Two hundred and four hours of partying kicked off in Pamplona today as its citizens welcomed the 2012 San Fermin. In addition to the word famous bull-related antics and non-stop revelry, the festival incorporates an elite pelota tournament held at Labrit which sits on the edge of the old town opposite the bullring. The San Fermin Cuatro y Medio tournament began, rather incongruously, last weekend with two semi-finals. In a turnaround of form, Bengoetxea VI beat Olaizola II 22-18 while Martinez de Irujo wiped the floor with Barriola 22-5. The victors will meet in the final at 11.30 tomorrow morning and this will be shown on ETB via the web. Thereafter, the doubles tournament takes over and we have a feast of live pelota to look forward to over the next week. The full schedule can be viewed on the Asegarce website, and coverage is detailed below.
Saturday 7th July, Pamplona
11:30 (CEST) OLAIZOLA I – IBAI ZABALA v GONZALEZ – PENAGARIKANO
Followed by BENGOETXEA VI v MARTINEZ DE IRUJO San Fermin Cuatro y Medio Final
Sunday 8th July, Pamplona
17:00 (CEST) LEMUNO – IZA v GORKA – ARRUTI
Followed by BERASALUZE VIII – ALBISU v XALA – ZUBIETA San Fermin Pairs Championship
Wednesday 11th July, Pamplona
22:15 (CEST) LEMUNO – ARETXABALETA v MENDIZABAL III – LADIS GALARZA
Followed by BENGOETXEA VI – BEGINO v either OLAIZOLA II – APRAIZ or TITIN III – BARRIOLA San Fermin Pairs Championship
Thursday 12th July, Pamplona
22:15 (CEST) ONGAY – PENAGARIKANO v TAINTA – MENDIZABAL II
Followed by MARTINEZ DE IRUJO – MERINO II v either BERASALUZE VIII – ALBISU or XALA – ZUBIETA San Fermin Pairs Championship
Saturday 14th July, Pamplona
22:15 (CEST) OLAZABAL – LADIS GALARZA v RICO IV – UNTORIA
Followed by SAN FERMIN PAIRS CHAMPIONSHIP FINAL
To watch, go to http://www.eitb.tv, https://www.eitb.eus/es/television/etb-sat/orhttps://www.eitb.eus/es/deportes/deporte-en-directo/
Image by Jaronson used under Creative Commons