The ball flies through the renovated Sineu Fronton

SinedLocal historians of Sineu tell us that "in the middle of the 17th century there was already oneBall triquette in front of the pit squareLater it is known that the façade or side of the church of San Francisco de Paula was used to play pelota. This is explained inDingola.

It wasn't until the 1940s that a fronton was built in the town of Sineu. A facility that would soon, after its inauguration for Saint Mark's Day in 1949, become an essential space not only for sport in the town, but also for social life.

In those years of sport and society on the fronton court, the pair formed by Pere Joan Florit and Jaume stood out.Boiret(Sineu, 1927-1998) and Gabriel Dalmau i Muntaner,Skeleton(Sine, 1913-1994). A couple who, according to Joan Vanrell, "played in a qualifying round of the 1952 Spanish Championship."

In the 1980s and until after COVID-19, the space was closed and used for other activities that ruined the fronton court. This was the case in 2022, when Madrid businessman Juan Fernández Mena saw the potential of this disused space. It was rehabilitated, modernized, and opened to the public. This renovation of the space earned him the Heritage Protection Award presented by the Association for the Revitalization of Old Towns (ARCA).

First Basque pelota championship

However, this summer, on August 12 and 13, the fronton opens its doors for the first edition of the 'Calet i Boiret' Basque pelota tournament. The two old glories of the fronton game, Pere JoanBoiretand GabrielSkeleton,who give their name to this first edition of the tournament and who, surely, would be delighted to see the pelota players back in their town's fronton.

Thus, this first tournament will feature eight players from the Basque Country and Catalonia who will compete, in pairs, over two days that will combine sport and celebration. This tournament will also be used to debut the remodeling of the court.

Thus, with a completely renovated court and walls ready to rock, one of the few remaining active frontons in Mallorca will host eight pelotarios: Mikel Goñi, Jonpe Artetxe, Iñaki Lizaso Zagueros, Julen Urruzola, Mikel Aranguren, Xa. Between them, they will form two teams: the Basque Country and Catalonia, while the pairs of players will be decided on August 11, with a draw at the Sineu Frontón itself.

For this occasion, the teams will have two very special 'botilleros' (botilleros). They will be Marisa Goñi, director of the Mallorca Diary, and Jagoba Arrasate, coach of Real Mallorca. It's worth remembering that the role of the "botilleros" has historically been similar to that of the coach, so their main mission is to help and support the pelotaris.

The program will begin on Tuesday, August 12th, at 6:30 pm, with an exhibition by Mallorcan pelotaris and will continue with the semifinal matches between the Basque Country and Catalonia teams. The final will be on Wednesday, August 13th, at 7 pm, with the corresponding awards ceremony by the Sineu City Council. Both days will also conclude with bauxa, drinks, and food, which both participants and the public will be able to enjoy.

The Calet i Boiret tournament will be held annually and was born from the desire of the current owner of the Frontón to commemorate the 75th anniversary of this space. Along these lines, the entrepreneur has also launched the Club Frontón y Pilota Mallorca sports club, with the aim of reactivating this sport in Sineu and serving as a catalyst for the rest of the frontons and pelotaris on the island.

Mallorcan Pelota Players

On August 12th, the day will feature Mallorcan pelotaris. Five members of the Basque House of Mallorca will play exhibition matches. They will be Kevin Mikkan, Edgar Munilla, Alberto Zarate, and Toni Canyelles.