The real hall of the Madrid Casino was transformed last night into an imaginary arena on the occasion of the awarding of the prizes awarded by the bullfighting jury of this institution to the winners of the latest San Isidro Fair.
There were matadors, bullfighters, underlings, ranchers, fans and a replica of the El Torito sculpture, created by the French artist Isidore Bonheur, which is presented to the winners together with an accreditation diploma.
Only the representatives of the entrepreneurs, the authorities and the main protagonist of the event, the bullfighter Morante de la Puebla, twice awarded as winner of the isidril cycle and author of the artistic and risky shot, already known as ‘the take-off of the glass’, which he performed for his subordinate José María Amores when a pair of banderillas came out, were missing. On May 28, Morante was in the burladero with a glass of water in his right hand, and with a clean body he went out into the arena to divert the attention of the bull that was chasing the nererillero.
The winner of the awards did not participate, as is his custom to justify his presence at the numerous events to which he has been invited since he withdrew from the arena on October 12 in Las Ventas. A few days ago he did not show up, nor did he send a representative, to the Riojano Center in Madrid, which intended to give him a light dress as the winner of the Madrid fair.
He was represented at the Casino by the journalist Zabala de la Serna, who read an enthusiastic text on the successes of the Sevillian bullfighter in the season already concluded.
Yes, there was Borja Jiménez, recently returned from his American campaign; Víctor Hernández, who dedicated his award “to the bull”; Borja Domecq, breeder from Jandilla, remembered the deceased Álvaro Domecq and Ana María Bohórquez, mother of Santiago Domecq; and Victorino Martín underlined the work of the Casino “to keep alive the flame of this passion that unites us”. Emilio de Justo, awarded for the best lunge of the fair, expressed the desire that afternoons like the one on June 15th be repeated; nererillero Víctor del Pozo paid tribute “to the matadors I was with, who allowed me to collect this award today”. Aaron Palacio, alternative matador since September 20, accepted the award for best bullfighter and declared that the afternoon in San Isidro “was very important on a personal and professional level”.
Among those awarded with special mentions are Saúl Jiménez Fortes, Gómez del Pilar and journalists Sixto Naranjo and Javier Mardomingo.
Before the presentation of the trophies, the president of the Casino, Fernando Eguidazu Palacios, asked for a minute’s silence to be observed in memory of Rafael de Paula and Álvaro Domecq, who recently passed away, and underlined that “the bullfighting festival is experiencing a great moment, and proof of this is that there are many young people in the arenas”.
The list of winners is as follows:
Fair winner: Morante de la Puebla, for his performances in the extraordinary bullfights of May 28th (Press bullfight) and June 8th (Charity bullfight).
best work: Borja Jimenez, for the killing of the Milhijas bull, number 104, from the Victorino Martín farm, fought on the afternoon of June 15th.
Bullfighter of the Apocalypse: Víctor Hernández, for his performance on May 10 against the Busca-Oro bull, number 961, of the El Pilar ranch.
More complete livestock: Jandilla, for the bullfight fought on the afternoon of June 5th.
bravest bull: My daughters, number 104, of D. Victorino Martín’s cattle, fought on the afternoon of June 15th.
best lunge: Emilio de Justo, for his attack on the Milhebras bull, number 40, of the Victorino Martin ranch, fought on June 15.
The best pair of flags: Vittorio del Pozo, for his performance against the bull, Calentito, nº18, from the José Escolar ranch, fought on the afternoon of June 3.
best bullfighter: Aaron Palacio, for his performance on May 13 against the Alcurrucén Bulls.
Special mentions.
An afternoon to remember: Saúl Jiménez Fortes, for his performance on the afternoon of May 21st against the Arauz de Robles bulls.
To courage and valor: Gomez del Pilar, for his June 3 performance against the José Escolar Bulls.
Risk removal: Morante de la Puebla, for his clean removal of the body, already known as “the removal of the glass”, to his nererillero José María Amores of May 28 to the bull Seminarista, number 7, of the Garcigrande ranch, fought in first place.
Average: Radio Television Madrid, for its wide coverage, diffusion, dissemination and support of bullfighting in all its programming.
