07/02/2012

Aimar Olaizola wins his third txapela in the hand version of Basque pelota

Aimar Olaizola has beaten Juan Martínez de Irujo in the final of Manomanista 2012, the championship for Basque pelota played with bare hands. The pelotari, or pelota player, from Goizueta has played a stunning final against the front-court player from Aspe and has been crowned with his third txapela, or Basque beret, in the Manomanista championship. Olaizola II hardly put a foot wrong in the final and ended up running rings around Martínez de Irujo, who could do nothing to raise his game. After winning the championship in 2005 and 2007, this front-court player from Navarre has won his third Manomanista title against one of his fiercest rivals.