Matthew Riddall (left), known as "El Vikingo de Tenerife", achieved a commendable third-place finish in the first tournament of the 2023 Spanish National Strength League, held in Utrillas, Teruel last weekend. The event was won by the young and promising athlete, Gianluca Ardenghi.
Among the athletes taking part in the exciting first event of the year at the Teruel Bullring, El Vikingo, who recently placed fifth in the European Championship of Britain’s Strongest Master and was the runner-up in the last Spanish National Strength League, was among strong competition.
In the first challenge of the day, the Seated Truck Pull, the athletes grappled with the uneven terrain of the bullring. Juan Ferrer from Deltebre emerged victorious, with Ardenghi following closely behind. The second event, the Overhead Yoke Lift, saw Ardenghi take the lead with eleven repetitions, followed by Riddall.
The third event, known as the Hercules Columns, is a new addition to this year’s league, and Ferrer once again claimed victory, with Riddall securing a respectable second place.
However, in the final two events, Ardenghi clinched victory for the tournament. In the Barrel Transport event, he outperformed Riddall, and in the final combined Duck Walk and Carry Transport challenge, he also bettered the athlete from Granadilla de Abona who finished a very credible third, outperforming many seasoned competitors.
After the event Riddall said: “I am incredibly proud of my performance in this tournament. The competition was intense, and securing third place was a significant achievement. I am eagerly anticipating the upcoming events and am committed to continually improving my performance.”
Gianluca Ardenghi, a young athlete hailing from Tarragona, clinched the victory, making him the youngest competitor in the history of the Spanish National Strength League to win a tournament. At just 21 years old, Ardenghi has already made a significant mark on the League and is poised to be a strong contender in the three upcoming regulatory tournaments.
The date for the next tournament, set to be held in Torrelavega, in Cantabria, along with the dates for the remaining tournaments of the year, will be announced shortly. For more information about Matthew Riddall and to follow his exciting journey, please visit his social media channels and stay tuned for future updates and achievements from this exceptional athlete: @TenerifeVikingStrongman
