The French Federation of Basque Pelota (FFPB) has just unveiled the list of its selected players for the World Pelota Championships in Biarritz in October. We find there most of the medalists of Barcelona 2018 where France had won the 1st place in the ranking of the countries, but also some surprises.
In 2018 in Barcelona, France had won 5 gold medals in bare hands in head-to-head and team trinquet, in women’s rubber paleta in trinquet and wall on the left, and finally in pala corta. Thanks to its 7 silver medals, it had become the most successful country.
– Stephane Garcia
The Basque Country provides the largest contingent of players, but there are also licensees from Béarn, Landes, Toulouse, Pamiers, and Reunion Island.
The list of pilotari selected
trinquet
Bare hand head to head, Manuel Martiarena (coach)
- Baptiste Ducassou (Itsasuarrak, Itxassou-Itsasu)
- Mathieu Ospital (Goizeko Izarra, St-Jean Pied de Port-Donibane Garazi)
Barehanded 2×2, Manuel Martiarena (coach)
- Peio Larralde (Noizbait, Hasparren-Hazparne)
- Mickael Darmendrail (ASEskulari, Lahonce Villefranque-Lehuntze Milafranga)
- Andoni Iphar (Goizeko Izarra, St-Jean Pied de Port-Donibane Garazi)
Paleta Pelote leather, Christian Duprat (coach)
- Denis Larretche (front) (Urruñarrak, Urrugne-Urruña)
- Thibault Lecheren (forward) (Biarritz Athletic Club, Biarritz)
- Antoine Goarderes Pilotari (former alternate) (Pilotari Club Oloronais, Oloron Ste Marie)
- Valentin Cambos (back) (Endaiarrak, Hendaye-Hendaia)
- Alexandre Lolibe (back) (Future of Bizanos, Bizanos)
- Mickael Labourdique (alternate full-back) (Urruñarrak, Urrugne-Urruña)
Xare, Jean-Paul Labat (coach)
- Eneko de Paredès (front) (Hardoytarrak, Anglet-Angelu)
- Olivier Laberdesque (forward) (Section Paloise, Pau)
- Mati Borteyru Noizbait (former substitute) (Noizbait, Hasparren-Hazparne)
- Bruno Driolet (back) (Hardoytarrak, Anglet-Angelu)
- Oihan Borteyru (back) (Noizbait, Hasparren-Hazparne)
- Bixente Etchebest (alternate fullback) (US St Palais Amikuze, Saint Palais-Donapaleu)
Paleta hollow gum women, Charles Sallaberry (coach)
- Amaia Etchelecu (front) (Luzean, Saint Jean de Luz-Donibane Lohizune)
- Aizkoa Iturriño (formerly) (Urruñarrak, Urrugne-Urruña)
- Maritxu Housset Rosary (rear) (Arbonarrak, Arbonne-Arbona)
- Sylvie Halsouet (back) (Urruñarrak, Urrugne-Urruña)
Women’s frontball, Romain Philippe (coach)
- Maritxu Housset Rosary (Arbonarrak, Arbonne-Arbona)
- Marie Goyenetche (St-Pée Union Club, Saint Pée Sur Nivelle-Senpere)
- Onela Bereau-Laffite (alternate) (Kanboarrak, Cambo Les Bains-Kanbo)
Men’s frontball, Romain Philippe (coach)
- Yoan Heguiabehere (Biarritz Athletic Club, Biarritz)
- Mickael Massonde (Atzarri, Souraide-Zuraide)
- Andoni Larzabal (Arbonarrak, Arbonne-Arbona)
Fronton wall on the left 30m
Paleta hollow gum women, Ramuntxo Belly (coach)
- Maialen Guilenteguy (St-Perdon Basque pelota, Saint-Perdon)
- Aizkoa Iturriño (Urruñarrak, Urrugne-Urruña)
- Argitxu Behasteguy (St-Pée Union Club, Saint Pée Sur Nivelle-Senpere)
Paleta hollow gum men, Kévin Hiton (coach)
- Kevin Pucheux (Pelote Lasseuboise, Lasseube)
- Théo Pucheux (Pelote Lasseuboise, Lasseube)
- Alexandre Marque (Pelote Lasseuboise, Lasseube)
Frontenis Women Christine Dothen (coach)
- Louise Coyos (forward) (Pilota Hutxa, Mouguerre-Mugerre)
- Tatiana Sentier (before) (Pilota Hutxa, Mouguerre-Mugerre)
- Claire Bordagaray-Dutaret (back) (Zaharrer-Segi, St-Etienne de Baigorry-Baigorri)
- Lorea Escudero (Aviron Bayonnais, Bayonne-Baiona)
Frontenis Men Christophe Jeleznoff (coach)
- Théo Pucheux (front) (Pelote Lasseuboise, Lasseube)
- Alexandre Jany (forward) (Biarritz Frontenis Club, Biarritz)
- Maël Pucheux (former substitute) (Pelote Lasseuboise, Lasseube)
- Aritz Azpeitia (back) (Biarritz Frontenis Club -Biarritz
- Axel Beau (rear) (Pilotari Club Tarbais green oak -Tarbes)
- Tom Perol (alternate full-back) (Pilotari Club Briviste, Brive)
Fronton wall on the left 36 meters
Pala corta Jean-Pierre Michelena (coach)
- Pierre Adrien Casteran (front) (Pilotari Club Tarbais Chêne Vert, Tarbes)
- Dan Necol (front) (Lous Marous, St-Geours de Maremne)
- Simon Brian (former substitute) (Pelotari Marmandais Val de Garonne, Marmande)
- Sylvain Brefel (back) (Stade Toulousain Pelote Basque, Toulouse)
- Bastien Quintana (back) (Mont Pelote, Mont)
- Etienne Trannoy (substitute full-back) (Stade Toulousain, Toulouse)
Paleta ball of leather Christian Latxague (coach)
- Lucas Hourçourigaray (forward) (Section Paloise, Pau)
- Christophe de Elizondo (front) (St-Martin Seignanx Pelote, St Martin Seignanx)
- Valentin Duguine (former substitute) (St-Martin Seignanx Pelote, St Martin de Seignanx)
- Nicolas Hourmat (back) (Club Amical Stéphanois, St-Etienne d’Orthe)
- Benoit Chatellier (ASC Pelotari Club Chaudron, Reunion Island)
- Bastien Picard (alternate full-back) (Stade Toulousain Pelote Basque, Toulouse)
Cesta Punta
Cesta Punta women, Didier Lopez (coach)
- Oihana Sorozabal (forward) (Biarritz Athletic Club, Biarritz)
- Marie Laugie (forward) (Club Ariège Pyrenees, Pamiers)
- Laureline Cariteau (forward) (Biarritz Athletic Club, Biarritz)
- Romane Mercadie (back) Club Ariège Pyrenees-Pamiers
- Aude Laugie (back) (Club Ariège Pyrenees, Pamiers)
- Xana Gonzalez (back) _(_Biarritz Athletic Club, Biarritz)
Cesta Punta men, Philippe Etcheberry (coach)
- Jean-Dominique Olharan (front) (Section Paloise, Pau)
- Ludovic Laduche (front) (Olharroa, Guéthary-Getaria)
- Jon Luzean Tambourindeguy (front) (Luzean, St Jean de Luz-Donibane Lohizune)
- Nicolas Etcheto (Olharroa, Guéthary-Getaria)
- Eric Irastorza (Biarritz Athletic Club, Biarritz)
- David Minvielle (Biarritz Athletic Club, Biarritz)
For some specialties, the selected will not be known until September, this is the case for the men’s hollow gum paleta, and the men’s bare hand on the wall on the left