Feria de Olivenza 05/03/2016 – Novillada – Talavante

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

Talavante novillos for Ginés Marín, Juanito & Alfonso Cadaval

The second novillada of a feria was a blend of the experienced Ginés Marín with the debutants Juanito and Alfonso Cadaval. By this stage, Ginés Marín requires little introduction. He has been one of the stars of the junior escalafón almost since his debut in this plaza two years ago. He is a mature novillero who looks ready to take his tauromaquia to the four year old bull – his alternativa is scheduled this May and I am looking forward whether he can add his name to young generation of aspiring figuras like Lopez Simón, Roca Rey and José Garrido. I know little about the two debutants other than that Juanito is a young Portuguese torero and Cadaval is the son of Césatr Cadaval, of the sevillian comedy duo Los Morancos. Talavante’s ganadería has its origin in Cuvillo, Garcigrande and Daniel Ruíz, I would therefore expect them to be noble and compliant. The question is will they have the mobility to create emotion with their charges?

Ginés Marín welcomed his first novillo with kneeling veronicas – these were striking and well linked, but my favourite part of the saludo was how he capped it with a larga cambiada and (once on his feet) a revolera in extremely tight quarters without yielding an inch. His control over novillos is bordering on absolute. The animal’s sole entry to the horse passed with little note, but it's charge was very short in the subsequent quite – it would need a good lidia during banderillas to elongate its charge once again. Ginés started the faena by ayudados por alto. The bull displayed a mobile nobility, but lacked vigour and, if the pass was demanding, commitment to charge. The first few series with the right hand were therefore designed to tease the bull into faena and they were followed by a couple of more profound tandas of naturales. Despite the bull’s compliant nature, it did not have the casta to rise to the challenge posed by Marín’s firm muleta, therefore the toreo fundamental, while clean and correct, was nothing more than superficial. Ginés showed his complete dominance of the novillo with a typical arrimón and concluded with bernadinas. This had been a faena by numbers from a novillero that is utterly capable of handling this type of novillo.  A slowly executed volapié allowed him to cut an ear.

The fourth novillo’s first tercio was subdued, Ginés’ interventions with the capote underwhelmed because of the animal’s lacklustre condition. He pushed with some conviction during the pic, although only with one horn. The novillo’s charge seemed to improve during banderillas as it was allowed to gallop and display mobility. Marín started his faena on his knees in the centre of the ring, a spectacular opening somewhat muddied by a couple of enganchones. The novillo was rough, but weak, it would charge from a distance but could not cope with closely worked demanding toreo and would raise its head alarmingly before the end of each pass. I enjoyed seeing Marín with a tricky customer that did not readily submit to his muleta. Ginés stayed firm, his timing improved as the faena progressed and he managed to impose clean toreo en redondo on the novillo. These isolated passes more than clean series, but it was clean and smooth toreo nonetheless. A full and effective estocada allowed him to cut a generous couple of ears.

Juanito showed a spectacular and varied concept of toreo de capote. Starting the lidia with a larga cambiada de rodillas and continuing with a quite by saltilleras and gaoneras. His bright toreo continued into the muleta tercio with a pase cambiado in the centre of the ring to begin his work. However, the novillos soon became rajado and Juanito was only able to give isolated passes near the boards.

Juanito continued to show variety with the cape in the first tercio of the fifth novillo. However, his attempts at tijerillas and chicuelinas were roughly executed and incomplete. Initially the novillo seemed to have more motor than his first, but this was a mirage. After an acceptable and smooth opening series, the novillo completely gave up the notion of charging. It stayed by the boards and did not attack the lures. Juanito tried to perform passes but it was impossible. Given the condition of both the animals he faced, it is difficult to draw any meaningful conclusions from Juanito’s debut.

Alfonso Cadaval began his career as a con pics with low and profound veronicas, they were not the finished article and will, in time, need to create greater emotion, but the building blocks for a deep veronica are there. The novillo had a short, intermittent charge. Alfonso could do little but stay firm to try and extend the novillo’s charge with solid timing. The faena was technically acceptable but was undermined by the novillo’s condition. Alfonso sprinkled some artistic flourishes, the highlight of which was a baroque molinete, to liven his work. Cadaval’s use of the sword was poor.

Cadaval once again tried to impose low, profound, toreo a la veronica to his second novillo, but the recibo was untidy due to enganchones – his concept of toreo is plain to see, the crux will be whether he is able to learn the technical keys of toreo in order to impose this on his opponents. The bull took a light pic, although it did push at the horse with some level of determination. By the muleta the novillo had developed an acceptable charge, repetitive, mobile and conveying certain emotion. Cadaval's opening gambit of passes with the front and reverse of the muleta was smooth, controlled and aesthetic. The heart of the faena was constructed around series on the right side (he tried once on the left but he was unable to control the novillo and the result was muddy). At its best the toreo was smooth and well linked, underscored by the aesthetic Cadaval tries to give his toreo. However, there were also the logical inconsistencies and technical lacuna one would expect in a debutant - these caused a number of enganches, close calls and a tossing. Alfonso needed a number of descabellos after his ineffective estocada, which, nonetheless, did not prevent him from cutting an indulgent ear. Questionable prize aside, we could see that Alfonso has a high concept of toreo, underlined by his aestheticism. As always, aesthetics are never enough in toreo. He will need to develop the technical foundations of toreo. Not to worry, he has the rest of his career (however long it lasts) to learn.

Feria de Olivenza 04/03/2016 – Novillada – El Freixo

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

El Freixo novillos for Joaquín Galdós, Leo Valadez & David Bolsico

An international novillada to open the Feria de Olivenza, the season’s first glamour stop. Despite this plaza’s taste for figuras and comfortable bulls, it always carries one or two novilladas over the weekend. A welcome addition to any feria. The international flavour is given by Joaquín Galdós, a young Peruvian who is hoping to follow in the footstep of his countryman Roca Rey, and Leo Valadez, from Aguascalientes. David Bolsico, a local debutant, closes today’s cartel. The novilleros are facing a corrida from El Freixo, El Juli’s ganadería. These animals are a fixture in Olivenza’s novilladas and tend to be small, mobile and entertaining.

It took Joaquín Galdós some time to focus the opening novillo on his capote, a couple of tester capotazos preceded a well linked series of veronicas. The novillo repeated with intensity, but tended to stay short at the end of each lance. The sole pic of the lidia was low, and given by the reserve picador, but the novillo did little of note at the horse. Galdós began his faena with acceptable doblones. The bull had showed itself to be obedient, albeit with a rough and informal charge. The faena was characterised by the animal’s raspy charge and Galdós inability to give it the right timing and distance with his muleta. It was a long faena, but Galdós gave few passes of any note or quality. On the odd occasions that he timed the bull well and stayed firm Joaquín managed a worthy series – but there were only two of these in the whole faena. Far too little given the length of the performance. Galdós completed his work with a full estocada that gave way to an inexplicable petition for an ear that was, correctly in my mind, rejected by the president.

The fourth novillo took a long, and unnecessarily punishing couple of pics. Despite the poor lidia, the second pic allow Leo Valadez to perform a tight, emotive, if somewhat scruffy, quite by chicuelinas. Muleta in hand, Galdós was correct, but the faena was boring. His toreo was clean, controlled and, on occasion, well linked. But it was entirely vacant of emotion. The animal had a noble and compliant charge, and Galdós felt at ease. However, when toreo is easy and comfortable, it is usually tedious. Today was a good example. A full estocada completed an underwhelming afternoon.  

Leo Valadez tried to be involved with the capote, performing veronicas as the novillo entered into the ring and chicuelinas to take the bull to the horse – both were cut short by enganchones. Thankfully, his quite by saltilleras improved matters and the four passes were executed cleanly and closely. Valadez places his own banderillas, and covered this tercio with aplomb. The first two pairs al cuarteo, the second of which was preceded by a pleasingly arrogant quiebro in los medios, were placed cleanly and squarely before the horns. He closed the tercio with a tight par al queibro. The novillo was mobile, classy and compliant – it required gentle lures in order to tease and channel its noble charge. Valadez was up to the task, performing a long faena of clean well linked passes. There was little wrong with the faena, from a technical perspective, but I still had the feeling that the entire performance came across as cold. A couple of moments stood out, such as his excellent first series of naturales, but for the most part I was left unmoved. Nodding approvingly, but unmoved. Good sword work might have yielded an ear, but Leo required countless pinchazos before finally capping the work with an estocada al encuentro.  

Valadez met his second novillo with a number of genuflected tijerillas, followed by some pleasing, low veronicas. The regulation pic gave way to a well-executed quite by lopecinas. Leo once again took the banderillas, managing three clean and acceptable pairs de poder a poder in various terrains. The bull was noble, but distracted and tended to gazapear. On the basis of firm determination and, above all, good timing, Leo Valadez managed to constructed a sober and acceptable faena. It was founded on good toreo en redondo, which was technically sound, although perhaps lacking in emotive passion. The highlight was a beautifully smooth series of naturales. In good novillero style, his finished with some tight kneeling manoletinas – the raw emotion that his fundamental toreo lacked was presence in the cylonic conclusion. Effective sword work allowed him to cut the afternoon’s first and only ear.

David Bolsico introduced himself with a spectacular recibo capotero by gaoneras – it was not the most canonical opening, but it showed a confident and capable use of the cape. His involvement during quites once again displayed David’s ability with capote; the debutant caused an excellent impression during the first two tercios. He managed the cape with ease, stayed still and showed he wanted to create a spectacle. Unfortunately, his muleta work was poor. He continued to stay still, but his work lacked timing and was muddied by multiple enganchones. Bolisco’s sword work was worse as he conspired with his tercero to create a sorry spectacle as they both failed to conclude the lidia swiftly and neatly.

Bolisco once again shone with the capote during his second novillo. This time his recibo by veronicas was purer, but no less effective. He took the animal to the horse with a bright galleo. The novillo pushed hard, with one horn, at the horse during a long pic. The bull was mobile but distracted – the question was whether David could manage his muleta correctly. Despite a serious looking tossing at the start of the faena (caused by poor positioning while trying to execute an estatuario in the centre of the ring) Bolisco was much better during this novillo. His timing was excellent, the enganchones all but disappeared, and with it he was able to link several worthy series en redondo. As the corrida was coming to a close, the heavens opened and David was forced to deal with the natural opponents of rain and wind while trying to complete his work. Bolisco was able to overcome these (although they prevented proper toreo al natural) allowing his to construct a dignified faena. A pinchazo preceded the estocada and a the chance of a possible prize went with it.

Thus ended an ultimately underwhelming novillada. The animals were not particularly noteworthy, lacking piquancy and bravery, but they deserved better than the Ycold, rough treatment that predominated in this corrida. Given their inexperience, Valadez and Bolisco can be forgivenforbtheirnperdormance. They also each produced several moments of notes hiring the afternoon. Galdós' performance, a mere three months before his alternativa, was far more disconcerting.

Feria de Invierno 21/02/2016 – Corrida – Parladé

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

Daniel Ruiz bulls for David Mora & Jiménez Fórtes mano a mano

This mano a mano was designed as the crux of Vistalegre’s mini-feria. Two toreros that had overcome serious, life threatening, cornadas in order to reappear today in Vistalegre. David Mora was the first torero to go down during the infamous San Isidro 2014 corrida of two bulls and three gorings. Over and above the initial seriousness of the goring, nerve damage in his leg has led to a twenty month rehab programme. The torero has been saved, now we are left to wait and see whether he can return to be the classical and brave torero that had risen to share cartels with the figuras. Jiménez Fórtes, who shared the bill with David Mora that San Isidro afternoon, suffered a bad goring in his neck last August in Vitigudino. His road to recovery has been shorter, but it remains to be seen whether his renowned valour has survived; Fórtes has suffered many serious gorings over his short career, you would think that in time, something must give.  

David Mora’s opening gambit could not have been better, the bull charged sweetly as David met him with parsimonious veronicas, capped with a delicate chicuelina and a bright revolera. The question I had was, if the toro is so sweet and noble before the lidia barely begun, what is going to be left of its charge after the pics and banderillas? The pic was light, but badly placed. It was followed by another excellent string of veronicas. This was only the early exchanges, but the ease and grace with which David handled the cape gave us hope for this afternoon. The bull was noble, with adequate mobility, but weak. It needed gentle treatment, with the lures at mid-height, or it would go to the sand. After a gentle beginning by estatuarios, a torero must be sure of himself to being with this pass involving non-existent toques, he took the bull to the centre of the ring. The opening series of the faena were necessarily superficial – you could not attack the bull or it would have given up the ghost. However, as the faena progressed, Mora could lower the hand and extract passes of ever increasing emotional intensity. There was the odd natural and a couple of derechazos that were eternally long. However, what stood out was the overwhelming depth of each pass, be it an isolated natural or linked derechazos. This type of classy, noble bull conveys little emotion in its charge. It is therefore incumbent on the torero to create emotion with his toreo. Mora was able to do this and his complete sword allowed him to cut two ears. The torero had been excellent, but I was left hoping that the remaining bulls would convey slightly more piquancy in their charges.

Mora was very good once again with the capote to the third bull. The chicuelinas during the quite were particularly beautiful, capped with the deep media. Ángel Otero and José María Tejero placed three good pairs of banderillas during the second tercio, Iván García conducted the lidia well with the cape, showcasing the bull’s sprightly charge. Although the faena lacked the aesthetic beauty of Mora’s first, I thought it showed the torero in a better light. The bull was difficult, it needed a low hand to dominate its mobility, while linking passes was difficult because of a tendency to stay short. Nonetheless, Mora adapted his timing and the height of the lures perfectly to the bulls’ charge and managed to impose a number of good series with the right hand. It was the same delicate toreo from his first faena, but given to an animal with greater emotion in its charge. As the performance progressed, the animal’s problems accentuated and Mora began to gain a step between each pass to preserve the ligazón. However, David extended the fanea too long, and it dissipated in a sea of isolated passes. This might explain the lack of enthusiasm in the petition following another full sword.  

Mora’s third bull was the best of his lot, and the ensuing faena, the most intense of his afternoon. The bull was classy and brave, showing this condition with the best pic of the corrida. Mora invited he sobresaliente, Chapurra, to perform a quite by veronicas that was electric, exciting and met with approval by the crowd. David’s quite by veronicas was better, very long and concluded with a wonderful media veronica. He started the faena with some wonderful passes por bajo, low emphatic and elegant doblones that served to focus the bull’s brave charge. It was a pleasure to see a bull that rose to the challenge of emphatic and demanding toreo. The bull’s mobile bravery called for great toreo en redondo. Tthankfully David Mora was up to the task,  meeting it with impeccable timing, in order to guide the bull through the pass, and the sure valour to stay still and link toreo en redondo. Mora’s fundamental was excellent, perfectly linked and accompanied with aesthetic quality – we either had the beauty of long low passes, or, when the time was right, Mora would adopt a vertical pose and give a parsimonious muletazo. Unfortunately, Mora spent too long in front of the bull, trying to extract a couple of final series that were simply not there – the bull’s quality charges had already been exhausted. This excess cost David a serious looking tossing that, thankfully, did not produce a goring. He composed himself and concluded with three emotive manoletinas. There is little doubt that the torero would have cut two ears but for poor sword work (perhaps another effect of over extending the faena).    

Fórtes’ first bull was returned to the pens because of a leg injury. The opening tercios of the replacement were rather lacklustre, the highlight of which was a tight quite by chicuelinas and a pic during the bull pushed with some vigour (it was by no means a great vara, but above the usual lacklustre efforts). Fórtes constructed a faena by numbers which was well conceived, though it will quickly fade from memory. The bull was less classy than the afternoon’s opener, possessing slightly more vigour. Fórtes’ toreo en redondo was well timed and acceptable, and he concluded the faena with the typical arrimón. He might have cut an easy ear had the sword run true.

The fourth bull gave an untidy performance in the first couple of tercios. It did not convincingly charge at the lures, at the horse it pushed, but only with one horn and with little style. By the muleta, its charge was distracted. The animal might lower its head at the lures, or it might focus on the man, the crowd or anything else. Fórtes tried to impose his iming on the bull in order to extract toreo en redondo, but try as he might, there was little toreo to be had. The concluding manoletinas were tight and exciting, which might have been the chief reason for the light petition for an ear which was not granted.  

Fórtes instructed his picador to only give the sixth bull a light pic, before giving a tight quite by gaoneras. He began with a cartucho de pescao in the centre of the ring. This was to be the highlight of the early faena. The bull lacked the vigour or desire to follow the lures, and Fórtes was unable to perform toreo en redondo. He did, however, soon work his way into an arrimón quite early and with circulares and the like. Fórtes is comfortable in the distancia corta, and the crowd appreciated his commitment to create spectacle with such flawed raw material. Poor sword work probably cost him an ear.  

The corrida was marked positively by David Mora’s excellent performance. Few people could have predicted the sheer quality of his toreo and his wherewithal to impose it on three different types of bull. Today’s afternoon holds him in good stead for his spring corridas, I for one will be anticipating these with renewed enthusiasm. Fórtes had a poor lot, but left the ring with his dignity intact. Jiménez Fórtes might never be the tidiest torero, but his valour cannot be doubted, and that is always an admirable trait.

Feria de Invierno 20/02/2016 – Novillada – Daniel Ruiz

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

Daniel Ruiz novillos for Álvaro Lorenzo, Ginés Marín and Varea

Today’s three novilleros are firmly in the front row of the starting grid for this year’s junior escalafón. Each has matured as a novillero and they are now looking forward to a forthcoming alternativa. Ginés Marín, who caused such a great impact during his debut with pics in Olivenza, and has spent the last couple of seasons confirming the qualities he showed that morning, has booked his alternativa for May in Nimes. Álvaro Lorenzo has maintained a lower profile, although his career has been purposefully constructed around a concept of sober, castillian toreo. He is also taking his alternativa this May in Nimes. Varea flattered to deceive after he exploded on the scence with an execellent Los Maños novillo in Zaragoza a few years ago. He has shown a superb left hand, but his toreo has been too inconsistent – he has the quality to shine, he just needs to show this more often. Varea’s alternativa has not been confirmed, but there are rumours that he may take this in Alicante.  

Disappointingly the crowd was sparse in the cavernous arena. We know how difficult it can be to attract crowds to watch novilladas, the public at large see it as an inferior spectacle, and only generally flock to the glamorous star cartels. Regardless, this is the lot that the current fiesta has drawn. Let us just hope that the powers that be in the mundillo recognise the importance of novilladas and do not lose interest in programming this type of events.

Álvaro Lorenzo met his opening novillo with gentle veronicas taking it from the tercio to the centre of the ring. A pleasing start, concluded with a nice media and attractive revolera with the reverse of his capote. The novillo protested at the horse, shaking his head vigorously as he felt the iron. Lorenzo gave a very steady quite by rogerinas, three well linked passes and a remate performed cleanly and with confidence. Álvaro started the faena with doblones designed to dominate and focus the bulls charge, but given with the necessary temple to preserve its vigour. The novillo, though mobile, lacked casta and therefore protested throughout the faena, shaking its head tirelessly as he followed the lures. The first series of derechazos was excellent, made up of five long and low derechazos. However, subsequent series were muddied by the novillo’s condition. Lorenzo was firm throughout, he stood his ground, even after a dramtic mid-faena tossing, timed the bull impeccably and managed to construct a faena structure around fundamental toreo. After the bull became parado, Loreonzo’s fanea did not decline. He gave strings of isolated passes, each of which was excellent and managed to build the faena to a crescendo. Lorenzo ended his faena with a long series of tight manoletinas and lost a very well earned ear with the sword. Regardless, this was the performance of a capable young torero who is ready to move to the senior escalafón.

The fourth novillo gave a good of account of itself at the horse. This was by no means a spectacular pic, but the novillo pushed hard and long, to a backward placed vara. It is the minimum that an aficionado would want from a pic. The novillo did not take kindly to the banderillas, chasing the peons with vigour although, fundamentally its charge was distracted. The best medicine to an unfocussed bull is a focussed muleta. This was just the tactic applied by Lorenzo with a magnificent series of low, dominant and deep doblones to guide the bull from the pic lines to the centre. The first two series of derechazos were equally profound, both of which were long and emotive, ensuring that the muleta was placed just so after each pass so that the bull had no option but following the lure. The subsequent series of naturales was more intermittent, but with individual passes of absolute quality. Back on the right side, Loreonzo was able to link his toreo more effectively, but the novillo’s charge was by now raspy. The fundamental toreo therefore gave way to an arrimón, circulares and the usual pyrotechnic passes that close faenas in contemporary toreo. Once again poor sword work cost him a prize. Nonetheless, Lorenzo could not have caused a better impression with this lot of novillos. It is clear that he is a very proficient novillero and although he will no doubt experience the typical post-alternativa dip, we would do well not to forget this torero.

Ginés Marín is a very promising capotero, he was unable to show his full dimension with the first novillo, but still managed a couple of low, cadenced delantales to welcome it into the ring. The novillo took a regulation pic, it was an entirely non-descript encounter with the horse. His quite by ganoeras was given with utter stillness, although the bull’s distracted condition wrested emotion from proceedings. The bull reached the muleta with mobility, but ultimately doubts as to the depth of its nerve. Marín’s faena was technically faultless toreo that, nonetheless did not convey emotion due to the novillo’s lack of nerve. His opening estatuarios were given with utter stillness, the derechazos that followed were clean, low and long. He even interspersed his toreo fundamental with creative notes such as an arrucina here, a pase de las flores there and some cambios de mano for good measure. Marín tried, with his emphatic attitude, to give proceedings the emotion the novillo’s charge lacked and managed to raise pulses with an arrimón and a final tres en uno to close the faena on an emotional high (as I always say, structure in toreo is key, a torero must procure to finish a faena at its highest point, how often do we see faenas that lose their way as they are extended unnecessarily?). Some closely worked bernadinas preceded a defective sword that cost Ginés what would have been a well-deserved ear. It had been a good faena, but the torero’s insultingly dominant toreo calls for a nervier animal, not this simplistic opponent.

Marín welcomed the fifth novillo with a larga cambiada de rodillas, which showcased his determination to triumph. The good torero, however, came with his toreo de veronica, concluded with a closed stanced cordobina, once on his feet. Once again, there was nothing to highlight at the horse. Ginés’ quite by chicuelinas was performed with utter stillness and met with approval by the crowd. In banderillas Javier Ambel showed his cass with a couple of elegant and emphatic pairs that earned him saludos. The novillo reached the muleta with mobility but, given the general condition of the novillada thus far, we wondered whether it had the depth of nerve and bravura to continue with impetus to the end of the faena. Marín began the faena on his knees with silky smooth toreo en redondo with the right hand. On his feet he gave a long series of smooth toreo with the right hand, capped with a cambio de mano and wonderful natural. Ginés juxtaposes apparent tremendismo with quality toreo. He passes the bull very close, and effortlessly intertwines arrucinas and passes cambiados into his series en redondo. However, when he performs fundamental toreo, this is of the highest quality, both with the left and right hand. His toreo is low, it is slow and seamlessly linked. All of this was on display in today’s faena. It was a pity, however, that the novillo was slightly distracted between each pass, detracting from the emotional intensity of the performance. The one criticism is that the concluding arrimón was not necessary, the novillo’s charge was completely exhausted by this stage and it added nothing to his work. His estocada was slightly unconventional and ended slightly tendida, but it was sufficient to finish the bull and served to allow Marín to cut the first ear of the afternoon. Like Lorenzo, Marín is fully prepared to graduate from the novillo to the bull. If Marín can perform the toreo he showed this afternoon to serious, piquant bulls he will indeed be a significant player in the senior escalafón.   

Varea’s calling card was an excellent series of low veronicas, the bull’s nervy charge was delicately channelled by Varea with his slow and low veronicas, capped with a curious cordobina to add freshness to his work. The galleo by rogerinas was bright, but untidied with a rough remate. A non-descript puyazo followed which offered little clue as to the bulls condition. During banderillas the novillo displayed mobility and charged with its head low, giving us hope that it might provide Varea with the raw material for a good faena. Varea began with excellent passes ayudados, por alto and por bajo – well timed and controlled. The good vibe continued with a demanding first series of derechazos. The bull was noble and committed, but the mobility it had showed during banderillas was slowly dissipating. With it, the intensity of the faena declined; perhaps the demanding beginning did not help the novillo’s longevity. Nonetheless, the quality of Varea’s toreo was patent, although he lacks the wherewithal to create spectacle out of nothing as his opponents wane.

The afternoon’s final novillo showed signs of mansedumbre at the horse. By the muleta third, the novillo’s charge was sour. Its untidiness betraying the animal’s lack of fight. However, when Varea timed the novillo well, lowered its head with low lures, and guided it through the pass, the novillo committed to the charge and allowed for good toreo. Varea’s naturales were particularly noteworthy. Despite the moments of good toreo throughout the performance, the faena was always destined to be undermined by the novillo’s poor condition. This was a novillo with which Varea could show that he is a capable (although perhaps not outstanding) technician and is sure of himself. Furthermore, when he puts his mind to mind to it, his concept of toreo is excellent. However, fundamentally, there is perhaps an edge of coldness in his performances that may hold him back. Varea’s sword work was once again poor, it is a trait that he has carried for some time.  

The novillada had been distinctly average. Most of the animals had some charges in them, but none had charged with true desire through a faena, there was not, either, any obviously dangerous, problematic novillo that would have the crowd on the edge of their seat (although no doubt the toreros might disagree). It had been, in many respects, an identikit novillada that we recognise all too readily in contemporary toreo. Thankfully, we had three novilleros with the ability to extract the good toreo that the novillos offered. As for the novilleros, the star was Ginés Marín, he is an exceptionally gifted young torero that deserves a chance to measure himself with the other young toreros that are emerging. Lorenzo also made a good case to be included in that conversation. His toreo is perhaps less striking that Marín’s, but he is by no means less capable. Varea is a good torero, but I have my doubts as to whether “good” is enough to cause an impact with the current crop of outstanding you toreros. All three were poor with the sword, which probably cost Ginés Marín and Álvaro Lorenzo an exit on shoulders.

Valdemorillo 07/02/2015 – Segunda Corrida

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

Ana Romero Bulls for Borja Jiménez, Francisco Lama de Góngora and Francisco José Espada

Following yesterday’s entertaining corrida, Valdemorillo programmed another interesting cartel to close the feria. For starters, we had Ana Romero’s santa Coloma bulls on the bill – I really enjoy the Buendía bloodline. Not only does it provide variety from the usual Domecq fodder (which can be good, average or terrible depending on the ranch) but also a strong possibility of good performance. Borja Jiménez was a stand-out novillero who took the alternativa from Espartaco in Sevilla last year; a solid technician he looks to dominate bulls with little consideration for aesthetic expression. Lama de Góngora is arguably the opposite, he burst on to the novillero scene with some good early performances before dropping below the radar; his toreo is impregnated with touches of sevillian art though there are question son his ability to dominate bulls. Espada was a good novillero, whose stand out afternoon came last season at San Isidro, he faced the entire novillada on his own after his cartel colleagues were each injured – his forte is his excellent left hand.

The first bull came into the arena rather coldly, without committing to the early exchanges with Borja’s capote. The bull charged at the horse with little style, protesting the long pic. Its poor performance continued with the banderillas, the bull waiting for the banderilleros at each turn. Given the animal’s poor behaviour, it was surprising to see Borja take to the centre of the ring to open the faena. The first series with the right hand was well linked, with Jiménez taking advantage of the bull’s momentum from its initial charge from the boards, although slightly untidy. This initial vigour was a mirage, the bull’s mobility took a nose dive after the first series; it retained the energy to charge, but made sure that it sized the torero up before each movement. In the circumstances, Borja gave a good account of himself. Staying firm and still, he imposed his low handed toreo on the bull. The faena was intermittent, because of the bull’s condition, and it was too long, but it contained good passages of toreo. Borja completed his work with a pinchazo and estocada, earning saludos for the performance.

The fourth bull entered the arena with a bright rhythm to its charge. Borja moulded it into a pleasing series of smooth veronicas, a chicuelina and a revolera. The bull took a very short and light pic, barely making contact with the horse before leaving its jurisdiction. This gave way to a pleasing series of chicuelinas. Borja began his faena, again, in the centre of the ring, but on this occasion the opening derechazos were on his knees. The bull was noble and classy, but lacked an edge of nerve to convey greater emotion with its charge. Nonetheless, Jiménez was able to construct some low, smooth and well timed series of derechazos. The faena followed a similar tonic with the left hand and Borja completed his first series of naturales with some pretty ayudados. The crux of the faena was Borja’s gentle presentation of the lure, this allowed him to guide the bull gently through each long, low, slow pass. He also structured the faena, well, layering creative touches, such as molinetes and arrucinas, over the pleasing toreo fundamental. Borja had a lucky escape towards the end of the faena, overly confident during a desplante, he forgot about the bull for the moment and it, sensing a chance, went straight for the torero, launching the torero six feet into the air. No damage done, he took the sword and completed his work with a full sword and descabello. The crowd petitioned enthusiastically for an ear which was duly granted. However, beyond the prize, the significance of the afternoon had been Borja’s to ably cope with two different types of bulls and, especially, to perform good toreo to the bull that would accept it.  

Lama’s early veronicas were nicely linked, if slightly quick. A regulation single pic and short, pretty, quite by delantales served to complete the first tercio. Although Lama dedicated the bull to the crowd, this was not an animal for a brindis. Its charge was dull, listless and conveyed not emotion. De Góngora barely managed a couple of series of isolated, uncommunicative muletazos before the bull became rajado. The music played, but it was completely out of place. As expected, the faena lasted far too long. I understand the torero’s desire to please and yearning to extract as much as possible from this rare opportunity. But with bulls like this, he should have cut his losses and rued his luck.

De Góngora greeted the fifth bull with a tight larga de rodillas a porta gayola, followed by another in the tercio. The bull charged with power and aggression, and Lama stood firm. First with the two largas, and subsequently with low capotazos to dominate the bull and take it from the tercio to centre of the ring. The animal continued its powerful performance with a stern fight at the horse, charging with vigour at the horse during a long, hard pic. This was the kind of behaviour we had hoped to see from Ana Romero’s bulls. Unfortunately, the bull’s mobility decreased into the final tercio. It retained its power and proved to be a dangerous customer for Lama to handle, but lacked the desire to follow the lures through each pass. De Góngora spent a great deal of time in front of the bull trying to channel its charge into a faena, but he was unable to do so. An underwhelming afternoon from Lama de Góngora, his first bull was poor and he was unable to overcome the difficulties posed by the fifth bull. Given the number of young toreros that are making their mark on the fiesta, he needed a more striking afternoon.

Espada’s first bull continued the corrida’s disconcerting behaviour. It took a light pic and moved with little conviction during the first two tercios. The animal charged with certain vigour at Espada’s muleta during the early part of the faena, but its tendency to get distracted between each pass and look away did not augur well for a good faena. The bull was tardy and looked disinterested, but Espada could not let his guard down. When he did, by keeping the muleta retreated as he crossed the line of charge, the bull went for him and caught him by the knee. Espada was not deterred and returned to the bull. By this stage it was becoming rajado and although Espada managed the odd pleasing pass, the bull lacked the nerve in order to make attractive toreo possible. Francisco José was firm and managed to show his capacity to deal with this type of complicated bull. His sword work, however, was poor.   

 The final bull took an unremarkable single pic, pushing with one horn, parallel to the horse. Given the general poor performance of the previous bulls, it seemed that the only person in the arena who held out hope for the bull was Francisco José, who dedicated the bull to the crowd. Unfortunately, our instincts were correct. The bull came and went without conveying emotion, its charge was bland and weak. Espada tried to perform toreo fundamental, but the results were unattractive.

A disappointing end to an altogether disappointing corrida – the Ana Romero bulls displayed some of the problems of its encaste, but only the fourth bull showed the class that can potentially shine through in a santa coloma’s charge. The three young guns enjoyed mixed fortune, but only Borja Jiménez was able to showcase his toreo.

Valdemorillo 06/02/2015 - Primera Corrida

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

Monte La Ermita (formerly Carmen Segovia) Bulls for Antonio Gaspar Paulita, Victor Barrio and Martín Escudero

Another year, another season, another Feria de San Blas from Valdemorillo. Although the first taurine feria took place last week at Ajalvir, Valdemorillo is the first feria in a permanent plaza (Ajalvir is held in a portatil) and, more significantly for me, it is the first televised feria of the season. My thanks here to Canal Plus, for all the failings of the fiesta’s TV policy, having a dedicated channel that broadcasts a series of significant ferias gives the aficionado an excellent vehicle to enjoy the season.

Today’s cartel is comprised of last year’s Valdemorillo triunfador, Victor Barrio, Paulita and Marín Escudero. Barrio was sensational last year, and although his season did not have the dimension of the leaders of the new generation, he has the potential to join the likes of López Simón, Roca Rey and José Garrido in recycling the senior escalafón. The last time I saw Paulita he was disappointing in Pamplona. He did, however, triumph in Valdemorillo a couple of years ago and therefore deserves his place today. Martín Escudero is another new torero, only taking his alternativa last June, with potential to impress. Let us see how they perform before a string of Monte La Ermita (formerly Carmen Segovia) bulls, of Torrestrella origin.

Paulita began the afternoon with a couple of close largas de rodillas – he lost his balance after the second and lay at the mercy of the bull. Thankfully the animal spared him. After regaining his composure, Antonio completed the saludo capotero with well linked delantales. The bull charged powerfully at the horse. The picador was unable to place the pic correctly and was pushed emphatically towards the boards and on to the floor. The second pic was poor with the picador jabbing a couple of times before finding the right spot on the morillo. The bull was promising, it lacked focus but when it opted to charge, it did so with power, determination and emotion. The key to the faena would be to extract linked consecutive passes, to let the bull’s emotive charge gain momentum through a series. Paulita’s first four series, each with the right hand, were mixed, with only the second series being compact, linked and fulfilling.  By the time Paulita took the left hand the faena descended into a succession of isolated passes. The performance concluded with some manoletinas and molinetes that gave proceedings a jovial edge. The estocada was full and effective, earning Paulita a modest petition for an ear. Nevertheless, the overwhelming feeling was that, despite the positives, Paulita was unable to extract the toreo that the bull’s charge warranted.  

The opening tercio of Paulita’s second bull was unattractive. He was unable to focus the bull for his saludo capotero, the pic was placed too far back and the quite, by venoricas, although clean, was cold. The bull displayed class and carried the potential for a worthy faena in its charge. Paulita’s opening gambit was a series of passes ayudados naturales and cambiado – a delicate start that continued to showcase the bull’s sweet charge. En redondo, Paulita gave three smooth series of derechazos, extracting well timed toreo from the bull’s class. Although technically pleasing, the faena lacked an edge of emotional intensity. Once again, the impression was that Paulita was letting a good bull get away. Thankfully, he was able to partially rectify this with an excellent end of faena – he linked a couple of series of derechazos cloase to the boards, the first of which was particularly good, six very low derechazos and a genuflected chest pass. Notwithstanding, this was a case of too little too late and, despite Paulita’s excellent estocada, I felt that the two ears he was awarded were excessive.

Victor Barrio waited for his opening bull in the centre of the ring, seemingly hoping to give a series of delantales or chicuelinas. The bull’s distracted entry put paid to any hope of spectacle. The animal’s lack of focus continued into the first tercio as it ignored the horse when placed for the first pic. Although, when it did meet the horse it pushed low and hard. Incidentally, the horse had to go out passed the pic lines in order to meet the bull and perform the suerte – this earned the picador jeers, no doubt from sectors of the crowd that perhaps ignored that the pic lines were introduced in order to protect the picadors, not to grant them an advantage. The bull’s charge was disconcerting. It was mobile and nervy, but equally problematic (cutting the banderilleros short during the second tercio). This was the type of bull that, although demanding, could yield an important faena if the torero could overcome its problems and channel its mobility. Barrio started with an exciting, well linked, series of derechazos on his knees. The first series of toreo fundamental in the centre of the ring was more intermittent, but Barrio began to unlock the bull’s potential with a silky linked second series en redondo. The subsequent series, two with the right and one with the left, were short, but very well linked – Victor stayed close to the bull, kept the cloth in its face to ensure that it had no choice but to follow the lure. The toreo fundamental gave way to the typical arrimón, which started well, and included a wonderfully long natural, as well as some closely worked toreo. However, as is so often the case, Barrio extended the faena beyond the crowd’s interest. A half sword was sufficient to reduce the bull enough for the descabello, but it probably cost him an ear.

The fifth bull was greeted with a series of closed stanced veronicas, these were nicely worked, and served to take the bull from the boards to the centre of the ring. The single pic was well placed, but the bull’s charge seemed dull and listless. Barrio tried to excite matters with a quite by gaoneras, but the animal’s behaviour was undefined. I was hoping that, like its brothers, the bull would improve – it certainly displayed mobility during the banderillas, but this was allied to a lack of focus. Barrio was not going to allow this to put him off a faena, and he began his work with a pase cambiado – a bright start that, more importantly, showed that the bull might have a depth of bravura to allow for a faena. Thankfully, the bull responded to Barrio’s muleta and grew in stature. Its charge was soft and profound, and Barrio was up to the task of giving it the low, smooth faena that the animal needed. Once again Victor kept the muleta close the bull obliging it to repeat its charge and, especially linking the penultimate muletazo of each series perfectly with the chest pass. Perhaps owing to an excessive desire, to a heart that ruled the head, Victor’s faena was perhaps a few passes too long. Notwithstanding, Barrio concluded on a high with a very tight series of bernadinas. Had the sword gone in first time rather than second, I suspect that he would have cut two ears; the single ear he was eventually awarded was thoroughly deserved.  

Martín Escudero is known for his still toreo – we did not have to wait long to see him display this concept, with a very tight (if slightly muddied) quite by saltilleras. The bull’s nerve allowed for a pleasing tercio de banderillas. Muleta in hand, Escudero was able to channel the bull’s mobile class into an excellent couple of opening series en redondo. He was relaxed and in control as he calmly worked linked his silky smooth toreo with the right hand. His naturales amped up the faena to another level. His timing was impeccable, and the passes en redondo were long and seamlessly linked. This was a highly emotive faena from a promising young torero. The bull appreciated the good treatment it received from Escudero’s muleta and continued charging with impteus and class well into the faena. Moreover, the well timed toreo was underscored by the closeness and stillness that characterises his concept.  The pinchazo that preceded the effective, forward placed, estocada was no obstacle to the crowd petitioning for an ear, but it no doubt cost him the second. Nevertheless, the importance of his toreo could not be undone.  

The final bull of the afternoon had an imposingly beautiful stature. A good specimen for a third class plaza. The lidia started well, with a solid pic to which the bull responded with a hard charge. It took a second, softer, pic which the crowd did not enjoy. Despite the two pics, the bull charged with mobility and power during banderillas, though it did not lower its head as much as one would hope. Martín Escudero stood up to the bull with determined firmness, standing in the centre of the ring to begin his toreo en redondo with the right hand. His firm hand and good timing was the perfect antidote to the bull’s power, and the result was a couple of very good series of derechazos. Escudero then took the left hand, giving a couple of good series, which lacked an edge of intensity because of the bull’s tendency to carry its head at mid height and to lose focus at the edge of the pass. As the faena progressed, the bull showed greater intention to become rajado, thereby resting from the faena’s crescendo. However, this should not detract from Escudero’s performance, he understaood the bull perfectly and gave it the room, height and distance that its behaviour required. After taking the real sword, Escudero gave a few pleasing manoletinas before giving a couple of pinchazos that prevented him from cutting the ear he needed to exit on shoulders. A real pity because his toreo had deserved it.

This had been a thoroughly interesting corrida, made possible by a very good, consistent string of Monte La Ermita bulls. The corrida did not give us a great bull, but, rather, each animal was good enough to allow for a faena. If only every corrida such good average. Paulita triumphed, but he was arguably the most disappointing torero. Escudero performed the best faena and displayed a toreo that may have a very high ceiling, while Barrio showcased his desire and willingness to please, two qualities that should hold him in good stead for the season to come.

El Puerto 16/08/2015 – Bulls Various Ganaderias – Castella Solitario

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

Jandilla, Fuente Ymbro and Cuvillo bulls for Sebastián Castella en solitario

Sebastián Castella is shaping to be this season’s triunfador. His excellent performances in Madrid of course stand out but we must not forget a dignified outing in Sevilla, a minor triumph in Pamplona and an excellent faena in Valencia. In such a context, this encerrona makes perfect sense. Facing six bulls in one afternoon is a mammoth challenge that can only be confronted by a matador in prime form. All too often we see encerronas as a desperate effort by a matador that needs to give added impetus to his career, El Cid in Madrid to give a recent example. These are generally doomed to failure. When a corrida en solitario is viewed as a compliment to an otherwise triumphant campaign, the chance of success is increased. That is not to say that Castella is destined to triumph, just that he is currently in excellent form and looking to add a signature afternoon to a leading season. Let us see whether he would be able to do so.

The corrida started with a sluggish Jandilla bull. It took one light, but long, pic where it pushed out of frustration rather than vigour. The animal proved a tricky customer for the muelta; not conveying any emotion, but with a tendency to cut in on the right side. On the basis of good timing Castella was able to fashion two good series of naturales, but the bull would not yield much more. Sebastián was above the level of the bull, but it did not give him much of an opportunity to triumph.  

The second bull, a finer, more offensive looking Fuente Ymbro, had a disconcerting early charge, measuring the torero with each spurt at his capote. It took a long, hard, but very well placed vara, pushing with vigour at the horse. The bull retained its nerve and strength after the pic, but displayed a lack of focus. Nevertheless, its charge conveyed emotion, which is, of course, the key ingredient for a toro bravo. Castella needed to show a firm hand with the bull, and gave it a series of pleasing doblones to open. The bull retained its certain reticence to charge; when it did so it came on strong. However, it to took too many pauses between passes to allow Sebastián to construct a pleasingly linked faena. Castella managed the odd emotive series on the basis of a strong toque and firm attitude – but his good toreo was intermittent due to the bull’s condition.

In third place came a mansito Cuvillo bull. It gave a poor impression over the first tercio, entirely rejecting the horse and only receiving a slight glance of a pic. The banderillas, however, seemed to put a spring in the bull’s gait, as it pursued the banderilleros with speed and desire after each pair – could it be a manso encastado and allow for a faena? Castella’s start was excellent and vibrant. A series of estatuarios given with utter stillness and concluded with some remates por bajo. Castella’s faena was an exercise in determination. The bull’s charge was mobile but lacked class. Nevertheless, Castella was able to get the measure of it and construct a solid faena of toreo fundamental on either hand, culminating in an excellently still series of derechazos. His inconsistent arrimón was the obligatory coda. A well-delivered full sword did not suffice to topple the bull, but the generous El Puerto crowd saw past the two descabellos to petition for the afternoon’s first ear, which was duly granted.

The opening three bulls each carried a series of problems and Castella had been up to the challenge. Only the third granted the chance of a minor triumph, but each helped show the Castella's rich vein of form. He had stood up to each bull and solved their problems, now if only one could break and offer the chance of a great faena.

The second Jandilla carried the Vegahermosa brand and continued the problematic tone of its three predecessors. It received two pics, but retained its unfocussed mobility. The animal proved to be complicated to banderillear and impossible to torear. The bull called for a faena de aliño and a sword thrust, but Castella sought to torear en redondo. It required Spartan valour to try to perform naturales and derechazos, but Sebastián was undeterred. Ultimately, clean, linked toreo was impossible, Castella nonetheless reminded us of the bravery required to face up to a tough bull.

The fifth bull, another Fuente Ymbro, was the first that allowed Castella to torear with the capote. It had been a tough afternoon, Castella deserved even the slightest hint at a smooth charge. Sebastián followed his recibo with a bright, nicely linked galleo by chicuelinas. The bull received a light pic, Castella no doubt seeking to preserve its sweet mobility. Castella began his faena de muleta with statuesque estatuarios, a pleasing start, but perhaps not ideal given the bull's edge of weakness. However, we were soon into the meat of the faena, with Castella giving us two excellent series of derechazos, slow, long and beautifully linked. The first naturales were accompanied by Nerva’s beautiful solo, the music’s emotion supplementing the bull’s failing vigour. Back on the right side Castella managed the odd pleasing pass, but the bull’s charge was finished. A pity that a bull with such a charge of such quality could only last a couple of series. Sebastián finished the faena with a number of tight bernadinas. The estocada was brilliantly executed and the crowd was moved to petition for two ears which the president, no doubt feeling generous, awarded.  

The corrida closed with a Cuvillo bull. The animal took an average pic and remained with an undefined charge over the first couple of tercios. Castella began with his typical passes cambiados in the centre of the ring, tightly executed, as ever, and serving to grip the crowd. The bull was mobile, but lacked class; however, Sebastián found the depth of its casta and built a long faena of toreo fundamental of increasing intensity. The early series were vibrantly linked and moving and culminated in a profound series of naturales. The animal was better on the right side, so Sebastián completed his toreo fundmental with a couple of deep series on that horn. The faena concluded with a short burst of figure of eight toreo that was underpinned by a wonderfully long, slow and languid natural rather than an arrimón. Another good, full estocada finished the bull as the plaza rang with palmas por bulerías. Not even some clumsy work from the puntillero could prevent the torero from Beziers completing his afternoon with another couple of ears.

Beyond the five oreja triumph, this was mission accomplished by Castella, from a taurine perspective. Above all the aficionado was able to enjoy his ability to give each toro its lidia and not be overwhelmed by the problems posed by this tough lot. No bull gave a complete performance to allow Castella to give a great, rounded faena, but each improved with his handling. The principal disappointment is bound to be the relatively poor attendance of about two thirds of the ring (which, nonetheless, being El Puerto means that the fiesta congregated several throusand people) that, serves to show, how the wider, casual taurine audience is not entirely up to date with the season. The casual viewier will no doubt recognise and attend the corridas involving the likes of Morante or Manzanares. But are unmoved by the names of Castella and Talavante who, nonetheless, are arguably the two figuras in the best form, or even Perera, last season’s prime triunfador.