The Bordegassos of the Alt Penedès were the winners of the contest after a very tight end

 

 

 

Castellers de Vilafranca organized last Saturday the fifth edition of the JOVErd, the castells competition between secondary schools in Alt Penedès. 10 centers participated - one more than last year - and, although the participation of 811 boys and girls had initially been announced, in the final count it was around 870; a resounding success of participation that shows that the castella tradition is very much alive in Alt Penedès.

 

Shortly before 10 in the morning, all the participants gathered at the gates of Cal Figarot in order to enter the courtyard, group by group and with a pillar. Each of the gangs wore a t-shirt with a distinctive color, had a gang leader - who could be the teacher or castellers ex-students - and also a person in charge of the organization in order to facilitate the development of the competition. The entrance to the square and the order of action followed the order established in the draw a few days earlier at the JOVErd presentation press conference.

 

In the first round the gangs had to make at least one pillar of 3 with pineapple and, once crowned, all the bass equipment (bass, crutches and string) had to be removed. The gangs that wanted could also choose to make a pillar of 4, but this one without having to remove the bass. Some, even, were able to do some simultaneous pillars. In the second round, the gangs had to make at least 10 pillars of 2 net, with bonuses for each more pillar they made. All the pillars had to be surrounded by boys and girls.

 

And it was from the third round that the most meritorious structures could be seen, although each group had to build at least one top knob. Two pillars of 5 with lining and 5 of 5 net with needle, next to 3 of 4 net with needle or towers of 4 net: castells which demonstrated the preparation that the schools and institutes had made to participate in JOVErd. In the fourth round, you could choose to improve the result of the third or try to qualify for the Oriol Rossell prize, which consisted of erecting a structure without the participation of any casteller or falconer.

 

After a very close finish, the Bordegassos of Alt Penedès were the winners of the Grand Prix of the Joverd by only 0.4 points difference compared to the second place, the Castellers del Foix. The Pou de l'Eugeni d'Ors Long-distance Runners were in third position. The Oriol Rossell trophy, which was for the group that could make the best castle without integrating either the casteller or falconers into the structure, was taken by the Grimpaires del Montagut, who made a tower of 4 net with fig tree. It should be noted, however, that the Casellers del Sant Josep (Sant Sadurní d'Anoia) were the only group that did all the castells of the conurs without castellers or falconers.

 

Throughout the morning, many people - including teachers, family members and castellers - approached Cal Figarot. The assessment made by both the Castellers de Vilafranca and the teachers is very positive.

 

The gangs participating in the fifth edition of JOVErd were (in order of performance):

– Minyons de Penyafort (Sant Ramon College – Vilafranca)

– Castellers El Foix (IES El Foix – Santa Margarida and the Monks)

– Vailets del Sant Josep (Sant Josep College – Vilafranca)

– Castellers del Sant Josep (College Sant Josep – Sant Sadurní d’Anoia)

– Castellers de l'Alt Foix (IES Alt Foix – Sant Martí Sarroca)

– Castellers del Milà (IES Milà and Fontanals – Vilafranca)

– Colla Jove Sant Elies (Sant Elies College – Vilafranaca)

– Bordegassos de l'Alt Penedès (IES Alt Penedès – Vilafranca)

– Mount Montagut (El Montagut School – Vilafranca)

 

– Pou de l’Eugeni d’Ors zip lines (IES Eugeni d’Ors – Vilafranca)