Archers from across Spain converge on Valladolid this weekend for a major national showdown with national team berths and ranking points on the line, Ayuntamiento de Valladolid reported.
The competition brings 279 athletes to the Pepe Rojo facilities within the Ciudad de Valladolid sports complex on Carretera de Renedo. Mayte Martínez, the city’s sports councillor, presented the event alongside local archery leaders, noting that the field comprises 79 teams competing across 74 targets.
This weekend marks the third and final leg of the Iberdrola Spanish Archery Grand Prix circuit. Earlier stops took place in Cáceres on April 13 and 14, followed by a second leg in Madrid on May 11 and 12, according to municipal records.
The tournament holds official international homologation from World Archery, allowing competitors of all nationalities to enter. It also serves as a vital qualifier for the upcoming Spanish Club Championship scheduled for Valencia on June 29 and 30.
Ana Alonso Leads Local Archers Against Elite Field
Ana Alonso leads the local contingent from Valladolid, representing Arco Club Valladolid alongside peers from Club Arco Pucela and Arcolid. Around 30 local archers will feature in the home event.
The entry list features top national talent, including Miguel Albariño, a 2016 Olympian and the 2022 European champion. Francho Rufas, a junior world champion, also joins the field alongside international compound competitors Andrea Muñoz and Ramón López.
Local hopes rest heavily on Alonso, the reigning Spanish 3D indoor compound champion, and junior teammate Héctor González, who earned a national team call-up for the upcoming European Championships in Romania.
“A Valladolid vendrá mucha gente al estar bien situada, y al ser el último gran premio,” said Ana Alonso, president of Arco Club Valladolid, according to fmdva.org.
Format and Schedule on the Renedo Road
Competition gets underway across Saturday morning and afternoon, concluding with Sunday morning sessions.
Participant numbers peak in the men’s recurve individual division with 120 entries. Women’s recurve draws about 50 archers, while the compound divisions feature 85 men and 35 women.
Team events add another layer of competition, featuring 22 men’s recurve teams, eight women’s recurve squads, and 20 mixed recurve entries. Compound team draws include 12 men’s squads, five women’s teams, and 13 mixed pairings.
“Este es uno de los mejores campeonatos que recala en Valladolid,” said José María Rioja, president of the Castilla y León Archery Federation and vice president of the national body.
Road to the National Club Championship
Every club aiming for a spot in the final phase must field a minimum of three archers across all three Grand Prix events.
The results from Valladolid, combined with previous Grand Prix stops and the upcoming Outdoor Absolute Spanish Championship, will dictate the final national rankings for individual recurve and compound competitors.
The competition runs through Sunday noon at the Pepe Rojo sports complex.
Earlier coverage: Valladolid hosts Grand Prix of Archery on May 8 and 9
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