The jockey from Oiartzun Ioritz Mendizabal and the female trainer from Arraun Lagunak were chosen last night at the annual gala of the Gipuzkoa Sports Press Association as the best athletes in the territory in 2023. A contest that brought together a multitude of top-level athletes and a good handful of clubs to put the finishing touch to this year and wish the best for 2024, an Olympic year where Gipuzkoan sport will surely shine again.
“We always say the same thing, that we are the smallest territory in terms of size, but you can see here the quality of our athletes,” said the president of the association, Tito Irazusta, in his welcome to the attendees, who left small the assembly hall of the Donostia Aquarium. He also wanted to send “a big hug to Irene Paredes, who in 2018 was awarded as the best athlete in Gipuzkoa” and that this Wednesday she had to undergo surgery. That’s why she couldn’t attend the gala. There was also a heartfelt and well-deserved memory of the figure of the recently deceased Beñardo García, former president of Bidasoa-Irun, and the association’s board of directors sent a big hug to the entire Bidasoa family.
As if he were riding the great ‘Mishriff’ and ‘St Mark’s Basilica’ – according to Mendizabal “the best horses I have ever ridden” – the jockey, winner of more than 3,000 races, also won at the gala that accredited him as the best athlete. Gipuzkoa in 2023. It was not easy, like when heading down the Longchamp or Chantilly straight, since it had serious rivals. The double champion of the European and World Surfing Circuit, Aitor Francesena, and Iñigo Llopis, world champion of the 100 meter backstroke and the 4×100 adapted swimming style relay.
The recognitions
Distinctions Guillermo Arizkorreta (turf), Amagoia Arrieta (boccia), Irati Beorlegi (athletics), Amaia y Lide Erbina (rugby), Pau Etxaniz (canoeing), Ander Goenaga (surf), Oiana Kortazar (mountain running), Irati Lakunza ( underwater), Borja Oion (kick boxing), Leire Otaegi (winter sports), Sanpedrotarra AE (rowing) and Joseba Torres (golf).
Teams Real Sociedad de Fútbol, Bera Bera, SD Eibar, Atlético San Sebastián, Eibar Rugby Taldea, Club Gimnasia Rítmica Donosti.
Anniversaries Villafranca-Classic Test of Ordizia, Touring, Euskalduna and RACVN (centennial); Antiguo ball tournament (75 years); Ordizia rugby and swimming (50 years).
Hazañas and left their mark. Jon Arzubialde (athletics) and Nerea Hermo (athletics). Julen Aginagalde (handball) and Iñaki Osa Goikoetxea (basket point).
Ioritz Mendizabal, who traveled from Paris to be at the gala, said that “it is a great surprise because of the high level at this gala. I didn’t expect that I would get this award. I started as a child with Guillermo Arizkorrta at the Audele equestrian center and everything has been based on work and sacrifice. I didn’t have this award and for me it was unthinkable to get it. Mendizabal had already received several recognitions from the ADPG for his career, but he had never won the award for best athlete. He has won 73 group events, which is like doing so in Formula 1 horse racing.
dream season
It went from the green of a horse racing track to the blue of the sea, since the female trainer from Arraun Lagunak was the winner in the female category. The rower Udane Goenaga pointed out that “we did not expect it because there were many good candidates and it was a surprise. “It is an honor for us and that gives us strength to try to stay up there.”
Those trained by Juan Mari Etxabe have dominated the regattas of the Euskotren League with an iron fist and put the cherry on top of their great year in the double event in La Concha. They achieved five flags out of the thirteen that have been contested this season in the Cantabrian competition, they came second in seven of them and their worst place in the entire league was third. They also dominated the rowing Olympics in the San Sebastian bay. La Lugañene held an explosive regatta on the second Sunday of September, in which they managed to establish both the course record for haggling (10:23.32) and the double day record (21:01.14).
The San Sebastián women managed to beat the canoeing duo formed by Maialen Chorraut and Olatz Arregi, who were second in the Patrol World Championship, in the narrow vote, the Paralympic world champion in dual banked slalom snowboarding and runner-up in the individual world championship, Irati. Idiakez, and the swimmer Nahia Zudaire, silver medal in the 400 and bronze in the 100 meter breaststroke at the adapted swimming world championships. The San Sebastian crew intends to repeat the successes of this past season, although as they acknowledged “it is becoming more and more complicated” because the level rises from year to year.
The gala, hosted by Arritxu Iribar and José Ignacio Elizegi, had nominations, recognitions, anniversaries, feats and, of course, winners such as Ioritz Mendizabal and the Arraun Lagunak trawler. Among the distinctions for the successes achieved in this year that is three days away from ending, the Press Association awarded the horse trainer Guillermo Arizkorreta, the boccia player Amagoia Arrieta, the sisters Amaia and Lide Erbina, Eibar rugby players , or the canoeist Pau Etxaniz, among others. Clubs such as Real, Bera Bera, Eibar or Donosti rhythmic gymnastics also had their recognition.
Several clubs or entities have celebrated their centenary in 2023, such as the Ordizia cycling classic, the Touring of Errenteria, the Euskalduna of Andoain or the Real Automóvil Club Vasco Navarro. Two legendary athletes who have left their mark due to their prolific careers were recognized, Julen Aginagalde and the punter Iñaki Osa Goikoetxea; and the golden women who took the award were Amaiur Sarriegi, Naroa and Nadeth Agirre and the old Medina handball team.
2023-12-27 21:09:09
#gallop #strokes #reign
