pilar Pascual of S’Arc d’Eivissa added another medal to the tally, finishing third in Recurvo U21 Mujer.
For those unfamiliar with the terminology, “Recurvo” (recurve) refers to the traditional Olympic-style bow, while “Compuesto” (compound) utilizes a system of cables and pulleys to increase power and accuracy.
The Infrastructure of Success: PSE and CTEIB
These results are not accidental. The performance in Madrid highlights the coordinated effort between local clubs and institutional support systems. Several of the standout performers are part of the Programa de Seguimiento del Consell Insular (PSE), which provides targeted tracking and support for emerging athletes.
Athletes currently benefiting from the PSE include Emma Moya Juan and Jason Antonio Ferrer Morera, alongside Adrianna García Bonet, Ainhoa Retamal Torres, Tashi Neo Samper Pykalainen, Gabriel Valente Ribas, Chakir Boulkheir, Alessandro Leone Di Carlo, Raul Rubio Ruiz, and Simó Ribas Requena.
Further elevating the technical level is the Centro de Tecnificación de las Islas Baleares (CTEIB). This high-performance center has been instrumental for athletes such as Paula Hidalgo Marí, Aitor Ramiro Poley, Pau Altadill Cardona, María Valente Ribas, and Mateu Ribas Costa.
Summary of Pitiusa Podiums
| Athlete | Category | Position | Club |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hugo Alejandro Manrique Yern | Recurvo U15 Hombre | 2nd | Club de tir amb arc Formentera |
| Emma Moya Juan | Recurvo U15 Mujer | 2nd | S’Arc d’Eivissa |
| Aitor Ramiro Poley | Recurvo U18 Hombre | 2nd | S’Arc d’Eivissa |
| Paula Hidalgo Marí | Compuesto U21 Mujer | 2nd | Club de tir amb arc Es Cubells |
| Pau Altadill Cardona | Recurvo U15 Hombre | 3rd | S’Arc d’Eivissa |
| María Valente Ribas | Recurvo U15 Mujer | 3rd | Club de tir amb arc Es Cubells |
| Jason Antonio Ferrer Morera | Recurvo U18 Hombre | 3rd | Club de tir amb arc Es Cubells |
| Pilar Pascual | Recurvo U21 Mujer | 3rd | S’Arc d’Eivissa |
The overall performance in Madrid underscores the growing maturity of the archery scene in Ibiza and Formentera, blending grassroots club development with professionalized technical support to compete at the highest national levels.
The RFETA will continue to monitor these young talents as they progress through the national circuit. Stay tuned for further updates on the upcoming regional qualifiers and national championships.
Do you think the investment in youth technical centers is the key to Spain’s archery growth? Let us grasp in the comments.
