Feria d’Arles: The merit of Samuel Navalon during a difficult novillada

Samuel Navalon a obtenu le premier trophée de la Feria. Midi Libre – Stéphan Guin

Samuel Navalon a obtenu le premier trophée de la Feria. Midi Libre – Stéphan Guin

Samuel Navalon a obtenu le premier trophée de la Feria. Midi Libre – Stéphan Guin

Samuel Navalon a obtenu le premier trophée de la Feria. Midi Libre – Stéphan Guin

Niño Julian facing a very serious novillo from Turquay. Midi Libre – Stéphan Guin

Niño Julian shone during the first tercios against the opening novillo. Midi Libre – Stéphan Guin

Niño Julian shone during the first tercios against the opening novillo. Midi Libre – Stéphan Guin

For the opening novillada of the Feria, the weather conditions and the livestock put the two novilleros to the test. The will of Niño Julian was not enough to shine and Navalon obtained the only trophy of the novillada.

Luck did not smile on Arles for the opening novillada with precipitation which cast doubt on the organization of the opening show. In the end, the paseo started half an hour late thanks to the protection work upstream which made it possible to provide a track in good condition. But the wind, which increased this morning, and the difficulties of the novillos put the two novilleros to the test.

Niño Julian launched the feria against a novillo from Blohorn against whom he demonstrated his usual ease with the cape and banderillas. The two novilleros then engaged in a beautiful duel at quite with a combo of cape passes for Samuel Navalon (tafarella, gaonera, saltillero , will fly again) to which the Nîmes responded with his adjusted chicuelinas.

Niño Julian delivered a technical and committed faena against novillo who was coming inside with a touch of violence. Not without having undergone two beautiful buffers before experiencing difficulties with the steels.

The bravery of the novillo of Turquay

The Nîmes then faced a second very serious novillo from Turquay. The animal showed great bravery during the first tercios and willingly lowered its head into the muleta during its first charge but proved very complicated during the following ones. With the violent gusts, the Nîmes experienced great difficulties before finishing with skill with the sword.

Samuel Navalon confirmed during this morning that he was one of the best novilleros in escalafon. With exemplary commitment and will, he ignored the risk caused by the wind and the conditions of the novillo of La Golosina, also very serious, who refused to lower his head in his cape and muleta.

The Tardieu novillo class

His courage earned him two severe shoves which led him to the infirmary but his series of natural movements were very effective in these conditions. Navalon closed the race against the best novillo of the day marked by the iron of Tardieu. An armed and well-proportioned toro which had a beautiful nobility on the right horn.

Without such a wind, the faena would probably have taken on an extra dimension but the Spaniard still made several quality series to cut the first ear of the Feria.

The novillada sheet

Arènes d’Arles.

1/4 input. Strong wind.

4 novillos from Blohorn, La Golosina, Turquay and Tardieu frères.

Niño Julian : silence after two notices and silence after notice.

Samuel Navalon : vuelta et ear.