The town of Tiagua is gearing up to host the XLVII pelotamano match on Saturday, 6th September at 5 PM, as part of the Socorro festivities. This event keeps alive one of the oldest sports traditions in Lanzarote.
Pelotamano is a historic game played on a dirt court measuring sixty paces long and eight paces wide. It features teams of five players and a scoring system comprising points labelled 15, 30, 40, and 50, known as “chicos”. Five chicos make up a “pajero”. The ball is bounced from the ground and returned until a foul is committed or a line is called, combining skill, reflexes, and strategy.
This tradition has documented roots since 1596 when a notarial protocol mentioned a tribute related to a ball game in Teguise, highlighting the significance of pelotamano in Lanzarote’s history. While its practice declined in the 20th century, it continued sporadically in towns such as Teguise, Tiagua, and Soo, according to the organisers.
The Tiagua match began in the summer of 1978 to revive the sport during the summer months. It is played today on the court in front of the house of Juan Bonilla (currently Achamán street), where the traditional punch—a drink made of rum, water, sugar, cinnamon, and lemon peel—was also revived.
Among the participating players are veterans and celebrated names from the local sport, such as Cayetano Tavío, Nicasio Acuña, Benigno Rodríguez, Juan Guillen, Juan Bonilla, Pepe Guerra, Feliciano Hernández, Manuel Arbelo, Julián Martín, Francisco Betancor, José Cáceres, Antonio Rojas, José de León, Víctor Bonilla, and Manuel Betancor. The match will also see the attendance of former players and enthusiasts, including the renowned bouncer Domingo Cabrera and the brothers Agustín, Juan Hernández, and Andrés Mesa.
This event represents a direct link to the cultural memory of Lanzarote and an opportunity for young people and visitors to discover a sport that has withstood the test of time, preserving the identity and tradition of Tiagua and its surroundings, as highlighted by the organisers.
