CORRIDA DE CINTAS EL FAZ


   It's fiesta time of year and a little village close by, held its
first ever fiesta. It was a small afair but turned out to be very
well attended. With its own statue of St Antonio, patron saint
of farm animals. An outdoor mass was held and blessings
given. Followed by an antique car rally, free paella for all, a
bouncy castle and stalls. The highlight was to be the Corrida
de cinta or the ribbon competition. ( involving horses and riders)

   As with all these gatherings it took time to come together.
Horses and riders arrived from far and wide. All dressed in their
finest chaps, spurs and tassels. Well groomed mounts with
plaited manes and decorated saddles, more like arm chairs.
The excited competitors strutted their stuff amongst the spectator's.
Young and old wandering amongst the mares and stallions.
There were no saftey barriers all milling and mixing together. The
riders wore no hard hats. They were mostly male with one smart lone
lady rider. They pranced, trotted and showed themselves off amongst
the onlookers.

   Eventually all began to gather along a dirt track. Two poles were
erected either side, with a wire strung between the pair. Ribbons
had been wound around the wire, on the end of each was attached
a small plastic loop. The idea being that the riders, armed with a
pencil, gallope up the track and when passing under the wire trys to
hook off a ribbon, releasing it like a banner behind.

   So the riders on their stomping, snorting, steeds loosely organised
themselves to begin. One by one they galloped up and tried to capture
a loop.Easier said than done. The most successfull was Don Quixote on
his clapped out steed with bent back. He trotted up in a hobble de dee
fashion and being rather tall just reached up and scored several bulls
eyes. His side kick Sancho faired less well.

   The most confident rider, an aloof man dressed like a picador, his
hand on his hip, the other holding the reins, faired even less well.
Carrying a pencil instead of a pike, mounted on a stupendous
stallion, heavily controlled with bit, spurs and martingale, he urged
his mount forward and galloped at full pelt towards the loops.
It was the slapping noise that drew my attention, like a thaking.
I looked up and there flapping from side to side was the mounts huge
manhood. The rider thought that he was king of the corrida!
We thought 'GOOD LORD'.