Euphoria, epic and emotivity in Mataró in a Santes hit by rain
The Greens recover the 3d9fa, which they had not unloaded since Sant Fèlix in 2019
MataróThe Santes festival in Mataró this Saturday has once again shown why it is one of the essential events on the casteller calendar. It did so with all possible ingredients: top-level human towers, torrential rain that forced the performance to be interrupted, and an emotional tribute to Mariona, the young woman from Capgrossos who lost her life twenty years ago after an accident during this very festival.
To adapt to the start of the main festival call, the day exceptionally began at five in the afternoon and, for the first time, had a finishing time limit. Despite this constraint, the three teams offered a high-level performance.
Els Capgrossos de Mataró opened the square with a 7 of 8 that has already become one of their trusted towers. The third of the season showed a very solid structure from the first moments and particularly determined children, who impressed speed to the descent without giving room for doubt. In the second round, the Mataró team opted for the first 5 of 8 of the year. After a dismantled foot, the cathedral rose with good measurements and, despite having to work on it at times, they were able to complete it without many complications. It was a construction they had not completed since All Saints' Day last year, and the celebration was proportional to the value of recovering it.
The great explosion of joy arrived, however, in the third round. At the moment the enxaneta crowned the 4 of 9 with folre, an intense downpour fell on Plaça de Santa Anna. Far from falling apart, the Capgrossos maintained control of the tower and completed the first 4 of 9 with folre of the season under extremely complicated conditions. A very meritorious descent that ended up tinged with epic under the rain.
The Vilafranca team continues to expand its repertoire
For their part, the Castellers de Vilafranca once again demonstrated that they continue to expand their range of structures. They started with a very solid 4 of 9 with folre, the fourth of the season, resolved with authority.
The second round left the big headline of the day: the greens recovered the 3 of 9 with folre and needle, a construction they had not unloaded since Sant Fèlix in 2019 and which had not been completed in the square since then. After their last attempt, in October 2019, remained only that, an attempt, the Vilafranca team once again dominated one of the most demanding structures in the casteller scene. The three presented very tight dimensions and worked solidly until leaving the prominence to an interior pillar that evidenced the potential of the new lineup. A recovery of great value, both for its symbolism and for the moment of the season, when top-level objectives are already beginning to emerge on the horizon.
Despite the rain, those with the green shirt did not alter the script. They completed the 3 of 9 with folrein the third round and closed the performance by unloading the pillar of 8 with folre and manilles, the fifth of the year, confirming once again the excellent form of their espadat.
High-level performance from Terrassa
Els Minyons de Terrassa also signed off on a high-level performance. The 4 of 9 with folre, the second of the season, had an almost perfect execution: firm in size, very stable and resolved with a serenity that conveyed confidence from start to finish. In the second round, they faced the 2 of 9 with folre and manilles, also the second of the course. The folre and manilles had to work throughout the execution, but the structure never lost control and the malves added another extra range to their record.
The rain, however, ended up modifying their plans. With their shirts completely soaked after a fifteen-minute break, the Terrassa team assessed that the optimal conditions were not present to tackle the 3 of 9 with folre they had prepared. Prudence prevailed and they opted to bid farewell with the pillar of 7 with folre,renouncing the completion of the triplet.
The festival concluded with the most emotional moment of the afternoon. The three groups simultaneously raised a pillar in memory of Mariona, twenty years after her death. A solemn and symbolic tribute that closed a performance marked by the high level of human towers. And with a splash included.