Rural sport

The Idiazabal harrijasotzaile was going to play with the cup that Urtain used in his day, but it broke, and he had to play with the painting of Xabat Olaizola. He made 13 lifts, 12 with the cubic and 16 with the ball.

On the first day, Ainitze Zumeta was better than Maddi Gesalaga, and Mikel Lopetegi beat Beñat Telleria; Nerea Arruti qualified for the final, and Julen Alberdi had a good fight with Arkaitz Etxebeste. 

This weekend, in Aizkoitia, the individual "Kirol Herri" competition begins, in which both women and men will be seen with axes and stones, and the grand finale will take place on March 28.

They will play in New Zealand from 4 to 7 March. The members of the Basque team will leave on Sunday for Oceania, where they will be training for a month.

The two harrijasotzailes zarauztarras prevailed in the winter finale of the "Harri Herri" held in Aia. Both were very pleased with the result and started the year with the txapela. 

Iker Vicente has won the challenge that has been played in the bullring of Toulouse that has been crowded. The difference of two cannons has not been enough for Eneko Otaño. 

Beizama's aizkolari travels to Toulouse hoping to defeat Iker Vicente, explaining on the eve of the challenge that the bet will be tight. 

The individual finals of the Kirol Herri were played yesterday in Asteasu: Ainitze Zumeta and Urra dominated by picking up stones, while Mikel Larrañaga and Oihana Fernandez de Barrena led the axe. 

"I think I'm at a very good time," explained the Ochagavian aizkolari in the run-up to the challenge against Eneko Otaño. "It's going to be very difficult, it's a lot of seconds to take it off," he admits. "I'm going to have to have a cool head," he adds.

The challenge between Iker Vicente and Eneko Otaño was presented this Tuesday in the bullring of Toulouse, where Eneko Otaño will have a two-truncheon, which will be the third challenge with such an advantage.

In Mallabia, the third day of the Neguko Harri Herri Tournament has been held, and five of the following harrij-asociators have won the ticket for the grand final to be played on January 4: Imanol Royo, Mikel Lopetegi, Goizeder Abendibar, Ainitze Zumeta and Eider Garcia Durana.

Last Sunday, in Asteasu, Estefania Etxebesteleft a great mark on history with a 150 poundrectangular stone.

Ituren's harrijasotzaile now faces a new challenge, breaking Idoia Etxeberria's record.

Gari Garmendia has just won the first txapela of the Basque Country Great Stones Championship, which has been the first great unenjoyed txapela, according to Garmendia.

The Idiazabal stone lifter gets his first cap with a total of 7,100 pounds raised. "The last week I've had a really bad time mentally," the new champion explains. "I've been physically very well prepared, but the last week I've dropped everything, I don't know what happened to me, I haven't enjoyed anything today," he adds.

"The last two weeks have been very long for me," the Ituren stone lifter confesses after getting the feat. "I've had a really bad time at home, turning my head around; in the penultimate training I made three attempts and didn't lift any," he stresses.

On Saturday the final of the Euskal Tinberwill decide which is the most competent aizkolari of Euskal Herria. In the final, among others, Xabier Zaldua and his son Jon will compete.

Sixteen aizkolaris will play the txapela in this specialty that is being held for the first time in Euskal Herria. EITB, through eitb.eus and ETB1, will broadcast it from 23:00. 

On the fourth day of the Popular Sports League, the most contested session to date, the team made up of Julen Alberdi, Jon Gisasola, Uxue Ansorregi and Patricia Martín, team B, has won the second place.

Last Saturday Andoni Iruretagoiena Izeta VIchallenged the cameras of ETB. He has waited for his opponent but no one has accepted the challenge of Izeta VI.

On the third day, on Monday in Alegia, Osa, "Urra" Astondoa and Larrañaga have outperformed the team of athletes, who have added a point. In the ranking, the winners already have 18 points.