The young bullfighter Javier Fernández from Herencia took a significant step in his burgeoning career by making his debut with picadors on Wednesday at the Plaza de Toros in Ciudad Real. He also managed to cut the only ear awarded during a three-hour novillada held as part of the Virgen del Prado Fair, dedicated to the memory of breeder Santiago Barrero San Román.
Key points from Javier Fernández’s debut in 30 seconds
- Javier Fernández debuted with picadors in Ciudad Real and cut the only ear given during the event.
- The Herenciano received his two novillos at porta gayola and showed determination against a challenging lot.
- He earned an ear from his first novillo after a warning and was applauded after two warnings with the fifth.
- Aparicio Romero also made his debut with picadors and left a good impression, although he lost opportunities with the sword.
- The novillada paid tribute to the late breeder Santiago Barrero San Román.
The event held special significance for provincial bullfighting, featuring Javier Fernández and Aparicio Romero, both students from the Ciudad Real School of Bullfighting and debuting with picadors. The festivities were influenced by the uneven behavior of the Toros de San Román novillos and failures with the sword.
For Fernández, this afternoon marked the start of a new chapter. Transitioning to novilladas with picadors raises the stakes, confronting the bullfighter with older, larger animals, and introduces the third act involving the lance. The Herenciano left his debut with a trophy in hand.
Javier Fernández received both his novillos at porta gayola
The bullfighter from Herencia made his intent known right from the start. He received his first novillo at porta gayola, a bold move to kick off an important afternoon.
The San Román novillo was slow and offered little opportunity for a sustained performance. Fernández had to gain ground to entice the animal, and although the charges were infrequent, he managed to deliver some standout moments.
After a nearly complete sword thrust and a miss, the audience called for a reward, and Javier Fernández paraded an ear after the warning. This turned out to be the only trophy awarded during the three-hour event.
The Herenciano showcased his resolve again with the fifth novillo. He chose to wait on his knees at the gate and later continued his capote greeting on his knees as well.
In the banderillas, Francisco Rodríguez and Miguel Ángel Ramírez notably received applause after their passes.
With the muleta, Fernández encountered another bull that required stimulus to keep its charge going. The novillero had to search for it in close quarters and push firmly to create continuity. When the animal responded, the audience cheered with excitement.
However, the sword prevented the performance from being fully rounded. Three attempts and a nearly complete thrust concluded a segment that ended with applause and greetings after two warnings.
The final outcome of the debut was thus an ear and applause, enough to make the Herencia bullfighter the only participant in the trio to take a trophy home.
Aparicio Romero offers intriguing details in his debut and Reinosa shows determination
The other debut with picadors of the afternoon belonged to Aparicio Romero from Arenas de San Juan. His performance against the third bull left several impressively artistic moments.
The original bull had to be replaced after injuring a front leg. The substitute was noble but lacked intensity. Romero excelled from the start with a veronica and later displayed calm with the muleta, controlling the charge at mid-height.
The novillero dedicated his performance to Jesús de Natalia, a matador acting as a banderillero in his team. The high helps in the final moments were another highlight, but mishaps with the sword reduced the result to applause after a warning.
With the sixth bull, the situation changed dramatically. The animal showed danger from both sides, prompting Romero to shorten the fight. He ended his debut with picadors receiving applause and silence.
Adrián Reinosa, who opened the program, encountered a first novillo that lacked engagement and didn’t complete its trips. The wind did not help either. The bullfighter from Ruidera showed will but struggled to string together clean series.
In the fourth, he faced another difficult animal to maintain a fluid performance. Reinosa spent considerable time in front trying to extract potential, though without achieving the desired brilliance. His balance was silence after a warning in his two appearances.
An afternoon dedicated to Santiago Barrero San Román
The event was also conceived as a tribute to the breeder Santiago Barrero San Román, who passed away at the age of 30 during an event in Beas de Segura last April.
After the paseíllo, a minute of silence was held in his memory, and his widow received a commemorative plaque. The recognition involved the president of the Diputación de Ciudad Real, Miguel Ángel Valverde; the vice president of the provincial institution, Adrián Fernández; the mayor of Ciudad Real, Francisco Cañizares; and businessman Nacho Lloret.
Six novillos from Toros de San Román were fought, presenting uneven behavior. The first and second were noble but lacked spirit; the third was noble yet dull; the fourth had more caste, albeit slow; the fifth was manageable, and the sixth posed greater challenges.
The event lasted approximately three hours and accumulated six warnings, a duration influenced by lengthy performances, the behavior of the animals, and mistakes with the sword.
For Herencia, however, the afternoon leaves a specific image: Javier Fernández parading an ear around the arena of Ciudad Real on his debut with picadors.
This date marks another step in an ongoing journey. The results do not guarantee what will happen in future commitments, but they allow the young bullfighter to begin this phase with a trophy in a particularly familiar arena and in front of fans from across the province.
Event details
Venue: Plaza de Toros de Ciudad Real. First fair event. Novillada with picadors in homage to Santiago Barrero San Román. Less than half-full.
Livestock: Six novillos from Toros de San Román, with varied presentation and behavior.
Adrián Reinosa: silence after a warning and silence after a warning.
Javier Fernández: ear after a warning and applause with greetings after two warnings.
Aparicio Romero: applause with greetings after a warning and silence.
Incidents: Javier Fernández and Aparicio Romero debuted with picadors. A minute of silence was observed for Santiago Barrero San Román, and a commemorative plaque was presented to his widow. Miguel Ángel Ramírez and Francisco Rodríguez received applause after banderilleando the fifth.
Frequently Asked Questions
How did Javier Fernández fare in his debut with picadors?
The bullfighter from Herencia cut an ear from his first novillo and received applause with greetings after dealing with the second of his lot.
Where did Javier Fernández debut with picadors?
His debut took place at the Plaza de Toros de Ciudad Real, during the Virgen del Prado Fair.
Who participated in the Ciudad Real novillada?
The line-up included Adrián Reinosa, Javier Fernández, and Aparicio Romero. The latter two debuted with picadors and are students of the Ciudad Real School of Bullfighting.
To whom was the event dedicated?
The novillada paid tribute to breeder Santiago Barrero San Román, who passed away at 30 years old last April. A minute of silence was held before the start of the fights, and his widow received a commemorative plaque.
Photos from the City Council of Ciudad Real’s Facebook page.
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