How did the school playground version go “we three kings of Orient are, one in a taxi, one in a car, one on a scooter blowing his hooter, following yonder star”. Transport is a bit more adventurous in Tenerife, in Adeje, Melchor, Gaspar, and Balthasar arrived by helicopter and in Los Cristianos they combined a short sea trip with the traditional camel ride.

Reyes, Kings Day, or epiphany to use the bible definition, is on 6th January and marks the kings arrival at the stable with their gifts. Most Spanish children open their main presents then but the big public celebration is the arrival of the kings and the cabalgata parade. Last year Arona made a little tweak to the well established formula and they ran with it again this year. The kings arrived at the fishermens quayside by boat and started the parade on foot along the old beach promenade before mounting the waiting camels just below The Devon Arms, one of my watering holes. The rest of the parade was already there slipping into costumes and adding finishing touches to vehicles.

I caught up in Avenida Suecia where the even longer than usual procession was working it’s way along the packed shopping street. The kings were at the rear allowing for a build up of excitement and less chance of other fancy dress characters stepping in a camels calling card. Quite a few old favourite cartoon characters and fantasy outfits from Carnaval time were enjoying the route, posing for photos with bubbling children and throwing sweets into the night air.

It’s a slow process and all the upstairs windows were full of people getting a better vantage point. A lot of dancing, singing, and cheering elapsed before the kings came into view, they are undoubtedly the stars and milked their audience as they progressed. From their lofty perches on the beasts of burden the kings were able to spray generous helpings of sweets even further, they can be a bit hard if they hit you but no one complains, some children amass quite a haul of sweeties by the end of the parade.

I adjourned to the bar as they hit the last stretch leading to the cultural centre and the thrones set up outside. Allowing a couple of pints settling time I returned when the biggest swell of admirers had subsided. There was another small change this year, the large manger scene had been scaled back allowing better views of the stage as children queued to sit on the kings laps and receive pre arranged presents. It’s always a magical sight, the pleasure the children and their parents get is immense and as a tourist attraction it has few equals.

On a day when the wind was so strong it blew the subs benches over, both teams played far too many high balls but it was CD Marino left regretting a 1-1 home draw with Union Sur Yaiza. The Lanzarote visitors are in the promotion pack and Marino should have killed them off after going ahead.

It could have been a dream start, Richard saw his shot shave the post in the 2nd minute but Marino kept up the early pressure, an Aridani cross was forced out for a corner but it came to nothing. Airam made a strong run between two Yaiza defenders, he got a shot in only to see the keeper claim the ball with ease. The greens started to settle and push forward, Lamine back after a long absence had to make a telling tackle to stop one of their raids.

Airam’s determination saw him win the ball in midfield before driving forward but this time the move was broken by the Yaiza defence. It was hard for either team to play flowing football, the wind was gusting strongly and the pitch bore the scars of the three day under 12’s tournament. Sesma burst through down the right and put in a good shot, again keeper Ruyman was alert to the danger. Marino were by far the better side and got their reward on the half hour, an Airam cross found Balduino on the edge of the box and he rifled the ball into the net.

That should have been the platform for a convincing victory but Marino eased off a little, at the start of the second half Aragoneses tipped the ball aside at full stretch to prevent an equalizer. A few minutes later the home goalie was called on again, this time to deal with a dipping shot low down. Coach Sosa Espinel tried to freshen things up with Pablo and Javi Jerez coming off the bench but they made little impact. Going into the last 15 minutes Yaiza drew level, Juanjo sent over an inswinging ball and Aridane popped up at the far post with a perfect header.

Nestor had a chance to restore the lead but hit the post. The game ended on a sporting note when Balduino and goalie Ruyman clashed near the goal, after the keeper received treatment the ref did a drop ball that Balduino tapped back to the goalie to pick up. Now in third spot with a game still in hand, Marino are still firmly in the promotion picture but can’t afford to keep dropping home points.