Toulouse. Advantage Spain over the Toulouse cancha
The Spanish pelotaris dominated the European championships in the left wall specialties which were disputed in Toulouse, at Les Argoulets.
The elite of Basque pelota had an appointment this weekend in Toulouse to cross swords for the occasion of the European Championships wall on the left (36 m). A three-day event around three specialties: the individual male cesta punta, the female team cesta punta, the leather paleta and the pala corta. Once past the qualifications, the competition where four nations were represented (France, Spain, Italy and Belgium) quickly turned into a Franco-Spanish duel.
And in this game it was the Spanish delegation that managed to pull out of the game with three victories out of the four finals in front of the supporters who came in large numbers to the stands of the Argoulets pediment. The French supporters also gave voice, but that was not enough, especially in the final of pala corta, queen discipline and the most awaited meeting of the day. A confrontation which opposed a Spanish pair, therefore, and the French pair composed in particular of Toulouse Sylvain Brefel and Landais Dan Necol, reigning world champion. The French struggled to get into their encounter, losing 15-6 in the first set. But pushed by their home crowd, they were able to come back to a round everywhere by winning the second 15 to 9. It was in an unbreathable atmosphere that the decisive third round took place. Round which is played in ten points against the usual fifteen.
As at the start of the game, the French had difficulty getting started, the Spaniards inflicting a 5-1 entry. But they once again knew how to react to take back the reins of the game for a few moments, at 8 to 7. Unfortunately that was not enough, and after a tie 9 everywhere which caused a cathedral silence to reign on the cancha, it was the Spaniards who imposed themselves in this part to close this beautiful celebration of Basque pelota. Appointment is now made for the World Championships in Biarritz and Bayonne next fall.
> Palmares
– Pala corta: Baeza-Ibanez (ESP) beats Brefel-Nicol (FRA) 15-6, 9-15, 10-9.
– Women’s cesta punta: Mugartegui-Lejardi (ESP) beat Arakistain-Aldazabal (ESP) 15-14, 15-12.
– Leather puck: Sanz-Labiano (ESP) beating Hourmat-De Elizondo (FRA) 15-8, 15-14.
– Cesta punta masculine: Urrutia (FRA) beats Aguirre (ESP) 15-10, 15-12.