Bertsozale Elkartea workers and volunteers were preparing for several days to develop Illunbe Square. At 15:30 today the doors have been opened and the chairs have been filled until everything is ready for 17:00: organisers, butchers, judges, bertsolaris and, of course, the eight protagonists: : Alaia Martin Etxebeste, Andoni Rekondo Izagirre, Ane Labaka Mayoz, Aner Peritz Manterola Euzkitze, BEÑAT Gaztelumendi Arandia, Eneritz Artetxe Eizagirre, Nerea Elustondo Plazaaran and Oihana Iguaranar. Ane Ezenarro Beristain has been in charge of presenting the programme and, after the introduction, the more than 6,500 fans who have met in Illumbe have given the approval at the entrance.

The first part of the exercise has been conducted by presenter Iker Iriarte Iribar, who has come the time for the sharing of the test. “The two bertsolaris that will pass to the manomanist, in alphabetical order, will be Alaia Martin Etxebeste and Beñat Gaztelumendi Arandia. Applause again.

Three other exercises and eight judges have also been completed. Today the responsibility for this work has been as follows: Bakarne Urreaga Etxeberria, Eneritz Azkue Basurko, Iñigo Legorburu Arrangi, Karlos Ibarguren Olalde, Leire Beloki Lizarralde and Oihana Aranguren Etxaniz. Once all the scores were added, Secretary Aratz Irazustabarrena Garmendia has taken the sheet of scores to the stage. So yes, that is what Ane Ezenarro Beristain said: Champion of the Bertsolaris Championship in Gipuzkoa 2024:Alaia Martin Etxebeste

This is how the BBVA League qualifies:

1. Alaia Martin Etxebeste..................................................
2. Beñat Gaztelumendi Arandia................1,054.5
3. Oihana Iguaran Barandiaran ...........................637
4. Ane Labaka Mayoz.................................................626
5. Aner Peritz Manterola Euzkitze.................617
6. Nerea Elustondo Plazaola............................590
7. Andoni Rekondo Izagirre........................... 578.5
8. Eneritz Artetxe Eizagirre.................................574.5

Bertso eskolas, on the stage

At the award ceremony, the Bertsolaris have been on the stage with representatives of the bertsolaris schools in Gipuzkoa, represented by Unai Gaztelumendi Arandia. There have also been more awards: The award for the best bertsolari sub 25 has been for Aner Peritz Manterola Euzkitze, at the hand of Patxi Goikolea Zabala: A work by the artist Larraitz Iparragirre Guenetxea.

BEÑAT Gaztelumendi received the award on behalf of the Association of Bertsolaris of the Basque Country, a work by Koldobika Jauregi Zinkunegi, from the hand of his management colleague Ekaitz Elorriaga Anduaga.

And finally, the txapela: Arantzazu Loidi Garitano has been in charge of putting the golden brooch on the txapela Alaia Martin. Both Goikolea and Loidi have acted on behalf of the bertsolaris Almen school, representing that bertsos school that was created 50 years ago.