The student from the Valencia Bullfighting School cut two ears in the grand final of the Seville contest, beating Extremadura's Manuel León and Seville's Armando Rojo.
The bullring of the Real Maestranza in Seville experienced a night of intense emotions this Thursday, July 16, with the final of the Rumbo al Futuro contest. Israel Guirao, representing the Valencia Bullfighting School, took first place after walking away with two ears, demonstrating a maturity and bullfighting concept that surprised the audience.
A performance that built up
From the first calf, Guirao made his intentions clear. He went to portagayola in the greeting and, after a complicated start, dedicated the performance to the stands. Little by little, he found the right spot for the calf from Gabriel Rojas, which offered better conditions on the left horn. The Valencian fought with good timing, keeping the charge close to the muleta and delivering natural passes of great cleanliness.
When the animal seemed to be asking for the end, Guirao raised the performance again with a daring display, linking passes behind his back without hardly moving from the spot. He finished with bernardinas and, after a slightly misplaced and contrary thrust, walked away with the first ear. The audience, which filled more than half the venue, acknowledged the merit with a resounding ovation.
The fifth, the crowning
In his second calf, the fifth of the evening, Guirao again demonstrated that he had come to win. He went to portagayola once more and had to throw himself onto the ground to avoid being trampled. After a good reception with the cape, he started the muleta work with a change behind the back. The calf, a manso encastado, threatened to back off, but the Valencian read the charge perfectly.
He held it with intelligence, gave it just the right amount of time, and found the necessary timing to perform well on both horns. The calmness of the young bullfighter surprised with its maturity unusual for a beginner. He heard a warning before cutting another ear with a half thrust, certifying an indisputable triumph and first place in the contest.
Manuel León and Armando Rojo, second places
The second prize went to Manuel León, from the Badajoz Bullfighting School, who also cut two ears. In his first, he performed with poise on a calf that grew during the performance, and in the fourth, he again gave his all, going to portagayola and featuring an exciting start on his knees. Despite a tumble, the Extremaduran left nothing behind.
The third-placed contestant, Armando Rojo, representing the Seville Bullfighting School, left the most classic and artistic mark of the final. He greeted his first with faroles and verónicas of great taste, and in the sixth, he delivered the most inspired passages of the night, with a cartucho de pescado that thrilled the audience. However, the lack of experience and the sword denied him a prize he had nearly grasped with the cape and the muleta.
A night of bullfighting in Seville
The novillada, from Gabriel Rojas, was well presented and interesting, with varied play, mobility, and depth, very much in the house style. It allowed the three finalists to shine and provided the best conclusion to a promotional cycle that shows that the future of bullfighting continues to find one of its best showcases in Seville. The summer night, with a breeze and more than half full, was the perfect setting for an evening that also held a minute of silence for the victims of the Almería fire.
For the Seville fans, Armando Rojo's performance left a bittersweet taste: his art and purity were evident, but the lack of experience and accuracy prevented him from reaching the highest podium. Undoubtedly, the student from the Seville School has talent, and the audience reminded him with warm applause at the end of his performance. The Rumbo al Futuro contest, a classic of the summer bullfighting in the capital of Seville, remains the unmissable event to see the bullfighters of tomorrow.
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