Fallas 2014 - Tercera de Abono

The view from the sofa - my thoughts on corridas I have watched on TV

11/03/2014 El Torreón Novillos – Posada de Maravillas, Alvaro Lorenzo and Cristian Climent

March is always a happy time, the longer evenings serves as a reminder that the worst of winter is behind us, and, more importantly for the aficionado, the ferias of Olivenza and Valencia are a sure sign that the bullfighting season is underway. After an excellent couple of novilladas from Olivenza at the weekend, this afternoon’s novillada was another good opportunity to get acquainted with the junior escalafón. The novilleros had before them a string of El Torreón animals that were well presented but on the borderline where nobleza turns sickly, and not blessed with excessive energy. However, most had enough mobility to allow for an interesting afternoon.

Posada de Maravillas is a wonderfully classy novillero; his elegant manner of toreo conveys emotion. Although his first opponent was excessively weak and charged in an ungainly manner, Posada’s muleta provided the key to extract some meaningful charges from the novillo and he was able to construct some well worked and emotive series with the right hand. Unfortunately, his timing was not always precise and numerous unsightly enganchones sullied an otherwise tasteful faena. A slow, well executed and effective sword thrust gave way to a deserved vuelta al ruedo.

The faena to the fourth bull was also in a similar vein. His grace was able to compensate for the bull’s failings, but he was never really able to kick into top gear. The bull began charging with vigour, but this was gone after a couple of series and Posada was left to work every charge out of the animal. There were less enganchones, but the passes were sometimes executed too fast. When he was able to slow down the real dimension of his toreo emerged; the highlight of the faena was a beautiful cambio de mano executed just before taking the real sword. He finished with pretty naturales de frente and although he only managed a half sword which was sufficient, although the puntillero lifted the bull up once, a generous minority petitioned for an ear.

Had Alvaro Lorenzo been able to replicate Posada’s effective sword work to the opening animal he might have cut an ear off his first novillo. The faena was marked by low, long series of well linked passes with either hand. It was a well-constructed faena wherein Alvaro managed to gain a step between passes or stay still as necessary. Some muddy luquesinas provided an element of pyrotechnics to conclude; but it was all spoiled by the sword. A pity. The faena had not been perfect, to my mind it was too inconsistent and marred by a few desarmes and various enganchones, but it was deserving of an ear.

Lorenzo once again showcased his well-formed concept of toreo with the fifth novillo. He does not exude grace in the way Posada does, but seeks to perform long passes with low hands. The novillo only lasted two series of derechazos before stopping completely which prevented Lorenzo from constructing a complete faena – he persisted but to no avail. Nevertheless, Lorenzo’s solid concept of toreo shone through. The odd molinete and varied remate showcased some pleasing creativity.

Cristian Climent debuted with pics, and left a solid impression for one with such limited experience. His opening faena was centred around a couple of very good, linked and timed series of derechazos, but there was little else to raise the pulses. An exciting series of figure of eight toreo to end his faena would have certainly led to a petition from the generous crowd.

He was able to cut the only ear of the afternoon on the closing novillo. It was a meritorious faena to an animal with manso tendencies, the main virtue being several well timed series of derechazos. Climent re-adjusted his footing between each pass, as required by the novillo, and was able to keep his opponent focused on his lure on the numerous times it sought to head for the boards. In summary, Climent showed he deserved his chance with pics and looks ready to affront the challenge posed by the utrero, whether he is able to continue to develop only time will tell.

Thus ended a perfectly pleasant afternoon; each faena was of interest, but none will live in the memory. We will no doubt suffer worse corridas throughout this feria, and indeed during the course of the season, but it is a pity that this novillada unfolded on the plateau of the “pleasant” without scaling more emotive heights.