Julián Retegi
Encyclopedia
Julián Retegui Barbería, also known as Retegi II (born in Eratsun
, Navarre
, Spain
on October 10, 1954) is an ex-player of Basque pelota. He is also called "El mago de Eratsun" (Spanish: "The wizard of Eratsun"), since he is considered one of the best Basque pelota players of all time. He played as a foreplayer.
Nephew of Juan Ignacio Retegi (another pelotari who won the pelota championship six times, usually known as Retegi I), he started to get interested in the Basque pelota when he was a child. He worked as a stonecutter and in the wood industry. On July 14, 1974 he started his professional career as a pelotari in the Cinema frontón of Zarautz
(Gipuzkoa), having as a partner another pelotari, Juaristi. They were defeated by Azorena and Etxeandia by 22-21. One year later, in 1975, he won his first championship, the 2nd Hand-Pelota singles championship
.
He has been the pelotari who has singlehandedly won the 1st Hand-Pelota singles championship
more times than any other player. He has won a total of eleven times: every year from 1980 to 1988 and in 1990 and 1993. He has also won the Spanish Championship in pairs: in 1988, 1990, 1991, 1995 and in 1997. On December 13, 1997 he won his last prize, the Basque Championship of 4½ against Titin III in the Ogeta Frontón of Gasteiz. Since then, due to his regular lesions, he didn't win more prizes. He played his last match on September 20, 2001, in the Adarraga frontón, Logroño
, with Barriola against Olaizola II and Armendariz
. He lost 18-22. In total, he has won 22 prizes, being the pelotari who has won the most prizes in the history of Basque pelota and has played around 1,407 matches, 843 of which he won.
For some years now he has been working in Asegarce
, the company in which Karlos Arguiñano
is a partner. His son, Julen Retegi, is also a pelotari. He debuted in the same town his father did, Zarauz, but in a different frontón called Aritzbatalde in July 2005. He wears the name Retegi Bi in honour of his father (Bi means two in Basque, the number Julián wore), although the name should have been Retegi VIII due to their dynasty as pelotaris.
Eratsun
Eratsun is a town and municipality located in the province and autonomous community of Navarre, northern Spain.-External links:*...
, Navarre
Navarre
Navarre , officially the Chartered Community of Navarre is an autonomous community in northern Spain, bordering the Basque Country, La Rioja, and Aragon in Spain and Aquitaine in France...
, Spain
Spain
Spain , officially the Kingdom of Spain languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Spain's official name is as follows:;;;;;;), is a country and member state of the European Union located in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula...
on October 10, 1954) is an ex-player of Basque pelota. He is also called "El mago de Eratsun" (Spanish: "The wizard of Eratsun"), since he is considered one of the best Basque pelota players of all time. He played as a foreplayer.
Nephew of Juan Ignacio Retegi (another pelotari who won the pelota championship six times, usually known as Retegi I), he started to get interested in the Basque pelota when he was a child. He worked as a stonecutter and in the wood industry. On July 14, 1974 he started his professional career as a pelotari in the Cinema frontón of Zarautz
Zarautz
Zarautz is a coastal town located in the province of Gipuzkoa, in the Basque Country, northern Spain.The town is a popular tourist destination with the population swelling from its usual 22,812 to around 60,000 in summer. The Palace of Narros, located adjacent to Zarautz's 2.8 km long beach,...
(Gipuzkoa), having as a partner another pelotari, Juaristi. They were defeated by Azorena and Etxeandia by 22-21. One year later, in 1975, he won his first championship, the 2nd Hand-Pelota singles championship
2nd Hand-Pelota singles championship
The 2nd Hand-Pelota singles championship is the second most important hand-pelota tournament.The championship is played since 1957 and has been the previous scenario for future 1st category pelotaris such as Retegi I, Retegi II, Arretxe, Beloki I and Olaizola II.The winner of the tourment earns the...
.
He has been the pelotari who has singlehandedly won the 1st Hand-Pelota singles championship
1st Hand-Pelota singles championship
The 1st Hand-Pelota singles championship is the most important tournament competition of Hand-pelota category of Basque pelota. It was created in 1940, when the new Basque Pelota Spanish Federation, to have a champion of the category. In its beginnings, the championship was disputed every two...
more times than any other player. He has won a total of eleven times: every year from 1980 to 1988 and in 1990 and 1993. He has also won the Spanish Championship in pairs: in 1988, 1990, 1991, 1995 and in 1997. On December 13, 1997 he won his last prize, the Basque Championship of 4½ against Titin III in the Ogeta Frontón of Gasteiz. Since then, due to his regular lesions, he didn't win more prizes. He played his last match on September 20, 2001, in the Adarraga frontón, Logroño
Logroño
Logroño is a city in northern Spain, on the Ebro River. It is the capital of the autonomous community of La Rioja, formerly known as La Rioja Province.The population of Logroño in 2008 was 153,736 and a metropolitan population of nearly 197,000 inhabitants...
, with Barriola against Olaizola II and Armendariz
Armendáriz
Armendáriz is a Basque surname that may refer to:*Alejandro Armendáriz, an Argentine physician and politician, governor of Buenos Aires province *José de Armendáriz, a Spanish soldier and colonial administrator...
. He lost 18-22. In total, he has won 22 prizes, being the pelotari who has won the most prizes in the history of Basque pelota and has played around 1,407 matches, 843 of which he won.
For some years now he has been working in Asegarce
Asegarce
Asegarce is an Basque event production and deportive license company, mainly devoted to Basque pelota. Through the Bainet company, it has also made audiovisual productions.-History:...
, the company in which Karlos Arguiñano
Karlos Arguiñano
Karlos Arguiñano Urkiola is a chef, popular TV presenter and producer.His devotion to cuisine started when he was a child and helped at home because he was the eldest of four brothers and had a disabled mother.Before beginning his training in the field of cooking, he worked for CAF, a rail car...
is a partner. His son, Julen Retegi, is also a pelotari. He debuted in the same town his father did, Zarauz, but in a different frontón called Aritzbatalde in July 2005. He wears the name Retegi Bi in honour of his father (Bi means two in Basque, the number Julián wore), although the name should have been Retegi VIII due to their dynasty as pelotaris.
1st Hand-pelota singles championship
Retegi participated for the first time in this championship in 1979, but he didn't win. One year later he arrived at the finals and won against Maiz II. From that day on he started his brilliant career, getting to the finals from 1980 to 1993, and winning the championship eleven times.| Year | Champion | Subchampion | Score | Fronton |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1980 | Retegi II | Maiz II | 22-14 | Anoeta |
| 1981 | Retegi II | García Ariño IV | 22-11 | Anoeta |
| 1982 | Retegi II | García Ariño IV | 22-09 | Anoeta |
| 1983 | Retegi II | Galarza III | 22-16 | Anoeta |
| 1984 | Retegi II | Galarza III | 22-21 | Anoeta |
| 1985 | Retegi II | Galarza III | 22-13 | Anoeta |
| 1986 | Retegi II | Tolosa | 22-12 | Anoeta |
| 1987 | Retegi II | Tolosa | 22-16 | Anoeta |
| 1988 | Retegi II | Galarza III | 22-09 | Anoeta |
| 1989 | Tolosa | Retegi II | 22-19 | Anoeta |
| 1990 | Retegi II | Tolosa | 22-08 | Anoeta |
| 1991 | Galarza III | Retegi II | 22-15 | Anoeta |
| 1992 | Galarza III | Retegi II | 22-12 | Anoeta |
| 1993 | Retegi II | Galarza III | 22-19 | Anoeta |
2nd hand-pelota singles championship
| Year | Champion | Subchampion | Score | Fronton |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1975 | Retegi II | García Ariño IV | 22-10 | Anoeta |
1st hand-pelota doubles championship
| Year | Champions | Subchampions | Score | Fronton |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1987-88 | Retegi II - Errandonea | Ladutxe - Martinikorena | 22-16 | Anoeta |
| 1988-89 | Ladutxe - Tolosa | Retegi II - Arretxe | 22-18 | Anoeta |
| 1989-90 | Retegi II - Errandonea | Vergara II - Etxenagusia (1) | 22-03 | Anoeta |
| 1990-91 | Retegi II - Arretxe | Salaberria - Galarza III | 22-19 | Anoeta |
| 1993-94 | Titin III Augusto Ibáñez Sacristán Augusto Ibáñez Sacristán is a Basque pelota forward player. Champion of the Doubles Hand-pelota tournaments of 1994, 2000 y 2004.-Professional career:... - Arretxe |
Retegi II - Beloki | 22-14 | Ogueta Ogueta fronton Ogueta is a short Basque pelota fronton located in Vitoria, in Álava Province, Basque Country, Spain-History:Ogueta was built in 1979 for the need of a high capacity fronton for the important events of professional pelota... |
| 1994-95 | Retegi II - Errandonea | Unanue - Zezeaga | 22-17 | Atano III Atano III fronton Atano III is a Basque pelota short fronton, located in San Sebastián, in the Basque Country, Spain.-History:The fronton was built in 1963 by the municipality, due to the high demand by the professional and aficionate players of the Guipúzcoa province, originally named Anoeta fronton.In 1995, after... |
| 1996-97 | Retegi II - Lasa III | Eugi - Zezeaga | 22-14 | Atano III Atano III fronton Atano III is a Basque pelota short fronton, located in San Sebastián, in the Basque Country, Spain.-History:The fronton was built in 1963 by the municipality, due to the high demand by the professional and aficionate players of the Guipúzcoa province, originally named Anoeta fronton.In 1995, after... |
Cuatro y Medio Euskadi Championship
| Year | Champion | Subchampion | Score | Fronton |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1989 | Retegi II | Galarza III | 22-06 | Anoeta |
| 1990 | Retegi II | Galarza III | 22-15 | Anoeta |
| 1991 | Retegi II | Eugi | 22-07 | Ogueta Ogueta fronton Ogueta is a short Basque pelota fronton located in Vitoria, in Álava Province, Basque Country, Spain-History:Ogueta was built in 1979 for the need of a high capacity fronton for the important events of professional pelota... |
| 1997 | Retegi II | Titín III | 22-21 | Ogueta Ogueta fronton Ogueta is a short Basque pelota fronton located in Vitoria, in Álava Province, Basque Country, Spain-History:Ogueta was built in 1979 for the need of a high capacity fronton for the important events of professional pelota... |