Although the slogan ‘Aurten ez-This year does not touch’ has penetrated the population of Alava, the Alavesa Federation of Pelota, with the support of the Vital Foundation and the City Council of Vitoria, has decided to continue with the scheduled tournaments, although with some mandatory variations due to the pandemic and its security protocols. The ninth edition of the Women’s Shovel Green Capital and the 25th Virgen Blanca Hand Tournament They mark the agenda of the provincial ball. Of course, with a change of location, going from the traditional pediment of Los Fueros to that of the Zaramaga neighborhood, with a reduced capacity of 60 people.
With a participation almost similar to that of previous years, the main handicap for holding both events has been the organization of the security protocols established by the Basque Government. «Limiting capacity and seats has almost been the easiest. But the issue of access shoes, use of gels, material cleaning, has a strict protocol and must be followed so as not to have any problem, “says the technical director of the Alava ball association, Mikel Rafael.
Twelve couples will take part in the shovel tournament, which this year includes as a novelty that it will be a rubber shovel instead of a tennis ball, usual in Los Fueros for security reasons. From this afternoon (5:00 p.m.) the games will begin, which will take place during the first week of August (days 2, 3, 5 and 6) in the morning (9:15 a.m.) until the grand final that will be on Saturday, 8 August from 10:30 a.m. It will be held in two categories, promises and elite, with two groups of four players each. Among the participants, Nagore Martín, winner in several editions, Ane Ibañez, Irati Álava, Irati Ruiz de Azua or Ane Isasmendi stand out as outstanding.
26 couples registered
The XXV Virgen Blanca Tournament held by amateur couples will be held in the cadet, youth and senior categories, in addition to the female hand. A total of 26 couples (5 cadets, 4 women, 6 juniors and 11 seniors) have competed since yesterday in search of the finals to be held on Sunday, August 9, from 10:30 am. The matches during the month of July will be at 5:00 p.m. while in August they will change at 10:30 am. Among the senior couples, Iribarren-Gebara, Larrazabal-Arregi, Mikel-Eulate, Landaluze-Iriarte and Justo-Legarreta stand out.
On the other hand, the finals of the Inter-village Tournament will be played on Sunday at the Lamuza pediment (5:30 p.m.) and they will face Laudio and Amurrio. As a tool, the stage will be the Areta pediment from 5:00 p.m. Amurrio-Gasteiz and men’s Legutio-Gasteiz will be measured in a female shovel.
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