Multiple Modalities--Recent Amateur Results--Iparralde (North Basque)

A busy late Spring and Summer season was recently completed in Iparralde (North Basque). Various championships and individual matches were contested in multiple modalities. Many of these were either streamed live or on demand via Youtube or French TV. We have already covered the a major Jai Alai/Cesta Punta Tournament that coincided with the St. Jean de Luz (Donibane Lohizune) SLAM (champion of champions Tournament), as well was the Grand Chistera Finals of the Grand Semaine (for more on GS see below).

One amateur Main Nue Tournament, Masters do Marcat Open has also been covered elsewhere.

Most of the other amateur competitions were sponsored by the Federation Francaise de Pelote Basque (FFPB) or one of its regional affiliates. They are listed below.

I. Soiree Pelote Basque--Anglet (1) (2) 

September 9, 2019

This Iparralde v Hegoalde (South Basque) "double header" of Pala Corta and Mano was streamed by TV Landes. The "final" score was 1-1.

Mano 

Ospital-Xala (Yves Salleberry) (Iparralde) (red) 2 
Gorka-Paskual (Hegoalde) (green) 1 
(6-10, 10-9, 5-3) (21-22)

Pala Corta

Baeta-Skufka (Hegoalde) (red) 2 Hourcourigaray-Brefel (Iparralde)(white) 0
(15-9, 15-6) (30-15)

+++++

II. FFPP Grand Semaine (August 11-18)

Grand Semaine is an annual festival of Summer championships held at various locations in Iparralde. Most of the competitions are held outdoors. This year's Grand Semaine consisted of 33 competitions in 7 modalities (Main Nue, Joko Garbi, Paleta Pelote Gomme Cruese (Women's), Paleta Pelote de Gomme Pleine, Grosse Pala, Grand Chistera (Men's and Women's), and Rebote). 

Selected results based on video availability--for all results see:

Updated Grand Semaine Calendar (FFPB)

Cumulative day by day photos 450 total (FFPB)

August 16

Main Nue

Villefranque (1) (2)

Juniors

Atzarri--Souraide: Retgui-Irigaray (blue) 30

Pays d'Orth Main Nue--Saint Lon Les Mines: Theys-E. Lafitte (red) 15

(Pays d'Orth Main Nue Youtube)

Note the dedication year on the wall: 1861

August 14

Grosse Pala

Bagneres-de-Bigorre (1) (2)

National A Final

Union Sportive Dacquois--Dax: Bats-Brocas (red) 40

Saint Martin de Seignanx Pelote (A.S.C): Hernandez-Dupruilh 28 

ASC Pelote.stmartinsx Facebook--match begins at -1:28:43 from the RIGHT side of the slider bar)

National B Final

Club Pelote Basco-Bearnais Mourmor--Mourmor: A. Peyre-P. Peyre (blue) 40

Pilotari Club Tarbais Chene Vert--Tarbes: Santolaria-Philippe (red) 29  ASC.Pelote.stmartinsx Facebook--match begins at 0:00)

August 11

Main Nue

National A FINAL

Mauleon (1) (2)

Pilotariak--Saint Andre de Seignanx (red) Cigarroa-Benesse 30

Zaharrer Segi--Saint Etienne de Baigorry(blue): Goicoechea-Erreca 19 

(Pays d'Orthe Main Nue Youtube)

Highlights (TVPI and FR3 via Pays d'Orthe

Main Nue Youtube)

Note: due to the fact that that Grand Semaine matches were televised on a French TV network that did not provide on demand matches, very little full match video is available. However, TV Landes streamed several finals from the 2018 Grand Semaine that are available for viewing. They will give you a "flavor" for what Grand Semaine Competition is. They are: 

Main Nue--Direct Senior; 
Championnat de France--Main Nue Cadets; 
Championnat de France--Grand Chistera Poussins; 
Championnat de France--Grand Chistera Natonal A; 
Championnat de France--Joko Garbi Cadets; and 
Championnat de France--Joko Garbi Seniors

All can be accessed from TV Landes' Pelote Basque Youtube Page

National A Fronton Place Libre Qualifiying matches (FFPB)--Note: See competition context below for all qualifying results. Linked matches are to matches with partial or full match video.

July 28, 2019

Semi-Final Championnat de France National A (Fronton Place Libre)

Competition Context

Select "Resultats" (left side of the page)

Select "Championnat de France 2018/2019"

Select "Categories--"National A"

Select "Specialite"--"Fronton Place Libre/Main Nue"

Bardos (1)(2)

Saint Andre (Cigarroa-Benesse) (black) 30

Saint Pee (Valencia-Bereterbide) (green) 29

(Pays D'Orthe Main Nue Youtube--video begins with the score 23-25)

July 14, 2019

1/8

Iholdy (1) (2)

Zaharrer-Segi (Haristoy-Tambourin) (red) 30

Pays d'Orthe (E. Lafitte-A. Lafitte) (green) 12 

(Pays d'Orthe Main Nue Youtube full match video

July 7

1/16

Iholdy (1) (2)

Pays d'Orth (E. Lafitte-A. Lafitte) (green) 30

Saint-Jean-Pied-de-Port (Mainhaguet-Argain (blue) 19 

(Pay d'Orthe Main Nue Youtube full match video)

Final points

+++++

Main Nue

III. Mercredi a Espelette Fronton Place Libre (1) (2) These matches were played from July 24-August 21.

Every Wednesday a traditional outdoor match was played to 30 points. 

Note: None of the players in any of these matches are on the Esku Pilota roster at this time. Source for all matches was Esku Pilota Resultats.

August 21

Irigoyen-Mendiburu (substituting for Etcheto) 30

Lecuona-Calvet 23

August 14

Amestoy-Dufau 30 Dibar-Anchordoqui 27

Selected linescore (Esku Pilota) (winners always listed 1st)

10-10; 16-16; 19-19; 24-23; 29-23; 29-26; 30-27

Match article (Esku Pilota)

August 7

Hairstoy-Tambourin 30 Bonetbelche-Oxarango 22

Selected linescore (winners always listed 1st)

6-5; 10-9; 20-12; 30-22

Match article (Esku Pilota)

H-T owned the second half of the match, which was played, according to the match article in "oppressive heat (google translate).

July 31

Ibarburu-Benesse 35 Mainhaguiet-Argain 34 

Selected linescore (winners always listed 1st)

20-30 (this was when the match should have ended, but IB asked to continue to 35, and M-A accepted the challenge

29-34; 35-34.

Match article (Esku Pilota)

July 24

Valencia-Bereterbide 30 Azcona-Jaureguy 23

+++++

IV. Masters de Bayonne Lever de Rideau (Curtain Raiser) Tournament

This tournament was the opening match of each two match programme of the prestigious Masters de Bayonne Professional Tourmament. 

FINAL

July 27

Heguy*-Iphar* (green) 30  Biscouby*-Harocarene (blue)* 27 (Pilota Ttiki Youtube condensed full match video)

July 25

Lever de Rideau (Curtain Raiser)

2nd Semi-Final

Heguy*-Iphar (green)* 30 Mugica*-Echeverria Semper* (blue) 22 (Pilota Ttiki Youtube condensed full match video)

July 24

1st Semi-final

Lever de Rideau (Curtain Raiser)

Biscouby*-Harocarene* (green) 30 Barnetche*-Orategaray* (blue) 18 (Pilota Ttiki Youtube condensed full match video)

+++++

V. Tournois D'Amotz

Main Nue--Independent

This was a single elimination knock out tournament with 2 Semi-finals and a final

* Listed on Esku Pelota Professional roster at present

Amotz Trinquet, Saint-Pee-Sur-Nivelle (1) (2)

July 14

FINAL

Maiz-Bereterbide 40 Alcasena-Benesse 38 (Pilota Ttiki Youtube condensed full match video)

Selected linescore (eskupilota.org) (winners always listed first)

7-1; 16-5; 21-21; 23-23; 32-25; 32-31; 35-35; 35-38; 40-38

Partial Scoring:

Maiz 10 service aces; Alcasena 8

Match article (eskupilota.org)

July 11

Semi-finals

Maiz-Bereterbide 40 Aguirre*-Harocarene 14 (Pilota Ttiki Youtube condensed full match video)

Partial scoring: (Esku Pilota)

Maiz 22 service aces; Aguirre 4

Alcasena-Benesse 40 Anchordoqui-Garat 37 (Pilota Ttiki Youtube condensed full match video

Selected linescore (Esku Pilota) (winners always listed first)

11-11; 12-12; 12-17; 19-19; 29-29; 35-35; 35-37; 40-37

Match article for both matches (Esku Pilota)

VI. Championnat des Landes (Fronton Place Libre)

Competition context (Comite des Landes Pelote Basque--Competitions Ete 2018/2019--MN Senior 1 Serie--Place Libre Main Nue par Equipes)

June 22

FINAL

Pouillon (1) (2)

Saint Andre de Seignanx (Cigarroa-Benesse (black) 30

Saint Lon les Mines (A. Lafitte-E. Lafitte) Green 18 

(Pays d'Orthe Main Nue Youtube)

==============

Note: for a full accounting of selected Iparralde amateur competitions, see the Ipparalde Amateur Competition Archive. 

Note: for all competition contexts of FFPP National Events, see the FFPB Competition Page

For links to FFPB regional organizations and Leagues see the FFPP document  listing them.

All FFPB Competition Winners From 2011-2018 (Assemblee Generale Ordinaire Exercice (ANNUAL, 2012-2019)

Main Nue/Remonte/Laxoa/Pala--Two recent obituaries

Main Nue: Patrick Ocafrain, May 12, 2019, age 44. 

Won World Championship in Mexico City in 1998, 3 consecutive pairs FFPB Championnat du Monde (2008-2010), among many other championships. One of the best arrieres (back court players) of his time. Played as an amateur and coached after retiring at the end of 2013.

Esku Pilota Announcement

FFPB Announcement

Obituary: Sud-Ouest

Obituary: Naiz

Basque Pelota/Remonte/Laxoa/: Mikel Eizagirre, Circa 2019. Age 83.

Patron of Remonte and its ancestor sport, Laxoa, was co-Executive Director of Gipuzkoa Pelota Federation, was Director and one of the Founders of Pilotarien Batzarra, in his day an excellent amateur Remonista.

Oriamendi2010 Announcement

Obituary: Diario Vasco

Pala/Obituary--Francois Susbielles

Francois Susbielles (also known as "Sussu") 1947-2019. Susbielles was one of the great Grosse Pala and Pala Corta players in the early to mid-1970's, winning the GP Championnat de France Title in 1972 (he won that title four more times) and the PC World Championship in Montevideo, Uruguay in 1974. He was an active player from about 1972-1982. After retiring from the game he became a coach and technical adviser for the FFPB (Federation Francaise de Pelote Basque).

FFPB Announcement
Sud Ouest Obituary
La Republic des Pyrenees Obituary, by Raymond Cazadebat
GrossePalaPB Facebook Tribute, accompanied by 14 photos. Note in comments, remarks by students Sylvain Brefel  and Willy Mangaman-Mouny 

Sud Ouest feature article (June 7, 2011)

BASQUE PELOTA BREAKING NEWS--FEBRUARY 24, 2019

BIXINTO BILBAO HAS BEEN SANCTIONED BY THE FIPV (FEDERACION INTERNATONAL DE PELOTA VASCA) FOR WAVING A BASQUE FLAG AT THE FRANCE MAIN NUE GOLD MEDAL CEREMONY IN THE RECENTLY CONCLUDED (OCTOBER 2018) BASQUE PELOTA WORLD CHAMPIONSHIPS IN BARCELONA. THE FIPV HAS BANNED HIM FROM INTERNATIONAL COMPETITION FOR 1 YEAR (WHICH WILL EXCLUDE HIM FROM PLAYING IN THE 2019 WORLD CUP QUALIFYING FOR 2022 WORLD CHAMPIONSHIPS). THE FIPV SAYS IT IS A "SERIOUS OFFENSE." BILBAO SAYS (GOOGLE TRANSLATE:)

I FEEL IT SAD THAT THEY GIVE ME A PENALTY LIKE THAT. I DID NOT KNOW THIS REGULATION. FOR ME THE IKURRINA (BASQUE FLAG) IS NOT A FORBIDDEN FLAG, IT REPRESENTS OUR LANGUAGE AND OUR CULTURE AND THERE IS NO HARM IN SHOWING THE BASQUE FLAG.

BILBAO, ALONG WITH THE FFPB (FEDERATION FRANCAIS DE PELOTE BASQUE) WILL APPEAL THE SUSPENSION.

"THE INCIDENT" (EITB VIDEO)

RELATED ARTICLE (PILOTA TTIKI)

Pala--Deia feature article on Ibai Perez

Deia has recently published a feature article on La Liga and Mundial Individual champion Ibai Perez. The article provides insights into the amount of work and training behind his rise up the InnPala ladder. It also provides background information on how he became a professional Pala player.

Ibai Pérez, el constructor de txapelas y sueños, by Igor. G. Vico (February 17, 2017)

Pala/Paleta--Final Summary of selected major summer tournaments South and North

Below you will find a summary of the winners of the major 2016 Pala and Paleta summer tournaments in the North and South Basque Country. (Sources: InnPala Website, InnPala Twitter feed, InnPala Fronton Facebook page, Euskadiko Euskal Pilota Federakuntza (EEPF), GMGZ Events Facebook Page, Federation Francaise de Pelote Basque(FFPB), and pelotelive.free.fr.) Links to full match videos of final matches (when available) are provided for your convenience. ** next to the match means part or all of the competition was covered in this blog. Search by title of competition or title of the final, or click on the label "Pala" on the right side of the blog page to find relevant blog posts, which may contain other full match videos and articles.

Grosse Pala/Pala Larga

Innpala:

**Plentzia--Gaubeka-Brefel Note: Plentzia was played on a long (54 meter) court. I am assuming that this was a Pala Larga tournament, though I have no proof of that (see the below listed GMGZ tournament which, though played on the long court at Mungia, was a Pala Motza tournament). Corrections on either one or both of these assumptions will be gratefully accepted.

**FFPB "Grand Semaine" National "A": Batz-Brocas  (Soustons) (Source: PilotariP Youtube site via Pelotelive.free.fr). Note: make sure to click on "desactiver" under the match to turn off PFF's auto-refresh. The video will stop if you don't.

Pala Corta/Pala Motza

InnPala: * means amateur player.

**San Fermin (Iruna)--Sanz*-Ibargari

**Donastia Kirol Txartela Masters--Navarro*-Brefel (final begins at 52:02 on the video (Source: EITB)

**Asta Nagusia--Necol-Imanol (Bilbo) (Source: EITB)

**Sopelana--Gaubeka--Ibai-Perez

EEPF:

**Basque Country City Championships (Herriarteko Txapelketa): Gastiez (Ordizia) (final begins at 42:42 on the video) (Source: EITB)

GMGZ Events

GMGZ "La Bolsa" Saria Kiniela: Beriain-Labiano (Mungia) (final begins at 1:18:22 on the video) (Source: EITB)

Paleta Cuir 

EEPF:

**Basque Country City Championships (Herriarteko Txapelketa): Gastiez (Ordizia) (Source: EITB)

**FFPB "Grand Semaine" National "A": Dardenne-Basterot

Paleta Pelote Gomme Pleine

**FFPB "Grand Semaine" National "A": Mensan-Bareyre

Paleta Pelote Gomme Creuse

**FFPB "Grand Semaine" National "A" Women: Etchelecu--Chapelet-Housset