The Seville – Betis Regatta, a six-kilometer pulse between the eternal rivals

The overall balance continues to correspond to Sevilla, 30-27, although the wide gap that existed in 2010 between both teams (30-14) has disappeared due to this series of consecutive victories for the boat trained by Gaspar Company and helmed by Thomas Jurado. Beyond the rivalry, which exists because the feeling of belonging multiplies when the rowers put on their team’s shirts, the Seville-Betis Regatta is a rowing festival with capital letters. A top-level and spectacular sporting event that has nothing to envy of the Oxford Cambridge. Whoever has experienced it up close, in the auxiliary boats, recognizes the sound of the paddles, the forcefulness of the lead rowing, how the helmsmen direct and encourage being the eyes of the eight companions who row and row incessantly, but with their backs to the final destination, suffering when the opponent’s visual reference is lost and one has to swallow the rival’s bonfires without the boat, despite everything, stopping moving forward. Nobody gives up here.

Sevilla-Betis is enjoyment for whoever takes the lead and a long torture for the boat that remains behind, knowing that the chances of a comeback are minimal. Its six kilometers or so, which are consumed in twenty minutes, begin before the Alamillo Bridgenear the San Jerónimo shortcut, and they end up passing the Puente de los Remedios, in the Pier of Delightsnext to the Aquarium and in front of the Nautical Club. There are three curves of different degrees, although the most important is the Puente del Cachorro, on the left, in the former Chapina stopperas this part of the river is still known when it comes to the regatta. In this sense, the boat that sails along the shore closest to that of Seville has an advantage over the one that advances along the shore of Triana. It is a critical point, although the Nervion boat has held up well in recent years and overcame that test even if the race was decided later. Obviously, he Betis has won in this long cycle with the curve against and in favor. This is how you will enjoy it this year. One more condition in the form of difficulty for Sevilla, which at least has to reach Chapina in parallel with its rival. Then, until the finish line, there will be about 2,500 meters left and it will be necessary to continue rowing, taking the lactic acid to the limit.

Minimal changes

The ship that loses is usually, unless there is a generational change, the one that introduces the most changes, although on this occasion those in the Sevilla team eight are forced. Loses his mark, the young man Jorge Knabeinjured with a torn meniscus, and also to the bow, Patri Rojas. He replaces the first by changing position in the boat. Antonio José Díaz Ramosand the second, Rafael Gomez. Julio Casielles also enters. Mirson Camadro trains the crew that, helmed by veteran Jacobo Castiñeira, will form from stern to bow with this ‘lineup’: Antonio José Díaz (mark), Juan Miguel Palomino, Luis Vilches, Jaime Canalejo, Alejandro Vera, Juan Kaulani, Julio Casielles and Rafael Gómez (bow).

There are two changes in Sevilla compared to 2023 and only one in Betis. Antonio Guzmán leaves and enters Jaime Lara, who has spent a few years in the Basque Country competing in trawlers but he is part of this very successful generation of Betic rowers. He is not new to this company. Directed by Gaspar Company and with Tomás Jurado at the helm, Betis will row with Javier García (mark), Marcelino García, Gonzalo García, Carlos González, Jaime Lara, Álvaro Gutiérrez, Emilio Fernández and Bruno Eder (bow). Betis maintains its indestructible block, which includes a dozen rowers, without the minimal changes it makes from one year to the next diminishing its excellent performance. TO Marcelino Garcitorecord holder in number of derbies rowed and also in victories, he had to be convinced and you never know if this will be his last regatta or not.

Sevilla, to stand up, break the forecast and settle its debt with the river since 2010, will have to go all out, take advantage of the minimal advantage that the slight curve to the right of the CEAR and then hold on to Betis at least until Chapina, where the second part of the test begins, the most difficult, but also the most beautiful, because it is from there where more people and fans accumulate on the banks and bridges to give that extra breath that rowers need. All of them, don’t forget, are used to the Olympic distance, 2,000 meters, and in Seville-Betis they do 4,000 more, with the tremendous physical expense that this implies. In the previous week, there has certainly been some concern among athletes about the appearedalgae on on the regatta course, to the point that they have had to stop more than one training session due to this circumstance.

David Galisteo will referee the men’s derby (1 p.m.), the culmination of a morning that begins at 10:15 and will have its first highlight at noon with the dispute of the absolute women’s event, for which Sonia Gil has been elected referee judge. As in the men’s competition, in the girls’ competition favoritism also falls on Betis, which has won the last six editions and also dominates the overall record by 19-15. For a few years now it has been held under the same conditions as the boys’ competition, over six kilometres. With the declines in Claudia de Marco (will row with the candidates) and Clara Palaciothe Sevillista eight is made up of Amanda Gil (mark), Rocío Laó, Nuria Barrios, Lidia Florido, Inmaculada Rius, Isabel Monedero, María Navarro and Inés Izquierdo (bow), with Hugo Díaz as helmsman. In Betis they cause loss Olivia del Castillo and the most veteran, Esperanza ‘Polola’ Márquez, Sevillian rowing legend. She received a standing ovation from all her classmates at the presentation of the test on Tuesday at the CEAR and gives the honors of experience to Estela Díaz. With Fernando Cano at the helm, the green and white women will row with Paola Alonso de Caso (brand), Teresa Sánchez-Lanuza, Ana Navarro, Laura Montes, Estela Díaz, Lucía Ruiz, Carmen Civera and María Jesús Gómez (bow).

Before the eyes of World Rowing

Seville-Betis will become the city’s presentation card on a very special day for this sporting discipline, since Seville will also host the annual gala of the International Rowing Federation this Saturday (World Rowing) a few days after knowing the headquarters of the 2027 World Championship, for which the capital of Seville opts with the CEAR as the nerve center. The river derby can be followed live through Teledeporte, RTVE Play, Canal Sur (ATV and Canal Sur Más), Betis TV and the World Rowing platforms, which will enhance the international dimension of the event. Sergio Paredes directs it again and it will be the last that Miguel Ángel Millán lives as president of the Andalusian Rowing Federation.