Summer slipped away with a memory of another fair in 2023, like water slipping through fingers. People looked toward summer for bonfires, gunpowpowder smoke, monuments, and bullfights, and the season ended in a single breath.
Then came the task of recalling what remained in memory. An eight-hour stretch of bullfighting spilled into the afternoon. From behind the first bars, Diego Ventur offered a performance that reminded spectators why he led the rankings. He carried his partner on his shoulders as he exited. Andy Cartagena kept pace this time, choosing to keep the ear for himself in a moment that felt a bit showy, perhaps incongruous for someone with such a solid resume, and turning the ring into a spectacle. Lea Vicens earned the attention—though what lasting mark she left is a question that lingers.
There was also anticipation for the bullfighting school, welcoming students on Mondays and Tuesdays. Daniel Encinas El Potro, Alejandro Troya, Bryan Segurita, and Javier Cuartero demonstrated that happiness can bloom even in a harsh desert climate. Alicante has always been a town of bullfighters, yet this year tested the idea that training animals can resemble a small miracle. The idea was reinforced on Wednesday, when Santiago Espla and Borja Escudero did not shine at the height of Zacarías Moreno’s bullfight. Like any pursuit, progress requires constant practice. They earned more opportunity through demonstrated talent and loyal fans. That afternoon rookie Kevin Alcolado took a leap forward, delivering a comeback that showed a natural sense of rhythm and distance. Living up to a high standard is no easy feat, but a promising debut suggested a bright future. Presentations and big doors are part of the dream, and continued development will be essential.
Bad luck
The year carried its share of misfortune for the company. The fair design received praise, with several milestones marking it as one of the most complete series in memory. Operation Manzanares and the capture of Morante de la Puebla defined key climaxes, yet the producers managed to compensate for those losses. Bulls behave as bulls do, and a few management missteps added their own frustrations. Nacho Lloret noted that a poor start on the afternoon of the 24th stung. Even good approaches don’t always meet expectations.
Good outcomes were not always easy to come by, even in a season that offered much. The tone of the day could shift quickly, and the ring had its own voice.
And when it comes to bullfights, the record shows no single undeniable winner. The legacy of this fair will be remembered for generations. More ears might have found their way to some performers, yet it’s easy to see how the swords wandered away from their intended paths during the fair. There were bends, falls, and moments that live in the historian’s notes. Not counting one from Luque or another from Rafaelillo, there was not enough to save everything. Many warnings were heard, sometimes too many. In the bull ranks, Daniel Ruiz faced controversy on Saint’s Day. Cayetano, Emilio de Justo, and Juan Ortega did not shape decisive outcomes. Juan Pedro Domecq, at twenty-two, moved with limited intent, as the bull moved with the course of the event. The room offered a few striking moments. Fandi cut the ear needed to open the big door on a show that demanded artful sleight of hand and depth. The bullfight also watched Daniel Luque strike with grace in two performances that had a rough rhythm. The season made room for both triumphs and flaws, and the broader meaning of these moments lingered long after the final horn. Sebastian Castella offered a little spark that spoke to French flair when needed.
23 bullfights
The most entertaining night happened on the 23rd. River Victoria moved with renewed energy, delivering a leaner, more focused Juli than fans had seen before. The fourth bull’s two ears were a mirage, yet spectators still felt the pull of the spectacle. Thomas Rufo showed grit and determination, keeping the mission in sight and refusing to concede. He earned admiration by taking the necessary subordinate task with him. Fernando Sanchez repeated his performance against the Victorinos at Rafaelillo’s cue, delivering plenty of bullfighting intensity and efficiency across both afternoons. It was a luxury for true enthusiasts.
Then came Roca Rey, who walked the arena with a calm, precise cadence. He faced a docile opponent but challenged him head-on against an interesting fifth bull that fought bravely and encountered some breed-related issues. Given the moment, Peruvian prowess gained weight as the task required balance, control, and sharp hands. The record shows a compact, precise effort that combined determination with restraint, aided by skilled movement of the blade.
The photographs captured a moment: El Juli in one of his performances, a reminder of the craft.
Closing with the Victorians
The fair concluded with the bullfight run by Victor Martin, who delivered a performance that satisfied but did not surprise. He faced an early challenge, yet finished with a solid showing, earning praise from the president and a respectful response from the crowd. Rafaelillo’s double award carried extra weight given the breadth of the task he accomplished, perhaps with less depth than the animal’s quality but still registering as a notable achievement. Rafael Rubio emerged as the numerical winner of the festival’s highlights, adding three trophies by taking an extra ear from the fourth. It was a significant moment in the competition.
Manuel Escribano and Pablo Aguado did not share the same fortunes. Escribano could barely steady himself with the first, and though he put more on display against the striking fifth, he could only claim one ear. Aguado closed with a graceful veronica to the first and a steady, if measured, performance in the sixth that left room for improvement.
And so the fair closed with expectations that outpaced the results. The pace of patience now turns toward 2024, with a sense that more time will yield richer rewards. The longest wait finally ends with hope and a plan for the next season.