'Jove de Tarragona' prove strength during 'Santa Teresa' in el Vendrell

Colla Jove Xiquets de Tarragona have this year managed to build their first human towers of the most advanced level – gamma extra –, and on October 16 they proved their great shape at the Fira de Santa Teresa in el Vendrell (Baix Penedès). Although their initial 4de8a was only crowned (carregat), they ended up the best team thanks to 3de9f plus their 5th 4de9f this year.

Colla Vella dels Xiquets de Valls completed one construction of nine levels (3de9f), but possibly were even more content with their lower castells. During Diada de Santa Úrsula next weekend, October 23, it is expected that what was this time a solid 5de8 will develop further to a 5de9 and that this weekend's 4de8 has given them the confidence to opt for 4de9 net (i.e. without a second support structure, folre) during the coming derby in Valls.

Bearing the same event in mind - and since their form is clearly dipping this year -, Colla dels Joves Xiquets de Valls decided not to take any risks in el Vendrell. A 2de8f was their top achievement, to which they added 3de8 and 4de8.

For the local team, Nens del Vendrell, things did not go their way this time. They completed 2de7, 5de7 and 4de7a but not the desired 4de8.

The big anecdote of the day was that Colla Vella returned to plaça Vella of el Vendrell after more than 100 years without performing in that square. The reason for the long time gap is that in the sixties and seventies Colla Vella’s number one rival among the casteller teams in Catalonia was precisely Nens del Vendrell, so exhibitions in this historic human tower square were out of the question. On the other hand, this is a very small square and when Colla Vella now returned as the fourth team, the lack of space was obvious to everyone present.

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Read more in Catalan: Web Casteller, El Punt/Avui plus the web of Jove de Tarragona.