BLACK YEAR

Ashburton Guardian, Volume 70, Issue 71, 5 January 1950, Page 3

BLACK YEAR

BULL-FIGHTING IN SPAIN

FOOTBALL MORE POPULAR (By Henry Buckley.—A Reuter Correspondent in Madrid). MADRID. * Football is ousting bull-fighting as the Spaniard’s favourite sport. Nearly 1,000,000 less people went to bull fights' l this year than last, and 700 less bulls were sold. The bull-fighting season which has just ended here was the Avorst in a quarter of a century, except for the period 1936-40, when the ciAdl Avar and its aftermath interfered with all forms of public entertainment. The fact that there were 'only 175 “corridas”—fully-fledged full-fights, _ as distinct from fights of lesser category such as “noviliadas” and “capeas”—this year compared with 291 last year meant that the matadores had 350 fewer engagements. The average number of "corridas” since 1925, except for the civil Avar years, has been .260 a year. Economic depression Avould not appear to bo the explanation of the diminished popularity of bull-fighting in Spain. Even if the volume of Spanish business activity is somewhat less than the first fever of reconstruction, it has by no means reached a crisis, and neither football, the cinema, the theatre, or other places of entertainment are reflecting the catastrophic decline Avhich has hit the rings this year. The fact that the lesser categories of fights just about held their own does not impress the experts. There were 12 more “noviliadas” this year than last, but many of the annual fairs substituted these for “corridas.”

Unusual Stimulus In addition, the dynamic and youth ful Miguel Baez, known as Litri, by breaking all records for the Spanish ring in fighting 113 fights in one season, gave an unusual stimulus to the lesser category fights, but nearly all the other famous figures of the ring fought feAver fights this year than last. Luis Miguel Dominguin, Avho rates in most opinions as the best matador in Spain, fought 70 fights this year, against 100 last year, Avhile Paco Nunoz fought 13 less. One man who did exceptionally Aveil, however, and improved his record, despite the gloom over the rings, was Manuel Gonzalez, the young Sevillan matador, Avho fought more than any other matador-. He has a total of 7S fights to his credit—22 more than last year, it was, however, a bitter pill for the matadors that the best of them still had 35 fights less than the new Avizard of the ring—Litri. Of the 110 S bulls fought in the ’’corridas,” the breeder who supplied most bulls was Antanasio Fernandez, with 60. The famous Miura bulls, one of which killed Manolete, Avere represented by 30 animals only this year. No fighters were killed in the ring, but Jaime Marco, Pepin Martin Vazquez, Manuel Dos Santos, and Julian Marin were among the matadors who suffered serious gorings. Outstanding Facts Out of the Avelter of discussion as to why 1949 should have resulted in such a “black year” in the bull-fight annals, the following facts stand out: (1) The public is in revolt against the tremendous increase in admission prices; (2) the high costs are due to the fact that everyone wants to get rich quick in the ring, a fashion set by Manolete, who fought for eight years as a matador and left property Vorth £430,000 when he died; (3) .there is little rivalry in the rings to stimulate the sport as the “stars” usually, insist on fighting with other matadors whom they name; (4) the tendency to use smaller bulls reduces the “emotion” of the fights; (5) tne corruption existing among bull-fight critics and the fact that some of them are suspected of taking large sums from the matadors reduces public interest. It is possible that next year may see some improvement. Litri Avill presumably take his “alternative” and becorpe a full matador. If he then continues his brilliant and meteoric career, he should put neAV life into the “corridas.”

An interesting and novel sidelight on the season was the appearance in the ring of a British fighter, Vincent Charles Hitchcock.

This 22-year-old former ship’s purser, of London, faced his first bull in March, By September he had fought and killed 18 bulls in 10 fights, and acquitted himself most honorably. In almost ever fight he was awarded at least the ear of his enemy, an honour not too easy for a newcomer to earn. Critics believe that this tall young Englishman has the makings of a matador. Next season will be the testing time. He has made a start and secured a good footing; but he still has really to make the grade to secure admission into the bull-fighting world and to reach important rings such as Seville, Madrid and Barcelona. It is, hoAvever, a good sign that he was offered a fight in Madrid this season. Wisely he refused, realising that he had not sufficient knoAvledge of the technique of fighting.