The Diada of Champion Castles leaves the first gamma extra of the season

VendrellFor weeks now, the casteller world has been breathing a clear feeling: the teams have started the season at a very high level. This Sunday, in El Vendrell, this intuition has finally been confirmed with facts. The Diada de les Colles Campiones del Concurs de Castells has been the definitive proof that we are facing one of the best season starts in recent years, with records that recall, and in some cases surpass, those of 2016. And most significantly: on June 7th alone, the first gamma extra unloaded of the season have already been seen.

This year without Joves

The third edition of the festival organized by Nens del Vendrell has consolidated itself as a unique event in the casteller calendar. Until now, the gathering had usually brought together the four champion teams of the Concurs de Castells de Tarragona: the hosts Nens del Vendrell, Castellers de Vilafranca, Colla Vella dels Xiquets de Valls, and Colla Joves Xiquets de Valls.

This criterion, which only accommodates teams that have managed to win the Tarragona competition, is precisely what gives the day a historic and exclusive character. Nens del Vendrell are listed as winners on two occasions, in 1952 – sharing the triumph with Muixerra de Valls – and in 1970. Colla Vella dels Xiquets de Valls has nine victories, while Colla Joves has six. For their part, Castellers de Vilafranca lead the honors with thirteen triumphs, the last of which was achieved in 2024. This year, however, Colla Joves Xiquets de Valls did not participate in the festival because they were performing in La Selva del Camp in the afternoon.

Els Verds unload the earliest 4d9fa in history

The Castellers de Vilafranca arrived in Vendrell with very clear ideas and imposed their rhythm from the start. After a foot dismantled to finish adjusting the measurements, they have unloaded with solvency the fourth 3d9f of the season.

The most outstanding moment of the day arrived in the second round with the 4d9fa. The structure rose with rhythm, but after the 'aleta' the first difficulties appeared. One of the rows opened excessively and the castle had to work hard to stay upright. Nevertheless, the experience of the Vilafranca team was decisive in controlling the situation and completing the first gamma extra unloaded of the course, which at the same time becomes the earliest 4d9fa in history.

They completed the performance with a very solvent 4d9f and an impeccable pd8fm. In this way, Àngel Grau's team has culminated a top-level exhibition that confirms the excellent moment of those in the green shirt.

La Vella carries the first 5d9f of the season

La Colla Vella dels Xiquets de Valls did not want to be left behind either. The pink ones began their performance with a 3d9f that rose with a certain tremor, but at no point felt dangerous. With skill and control, they completed it without complications.

The great challenge arrived in the second round with the 5d9f, the first extra-category attempt of the season for the Valls team. The castle rose with spirit, but also with very fast children that allowed it to be loaded with agility. In the unloading, however, the structure began to lose consistency until it finally broke. La Vella, however, recovered with character and completed the 4d9f in the third round. The Valls team closed their performance with the pd7, leaving the feeling that the season's great challenges had only just begun.

The Children can't handle the 2d7

Els Nens del Vendrell, hosts of the day, have put on a solid performance in front of their fans. They opened the square with a well-executed 4d8, safe and without complications, in which the children have shown themselves to be very comfortable from the first moment. In the second round came the main challenge of their program. The 2d7 rose quickly and maintained its dimensions, but when it seemed that the castle had options to be completed, the structure ended up turning and it was left only loaded.

The people from El Vendrell have managed to recover from disappointment and have closed their performance with a very well executed 5d7, which they have unloaded without difficulty. Beyond the results, the group continues to show a solid line of work in a particularly significant season, marked by the celebration of its centenary.

The day ended by leaving a very clear picture of the current casteller moment: Vilafranca setting the pace with the first two gamma extra unloaded of the season, La Vella opening new ground with the premiere of the 5d9f, and the Nens defending their position with solidity, albeit with pending tasks.

All this confirms that the casteller world is experiencing an exceptional start to the season, with castles unusual at this point in the calendar. El Vendrell, once again, has been the ideal setting to certify it.