Torneo Virgen Blanca: Memorial Ogueta de Pelota a Mano-Trofeo El Correo 2010

Vitoria-Gasteiz’s most important festival commenced yesterday, as the ‘bajada del Celedón’, a life-size doll dressed in the traditional costume of Alava, descended from the bell tower of the Church of San Miguel to the balcony of a house in the Plaza de la Virgen Blanca. This traditional opening heralds five days of festivities, including processions, music, dance and shows, and some of the Basque Country’s top pelotaris will be in town to play their part.

The Virgen Blanca pairs tournament kicks off tonight when Manomanista Champion Juan Martinez de Irujo teams up with Ruben Beloki to play Pablo Berasaluze and Alexis Apraiz for a place in the semi finals. The other three semi final pairs are already in place, and the winners of tonight’s game know they will face the attractive partnership of Xala and Barriola to fight for a place in the final, which will be held on Monday. There are some attractive matches among the curtain raisers too, notably tonight’s mano a mano encounter between two young players in their first professional seasons.

The fixtures, all of which can be seen on ETB-Sat, are listed below. I will bring you the schedules for Monday when they are available.

Thursday 5^th August, Vitoria-Gasteiz

22:35 (CEST) LEMUNO v ALBISU

23:35 (CEST) MARTINEZ DE IRUJO – BELOKI v BERASALUZE VIII – APRAIZ

Friday 6^th August, Vitoria-Gasteiz

22:35 (CEST) MERINO II v LADIS GALARZA

23:35 (CEST) TITIN III – ZUBIETA v BENGOETXEA VI – BEGINO Semi Final

Saturday 7^th August, Vitoria-Gasteiz

22:20 (CEST) MENDIZABAL – OTEIZA v CABRERIZO II – MERINO I

23:25 (CEST) XALA – BARRIOLA v Winners of the game on 5^th August Semi Final

To watch, go to https://www.eitb.eus/television/etb-sat/en-directo/

Mikel Ezkerro