Who Won and Why the Women’s Division Took the Spotlight

The tournament crowned Laura Martínez (23) of the Andalusian Federation as the overall women’s champion, marking the first time a non-Catalan archer has won the regional outdoor title since 2018. Martínez, who finished with a tournament-high 689 points, attributed her victory to a tactical shift mid-competition.

“I realized after Day 1 that the wind patterns in the afternoon were consistently pushing shots left. I adjusted my stance by 3 degrees and focused on a tighter grouping—it paid off in the final round.”

In the men’s division, Javier Rojas (28) of Valencian Federation claimed his third regional outdoor title, extending his dominance in the 70m category. Rojas, who holds the Spanish outdoor record for consecutive regional wins (five), said the tournament’s new target rotation system—implemented this year—forced him to adapt.

Key Results:

• Women’s Champion: Laura Martínez (Andalusia) – 689 pts
• Men’s Champion: Javier Rojas (Valencia) – 712 pts
• Mixed Team Gold: Murcia Federation (Martínez + Rojas) – 1,401 combined pts
• Junior Breakout: 16-year-old Aitana López (Castile-La Mancha), who finished 4th in women’s recurve

Record Participation and the Push for More Outdoor Archery in Spain

This year’s tournament drew 182 archers, up 22% from 2023, according to official federation records. The surge follows a 2023 policy change by the Royal Spanish Archery Federation (RFETA) to allocate more funding for regional outdoor events, which had previously been overshadowed by indoor competitions.

San Pedro del Pinatar’s Mar Menor Natural Park venue—chosen for its stable wind conditions and flat terrain—hosted the event for the second consecutive year. Organizers cited the location’s success in reducing weather-related cancellations, a common issue in Spain’s mountainous regions.

Participation by Region (2024 vs. 2023):

Source: Murcia Regional Archery Federation competition reports

How the Tournament Changed Spain’s Regional Archery Calendar

The event’s success has prompted RFETA to fast-track plans for a national outdoor archery league, slated for launch in 2025. Speaking to Archysport, RFETA Technical Director Carlos Mendoza confirmed the league will feature:

• A 12-event circuit across Spain’s regions, with San Pedro del Pinatar as a permanent stop
• Qualification spots for the 2026 European Outdoor Championships in Athens
• A youth development program, expanding on Aitana López’s junior performance

Mendoza emphasized that the new league will prioritize equity in regional representation, addressing long-standing criticism that Catalonia and Madrid have dominated Spain’s archery scene.

“Outdoor archery has always been the purest form of the sport—no wind machines, no controlled lighting. This tournament proved there’s a hunger for it at the regional level. The challenge now is to make sure every federation has the resources to compete.”

What Happens Next: The Road to Athens 2026

The top four finishers in each division—Martínez, Rojas, López, and 2024 bronze medalist Daniel Fernández—will receive direct invitations to Spain’s national outdoor selection camp in September. According to RFETA’s selection criteria, candidates will compete in a three-stage process:

1. Regional Trials (June–July 2025): Open to all federations; top 8 advance
2. National Camp (September 2025): 12-week training block in Madrid
3. Final Selection (March 2026): Two spots per gender for Athens

Fernández, who finished third in the men’s division, told reporters he plans to use the next 12 months to transition from recurve to longbow, a category Spain has not fielded at the European level since 2019.

Key Dates for Spain’s Outdoor Archery Path:

• June 2025: Regional trials begin
• September 2025: National camp opens in Madrid
• March 2026: Athens team announced
• June 2026: European Championships in Athens

Why This Tournament Matters: A Turning Point for Spanish Outdoor Archery

While indoor archery—particularly recurve—has long dominated Spain’s sporting landscape, outdoor disciplines have struggled for visibility. The 2024 La Liga Regional marks a turning point for three reasons:

1. Funding Shift: RFETA allocated €150,000 to regional outdoor events in 2024, up from €40,000 in 2023 (budget documents).
2. Youth Engagement: 38% of participants were under 21, compared to 22% in indoor competitions last year.
3. International Alignment: The new national league will mirror formats used in the World Archery Outdoor Championships, making Spanish athletes more competitive globally.

Historically, Spain’s archery success has centered on indoor recurve, where athletes like Miguel Alvariño (2012 Olympic silver medalist) have excelled. But outdoor archery—with its emphasis on wind reading, natural terrain, and traditional bows—offers a different pathway to podiums. The 2024 tournament’s record participation suggests Spanish archers are ready to embrace it.

How to Follow Spain’s Outdoor Archery Development

For fans looking to track the growth of Spain’s outdoor archery scene, here are the key resources:

• Official Updates: RFETA Outdoor Archery Page
• 2025 League Announcement: Expected July 15, 2024 via RFETA press release
• Athens Selection Camp: Madrid Archery Federation’s event page
• Venue Details: San Pedro del Pinatar’s Mar Menor Natural Park will host the 2025 regional finals

Archers interested in competing at the regional level should contact their federación autonómica de tiro con arco for 2025 registration details, which open June 1, 2024.