Del Tourneo San Fausto was played at Durango (1)(2) on October 7 and 13, 2016. Sources for scores and photos: Jai Alai News and Jai Alive Facebook pages.
October 7, 2016:
Semi-finals:
Goikoetxea-Inza defeated Olha-Minvielle 35-17
Olharan-Enbil defeated Egiguren-Erkiaga, 35-25
27 Photos: (Source Jai Alive Facebook page)
October 13, 2016:
Final
Goikoetxea-Inza defeated Olharan-Enbil 35-27
Match article and photos (source: Jai Alive Facebook page)
Third place match
Egiguren-Erkiaga defeated Olha-Minvielle, 25-24.
In addition, both Facebook pages linked to recent interviews with Gotzon Enbil (Diario Vasco-Castellano) and Eric Irastorza (shiny-people.com--Francais) respectively.
Friday, October 14, 2016
Main Nue--hand protection demonstrated by Pampi Laduche
If you have ever wondered how Main Nue players protect their hands against the ravages of the game, then this 38 minute 46 second video (source: Esku Pilota Youtube site), with the legendary Pampi Laduche preparing the protection is mandatory viewing.
Main Nue--Trophee de Lohitzun
Trophee de Lohitzun (1)(2) was played on October 6 and 9, 2016
Source for scores: Esku Pilota resultats. Scroll to date and name of tournament.
*=not listed in the Esku Pilota player pages at present.
October 6, 2016:
Semi-finals
Olcomendy*-Amulet defeated Etcheverry*-Guichandut 40-39
Larralde Freres (Peio and Bixente*) defeated Ospital-Lucu* 40-23
October 9, 2016:
Final
Larralde Freres (Peio and Bixente*) defeated Olcomendy-Amulet 40-19
Match article, along with link to audio interview with the Larraldes and full match video:
Full match video (Source: Esku Pilota Youtube site):
Source for scores: Esku Pilota resultats. Scroll to date and name of tournament.
*=not listed in the Esku Pilota player pages at present.
October 6, 2016:
Semi-finals
Olcomendy*-Amulet defeated Etcheverry*-Guichandut 40-39
Larralde Freres (Peio and Bixente*) defeated Ospital-Lucu* 40-23
October 9, 2016:
Final
Larralde Freres (Peio and Bixente*) defeated Olcomendy-Amulet 40-19
Match article, along with link to audio interview with the Larraldes and full match video:
Full match video (Source: Esku Pilota Youtube site):
Mano--Lau eta erdiko Txapelketa 2016/Campeonato del 4 1/2 de 1a categoría 2016 LEP. M
The 2016-17 professional Mano season began on October 7, 2016 with the first round of the Lau eta erdiko Txapelketa 2016/Campeonato del 4 1/2 de 1a categoría 2016 LEP. M competition.
Asegarce Competition Page
The competition has 12 players, in two groups. The opening round of four preliminary matches took place October 7-10, 2016. The four winners (two in each group) move on to a quarter final league, where they join four other seeded players (Urrutikoetxea and Altuna III in Gourp A, Oliazola II and Bengoetxea VI in Group B) in a single round robin quarter-final league. The 1st place finishers in each group will then face the 2nd place finishers in the other group in the semi-finals. Semi-final winners will play in the final on November 27, 2016.
Note: Source for all match articles, unless otherwise specifically stated is 21iquales.com.
Source for all match video, unless otherwise specifically stated, is EITB.
Match highlights for all four matches
Group A
October 7, 2010:
At Municipal Fronton, Bergara Irribarria defeated Jaunarena 22-20
Match article:
In a very Urrutikoetxean performance, Irribarria came back from deficits of 4-10, 5-14, 8-16, and 12-19, to win. A 10-1 run at the end of the match got him over the line.
Full match video (Source: fronton.tv) Scroll to Bergara - 07/10/2016
October 8, 2016
At Beotibar Fronton, Tolosa Victor defeated Untoria 22-17
Match article:
Victor overcame 9 errors with 13 winners (including 2 service aces) to outlast Untoria,
Full match video:
Group B
October 8, 2016:
At Vall d'Hebron Fronton, Barcelona Retegi BI defeated Gorka 22-15
Match article:
7 Gorka errors were the difference in this match.
October 9, 2016:
At Lekunberri Fronton (1) (2) Ezkurdia defeated Arretxe II 22-16
Match article:
Arretxe II suffered a neck injury early in this match (1-2) but came back after treatment. Ezkurdia had 19 winners.
Full match video
Asegarce Competition Page
The competition has 12 players, in two groups. The opening round of four preliminary matches took place October 7-10, 2016. The four winners (two in each group) move on to a quarter final league, where they join four other seeded players (Urrutikoetxea and Altuna III in Gourp A, Oliazola II and Bengoetxea VI in Group B) in a single round robin quarter-final league. The 1st place finishers in each group will then face the 2nd place finishers in the other group in the semi-finals. Semi-final winners will play in the final on November 27, 2016.
Note: Source for all match articles, unless otherwise specifically stated is 21iquales.com.
Source for all match video, unless otherwise specifically stated, is EITB.
Match highlights for all four matches
Group A
October 7, 2010:
At Municipal Fronton, Bergara Irribarria defeated Jaunarena 22-20
Match article:
In a very Urrutikoetxean performance, Irribarria came back from deficits of 4-10, 5-14, 8-16, and 12-19, to win. A 10-1 run at the end of the match got him over the line.
Full match video (Source: fronton.tv) Scroll to Bergara - 07/10/2016
At Beotibar Fronton, Tolosa Victor defeated Untoria 22-17
Match article:
Victor overcame 9 errors with 13 winners (including 2 service aces) to outlast Untoria,
Full match video:
Group B
October 8, 2016:
At Vall d'Hebron Fronton, Barcelona Retegi BI defeated Gorka 22-15
Match article:
7 Gorka errors were the difference in this match.
October 9, 2016:
At Lekunberri Fronton (1) (2) Ezkurdia defeated Arretxe II 22-16
Match article:
Arretxe II suffered a neck injury early in this match (1-2) but came back after treatment. Ezkurdia had 19 winners.
Full match video
Monday, October 10, 2016
Multiple Modalities--The 2016-17 season begins.
At the end of September/beginning of October the sometimes official, sometimes unofficial 2016-17 season began. In the South Basque professional Mano began its Pilota eskuz: Profesionalak 2016: Lau eta erdiko Txapelketa 2016/Campeonato del 4 1/2 de 1a categoría 2016 LEP. M, which opened competition on October 7-10, 2016. This is followed by the major doubles and singles tournaments, which run consecutively, from December to next May.
Professional Pala has a lull in its schedule at the moment, with independent matches scheduled for Toulouse on October 14 and Armintza on October 15, as it finishes its Summer Pala Tour 2016. Last year the major competition during Autumn was the liga BBK 2015 from late October - end of the year, a short court doubles tournament that involved the entire Innpala roster in a double round robin followed by a semi-final and final, all at Bizkaia. There has been no announcement of this year's tournament as yet.That should be followed a major short court singles tournament, which is in turn followed by a major long court doubles tournament and then next year's short court Bizkaia open.
In Remonte, along with the usual Thursday-Saturday Galarreta schedule there is a major doubles and singles tournament, followed by next year's Sagardoaren (Cider) doubles tournament. Euskal Jai features an end of the year winter tournament. The Jai Alai scene is relatively quiet during the fall-winter season.
On the amateur front the place to follow the comings and goings of South Basque pelota is the EEPF for various competitions in several modalities. It can be a bit complicated (especially for the newcomer) to understand the sequence of competitions. The best way to follow the site is by reading the noticias, which will give chronological context to the various competitions. Once you understand the noticias stories, you can use the competition pages to follow the competitions. Another way to follow the amateur scene in the South Basque is through EITB On Demand. Go to "Catagorias", "deportes", "Pilota afizionatuak". EITB covers major amateur finals that are sponsored by EEPF and also by GMGZ Events and other regional organizations. Use it as your guide to major competitions until you become comfortable with how EEPF works. The major South Basque amateur competition is the Gravni competition which covers many modalities and takes place in early Spring. For regional competitions, use the EEPF links page. An exciting new development is Xistera Kluba's sponsorship of amateur Jai Alai, with tournaments being provided live and on demand at both X K's youtube site and EITB (search under "deportes" "Zesta Punta.")
The North Basque has a vibrant Basque Pelota scene in the fall and winter months. Esku Pilota follows the Elite Pro Main Nue scene exhaustively. Follow that site and you won't miss any Pro tournament. They provide much on demand video coverage through their Youtube site.
For the amateur North Basque pelota scene the best place to follow everything is pelotelive.free.fr. Search for competitions by going here and searching on "saisons"2016-2017" to follow competitions in 15 modalities. Since September 8 Paleta gomme pleine competitions and 1 Xare competition have started. Click on "voir" next to any competition and you will be taken to a main competition page that lists the organizer. Cut and paste the organizer into a google search and you will find regional associations that have information about regional tournaments. The main national North Basque pelota organization is the FFPB. You can follow their tournaments from their site or from pelotelive.free.fr. In late winter-early spring their Championnat de France competitions begin.
As far as the Cesta Punta goes, there are CdF matches, as well selected matches at Biarritz Athletic Club and Donibane Lohizune (Saint-Jean-de-Luz). Internationaux Cesta Punta and its Youtube site have information and videos. ICP sponsors an autumn and Christmas tournament. B.A.C. sponsors several fall and winter tournaments. Another good way to follow the cesta-punta scene all over is through the Jai Alai news Facebook page. The Jai Alive Facebook page also has excellent coverage.
All in all, there is a lot of great Basque Pelota in the North and South Basque Country to follow in the 2016-17 season. I will try to cover as much as possible, concentrating, as always, on sports for which there are match videos.
Professional Pala has a lull in its schedule at the moment, with independent matches scheduled for Toulouse on October 14 and Armintza on October 15, as it finishes its Summer Pala Tour 2016. Last year the major competition during Autumn was the liga BBK 2015 from late October - end of the year, a short court doubles tournament that involved the entire Innpala roster in a double round robin followed by a semi-final and final, all at Bizkaia. There has been no announcement of this year's tournament as yet.That should be followed a major short court singles tournament, which is in turn followed by a major long court doubles tournament and then next year's short court Bizkaia open.
In Remonte, along with the usual Thursday-Saturday Galarreta schedule there is a major doubles and singles tournament, followed by next year's Sagardoaren (Cider) doubles tournament. Euskal Jai features an end of the year winter tournament. The Jai Alai scene is relatively quiet during the fall-winter season.
On the amateur front the place to follow the comings and goings of South Basque pelota is the EEPF for various competitions in several modalities. It can be a bit complicated (especially for the newcomer) to understand the sequence of competitions. The best way to follow the site is by reading the noticias, which will give chronological context to the various competitions. Once you understand the noticias stories, you can use the competition pages to follow the competitions. Another way to follow the amateur scene in the South Basque is through EITB On Demand. Go to "Catagorias", "deportes", "Pilota afizionatuak". EITB covers major amateur finals that are sponsored by EEPF and also by GMGZ Events and other regional organizations. Use it as your guide to major competitions until you become comfortable with how EEPF works. The major South Basque amateur competition is the Gravni competition which covers many modalities and takes place in early Spring. For regional competitions, use the EEPF links page. An exciting new development is Xistera Kluba's sponsorship of amateur Jai Alai, with tournaments being provided live and on demand at both X K's youtube site and EITB (search under "deportes" "Zesta Punta.")
The North Basque has a vibrant Basque Pelota scene in the fall and winter months. Esku Pilota follows the Elite Pro Main Nue scene exhaustively. Follow that site and you won't miss any Pro tournament. They provide much on demand video coverage through their Youtube site.
For the amateur North Basque pelota scene the best place to follow everything is pelotelive.free.fr. Search for competitions by going here and searching on "saisons"2016-2017" to follow competitions in 15 modalities. Since September 8 Paleta gomme pleine competitions and 1 Xare competition have started. Click on "voir" next to any competition and you will be taken to a main competition page that lists the organizer. Cut and paste the organizer into a google search and you will find regional associations that have information about regional tournaments. The main national North Basque pelota organization is the FFPB. You can follow their tournaments from their site or from pelotelive.free.fr. In late winter-early spring their Championnat de France competitions begin.
As far as the Cesta Punta goes, there are CdF matches, as well selected matches at Biarritz Athletic Club and Donibane Lohizune (Saint-Jean-de-Luz). Internationaux Cesta Punta and its Youtube site have information and videos. ICP sponsors an autumn and Christmas tournament. B.A.C. sponsors several fall and winter tournaments. Another good way to follow the cesta-punta scene all over is through the Jai Alai news Facebook page. The Jai Alive Facebook page also has excellent coverage.
All in all, there is a lot of great Basque Pelota in the North and South Basque Country to follow in the 2016-17 season. I will try to cover as much as possible, concentrating, as always, on sports for which there are match videos.
Friday, October 7, 2016
Bote Luzea--Primer Titulo de Euskal Herria
If you look at the English language entry for "Valencian Pelota" (of which we will deal with in much more detail in the near future) in Wikipedia, you will see that it calls Bote Luzea an "extinct [Basque] modality" in its comparison to the important Valencian Pelota sport of Llargues, which is decidedly not "extinct."
Recently, in an emphatic effort to disprove that statement, Euskadiko Pilota Federakundea | Federación Vasca de Pelota (EEPF) sponsored and organized the 1st Titulo de Euskal Herria Bote Luzea (Basque Country Bote Luzea Title) competition. It ran from August 26-September 25, 2016.
Bote Luzea is the most ancient of ancestor Basque Pelota sports. It is a "direct" court game, that is to say, two teams face each other, rather than hitting a ball off a wall. There is no net and there are no implements. It is handball on a 60 by 15 meter outdoor court, no walls, with teams of five each (substitution allowed). The ball is bounced off a stone at one end and then hit by the server. The idea is to hit the ball to a place where it cannot be returned. More on the modality can be found here (scroll to Bote Luzea). It began on open fields and then was moved to open plazas in towns and villages. This tournament was an attempt to revive the game as a cultural artifact and also as a legitimate Basque Pelota competition. In this tournament matches were played to 11 games or 70 minutes, whichever came first. Each game is won by the team scoring 4 points. In this tournament the 6 teams were split into "A" and "B" groups, with a round robin in each group. At the end of the round robin, the first place team played each second place team in the other group in semfinals. Those winners met in a final.
Source for all match articles: EEPF. Source for all video: Bote Luzea Facebook page.
Announcement of tournament
Further news:
Rules of the tournament:
September 25, 2016
Final
Plaza de Leitza (1) (2): Lapurdi 1 (Bessonart, Valencia, Urkia, Fagoaga, Etcheberry, Otegi and Tikoipe) defeated Gipuzkoa 2 (Jon Urbieta, Jauregi, Esnal, Ibai Urbieta and Andoni Urbieta) 6-3 (70 minutes). Note: Gipuzkoa 2's Inaki Esnal and Jon Urbieta played and won the Oriatsun V Txapelketa Pasaka final (covered in this blog) in August.
Match article
Selected match video 1
Selected match video 2
Photos Part 1
Photos Part 2
Advertisement of Final
MY ARTICLE: How they got there: the entire the tournament (scores, match articles, match videos and photos) from beginning to end
Recently, in an emphatic effort to disprove that statement, Euskadiko Pilota Federakundea | Federación Vasca de Pelota (EEPF) sponsored and organized the 1st Titulo de Euskal Herria Bote Luzea (Basque Country Bote Luzea Title) competition. It ran from August 26-September 25, 2016.
Bote Luzea is the most ancient of ancestor Basque Pelota sports. It is a "direct" court game, that is to say, two teams face each other, rather than hitting a ball off a wall. There is no net and there are no implements. It is handball on a 60 by 15 meter outdoor court, no walls, with teams of five each (substitution allowed). The ball is bounced off a stone at one end and then hit by the server. The idea is to hit the ball to a place where it cannot be returned. More on the modality can be found here (scroll to Bote Luzea). It began on open fields and then was moved to open plazas in towns and villages. This tournament was an attempt to revive the game as a cultural artifact and also as a legitimate Basque Pelota competition. In this tournament matches were played to 11 games or 70 minutes, whichever came first. Each game is won by the team scoring 4 points. In this tournament the 6 teams were split into "A" and "B" groups, with a round robin in each group. At the end of the round robin, the first place team played each second place team in the other group in semfinals. Those winners met in a final.
Source for all match articles: EEPF. Source for all video: Bote Luzea Facebook page.
Announcement of tournament
Further news:
Rules of the tournament:
September 25, 2016
Final
Plaza de Leitza (1) (2): Lapurdi 1 (Bessonart, Valencia, Urkia, Fagoaga, Etcheberry, Otegi and Tikoipe) defeated Gipuzkoa 2 (Jon Urbieta, Jauregi, Esnal, Ibai Urbieta and Andoni Urbieta) 6-3 (70 minutes). Note: Gipuzkoa 2's Inaki Esnal and Jon Urbieta played and won the Oriatsun V Txapelketa Pasaka final (covered in this blog) in August.
Selected match video 1
Selected match video 2
Photos Part 1
Photos Part 2
Advertisement of Final
MY ARTICLE: How they got there: the entire the tournament (scores, match articles, match videos and photos) from beginning to end
Wednesday, October 5, 2016
Main Nue--Player Rankings--October 2, 2016
Main Nue complete player rankings are available on the player rankings page (Under "Main Nue") on the right side of the main blog page. You can also find how these rankings are calculated there.
Complete Player Rankings as of October 2, 2016. Current through Tournoi de Saint Palais. . (Source: Esku Pilota)
Top 5:
Ducassou
Larralde
Ospital
Guichandut
Bilbao
Baptiste Ducassou reclaimed the top ranking even though he lost his semi-final at Saint Palais. The fact that he played at all moved him ahead of Larralde. Ospital cemented his third place ranking by virtue of his victory at Saint Palais. Guichandut and de Ezcurra switched places, Guichandut coming up from #6 to #4, de Ezcurra dropping to #6. Bilbao maintained his spot rounding out the top five.
Complete Player Rankings as of September 25, 2016.
Top 5:
Larralde=Ducassou
Ospital
de Ezcurra
Bilbao
Complete Player Rankings as of October 2, 2016. Current through Tournoi de Saint Palais. . (Source: Esku Pilota)
Top 5:
Ducassou
Larralde
Ospital
Guichandut
Bilbao
Baptiste Ducassou reclaimed the top ranking even though he lost his semi-final at Saint Palais. The fact that he played at all moved him ahead of Larralde. Ospital cemented his third place ranking by virtue of his victory at Saint Palais. Guichandut and de Ezcurra switched places, Guichandut coming up from #6 to #4, de Ezcurra dropping to #6. Bilbao maintained his spot rounding out the top five.
Complete Player Rankings as of September 25, 2016.
Top 5:
Larralde=Ducassou
Ospital
de Ezcurra
Bilbao
Tuesday, October 4, 2016
Main Nue--Tournois de Saint Palais
Tournois de Saint Palais(1) (2), an EP 1000 tournament, was played on September 30 and October 2, 2016.
Source for scores: Esku Pilota Results pages. Scroll to date or tournament name.
September 20, 2016:
1st semi-final
Ospital-Guichandut defeated Lambert-Ducassou 40-38
2nd semi-final
Etchegaray-Bilbao defeated Bielle-Amulet 40-38
October 2, 2016:
Final
Ospital-Guichandut defeated Etchegaray-Bilbao 40-30
Match article (Source: Esku Pilota)
Selected linescore (winners always listed first)
3-3: 4-4: 6-6; 11-15; 16-16; 17-17; 20-17; 23-20; 23-23; 31-23; 35-26; 40-30
Source for scores: Esku Pilota Results pages. Scroll to date or tournament name.
September 20, 2016:
1st semi-final
Ospital-Guichandut defeated Lambert-Ducassou 40-38
2nd semi-final
Etchegaray-Bilbao defeated Bielle-Amulet 40-38
October 2, 2016:
Final
Ospital-Guichandut defeated Etchegaray-Bilbao 40-30
Match article (Source: Esku Pilota)
Selected linescore (winners always listed first)
3-3: 4-4: 6-6; 11-15; 16-16; 17-17; 20-17; 23-20; 23-23; 31-23; 35-26; 40-30
Mano--Torneo San Saturio-Ciudad de Soria
Torneo San Saturio-Ciudad de Soria was played at Polideportivo la Juventud (1) (2) on September 30 and October 2, 2016
September 30:
Only semi-final
Bengoetxea VI-Albisu defeated Irribarria-Merino II 22-15
Match statistics, linescore, and graph (ASPE)
October 2, 2016:
Final
Altuna III-Untoria defeated Bengoetxea VI-Albisu 22-16
Full match video (EITB) (match begins at 1 hour, 5 minutes, 5 seconds on the video)
Match article (21iguales.com)
Match statistics (ASPE)
Partial linescore (winners always listed 1st).
14-7; 14-11; 16-16; 22-16
The final summer tournament of 2016 was yet another win for Altuna III, his 5th in 7 championship finals. He won with 4 different partners.
September 30:
Only semi-final
Bengoetxea VI-Albisu defeated Irribarria-Merino II 22-15
Match statistics, linescore, and graph (ASPE)
October 2, 2016:
Final
Altuna III-Untoria defeated Bengoetxea VI-Albisu 22-16
Full match video (EITB) (match begins at 1 hour, 5 minutes, 5 seconds on the video)
Match article (21iguales.com)
Match statistics (ASPE)
Partial linescore (winners always listed 1st).
14-7; 14-11; 16-16; 22-16
The final summer tournament of 2016 was yet another win for Altuna III, his 5th in 7 championship finals. He won with 4 different partners.
Mano--Pablo Berasaluze retires
After 18 years and over 1,000 professional mano matches, Pablo Berasaluze retired on October 1, 2016. He went out in style, +17 in a 22-18 win with Urrutikoetxea v Oliazola II-Larunbe in front of a capacity crowd of 3,000 at Bizkaia Fronton, Bilbo (Bilbao).
"Adiós a un pelotari inolvidable," by Enrique Echavarren (Diario Vasco)
"Berasaluze II:"No tengo palabras para agraceder a toda la gente que me ha apoyado" (Asegarce)
Revista article
Asegarce Player Page
Retirement ceremony (EITB)
Career highlights (EITB)
Berasaluze II's final match
Full match video (match begins at 44 minutes, 42 seconds on the video)
"Adiós a un pelotari inolvidable," by Enrique Echavarren (Diario Vasco)
"Berasaluze II:"No tengo palabras para agraceder a toda la gente que me ha apoyado" (Asegarce)
Revista article
Asegarce Player Page
Retirement ceremony (EITB)
Career highlights (EITB)
Berasaluze II's final match
Full match video (match begins at 44 minutes, 42 seconds on the video)
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