Legazpi: Legazpiarra sport dresses up

Yesterday, the Sports Awards once again highlighted the merits and delivery of three legazpiarras in this area: José Manuel Paternain as a teacher and promoter of judo in the town, Ana María Sastre as a volunteer for the Andraitz basketball club and Markel Vesga for his great achievements in the world of chess. All of them received the award given by the City Council together with the local clubs during a gala held at seven in the afternoon, in the house of culture. The event was led by the Councilor for Sports, Iñigo Imaz, who, in addition to valuing the work of each of the honorees, announced that they would be his last awards in office and wished their continuity in the coming years. . “In Legazpi there are many people who deserve this recognition,” he said.

This is confirmed by the CVs of the three winners this year. To speak of José Manuel Paternain is to speak of judo from all its aspects. Born in 1956, he began his career in judo at the age of 18 under the guidance of Manuel Agirre, his teacher, at the Haztegi Ikastola facilities. In 1986, the Legazpi Judo Club was created. Later, his first steps in Jiu Jitsu and self-defense followed. He has competed in countless championships and has toured Spain from north to south and part of France many times, both alone and accompanied by his students. «In the more than 40 years in which he has dedicated himself body and soul to judo and his club, thousands of people from the town have passed through his tatami. He has lived by and for judo and jiu jitsu. A clear example is his achievements both on a personal level and on a competitive level with his students, to whom he has tried to instill the values ​​that make up these arts. Now, he is retiring from it, leaving behind a very important legacy. He has to play the second part of the game of his life enjoying his family and his hobbies », they point out from the Legazpi Judo Club.

Ana María Sastre was awarded for the silent and voluntary work behind every great club. Her journey in the world of basketball began as a player, when, as an Andia cadet, she was summoned by Juven, the San Sebastian team that was the flagship of women’s basketball, whose junior women’s team was proclaimed Euskadi champion at that time. She also got to play with the senior team that played in the second national division. Once she left Juven, she returned to Andraitz, serving as a coach for several teams and seasons and, in turn, being a player until 2013. She has been part of the Andraitz club’s board of directors as vice president from 2011 to 2022. “We are facing a long career, zorionak Ana Mari eta mila mila esker”, they point out from Andraitz.

Brilliant at chess

The third winner, Markel Vesga, embodies a young and talented promise in the world of chess. The hobby came from home, since his own father had been part of the Legazpi Chess Club. Markel began playing at the age of 8 in the classes that were taught at the Domingo Agirre school at noon and later, he went to the Santikutz club. There he met Ibon Martín, coach of the Basque Chess Federation, who was key in his initial training. At the age of 11, he played his first Open in Cantabria and from then on, his progression was sensational, becoming champion of the Basque Country under 16 and under 18 in 2021. At the regional level, in 2022 he won the prestigious Eire de Urretxu tournament . Taking advantage of his studies in Ireland, in 2021 he was proclaimed champion of Ireland under 16. He has been absolute champion of Gipuzkoa in 2021 in 15-minute games and runner-up in 2022. He also played for the Abadiño Basque League team, becoming runner-up of Bizkaia in 3-minute games in 2021. He has participated 7 times in the Spanish Championships , achieving this year the 20th position in the sub 18 among more than 200 players. He has twice represented the Euskadi team as the first board in the Spanish Championships in under 16 and this year, he managed to be the second best board of those who played in the first position, contributing to his team being fifth classified . From the Santikutz club they send him a huge congratulations and best wishes for his career.

At the gala, Iñigo Imaz also made a special mention of the recently deceased Luis Oroz, a great fan and collaborator of Ilintxa, whose family, in turn, has been closely linked to Andraitz.