Swimmer David Meca boosts interest

By Tony Durbin
THE FOURTH annual ‘Travesia a Nado’ beach crossing in Burriana had 40 per cent more participants this year than last, with national swimmer David Meca swimming the 1,500 metres across the Arenal in 18 minutes and 45 seconds. IN second place was Burriana local Juan Boix (21’09”) and third was Josep Ortega (21’12”).

This year 191 people signed up to join in the race, although only 130 people made it to the race.

David Meca also took part in the 750 metres non-competitive crossing, and the children’s 100 metres race, keeping pace with the young athletes. He then signed autographs and posed for photos.

Sports councillor Mercedes Giménez told press the day had been a great success, “with a high number of participants and the extra incentive brought by David Meca.”

Participants in the Travesia can check times and classifications on the SME website www.smeburriana.com.

news@clnews.es

Benicarló goes to London

News Staff Reporter
BENICARLÓ’S tourism councillor, Mamen Iruretagoyena, met last week with Castellón tourist board representatives to discuss the presence of Benicarló at international tourism fairs within the Castellón province’s stand.

This year the biggest fair for Benicarló will be the London tourism fair planned for October, where the councillor said they intend to introduce Benicarló to the English market.

She also considered next year’s fair in Toulouse, saying “France is an emerging market which we must make the most of, especially because it is so near.”

One of the ways Sra Iruretagoyena intends to boost the figures is by including Benicarló in the excursions organised by tour operators. She has already made agreements with Russian, German and French companies to that effect.

The rain in Spain…

News Staff Reporter
FALLS mainly on the train. At least it did on Sunday when the heavy rains delayed two Euromed trains and lightning caused a fire in the Sierra de Irta in Castellón.

The rain caused an electrical failure in the rail system forcing two Euromed trains to stop for 80 minutes.

The fire in the Sierra de Irta started at 17.15 and was put out two hours later thanks to the rapid response of two helicopters, two Air Tractor planes, three rural brigades and two fire engines.

In Benafigos, 36 litres of rain per square metre fell; in Benassal, 31; Catí, 21; and Traiguera, 20.

In the Peñíscola area, hail the size of table tennis balls fell, damaging cars and other objects out on the streets. Roads flooded in the half hour of heavy rain which overflowed the drainage system.

The rain in Vinaròs popped the lids off the drains due to so much water being collected.

Borriol farmer grows prize pumpkin

News Staff Reporter
A BORRIOL farmer has broken his own world record and grown a 132-kilo pumpkin.

Primitivo García Domingo, known locally as ‘El Limonero’ (The Lemon Man) was first included in the Guinness Book of World Records in 1994 when he produced a 94-kilo specimen, followed by a 125-kilo pumpkin two years ago, but this time he has smashed that record and set the record at a whopping 132 kilos.

This year’s example was planted on March 27 and picked on August 3.

Sr García became interested in giant pumpkins after he had an operation which made him unable to keep growing lemons, and he began cultivating pot plants, flowers and seeds.

His first success in giant vegetables was a cucumber measuring 1.90 metres, and since then he has learned how to care for the vegetables to make them record breakers. He has already said he intends to try and break the 132-kilo record next year.

Coastal park opened

News Staff Reporter
CASTELLÓN mayor Alberto Fabra opened the Parque Litoral at the weekend, a 180,000-square-metre park on the sea front which has been regenerated to bring back the sand dunes and local flora and fauna to the Pinar beach which were destroyed by building in the 1970s.

The park has 1,000 palm trees, 1,000 tamarinds, 1,000 pine trees and more than 60,000 bushes.

Sr Fabra expressed his satisfaction with the park, saying that “Castellón has been much improved by this seaside park, which respects the environment but also has 16,000 square metres of car parks and other services as well as integrated walkways so that people can come and enjoy the park.

The park covers 1,300 metres of coastline and has cost 12 million euros.

Got a story?

Is something of interest happening in your area? Do you have a news or human interest story that you think our readers should know about? Then we’d love to hear from you! Please get in touch with Roy Wickman south of Valencia on 647 485 444, email rwickman@cbnews.es, or Tony Durbin in or around Valencia and north on 652 491 129, email editor@clnews.es.