Madrid bullfighter Sergio Rollón was carried shoulder-high through the main gate of El Bibio bullring in Gijón on Monday after cutting two ears during the final afternoon of the Feria de Begoña.
Rollón was not originally listed on the card for the novillada with picadors that closed the annual bullfighting festival in northern Spain. He entered the lineup as a late substitute for Álvaro Serrano, who was forced to withdraw after sustaining an injury during a recent bullfight in Dax, France.
El Bibio is the historic bullring located in Gijón, a coastal city in the northern Spanish region of Asturias. The arena hosts its headline taurine festival every August to mark the Feria de Begoña, featuring major matadors and novice bullfighters competing before local crowds.
In Spanish bullfighting, a novillada con picadores is a contest where apprentice bullfighters, known as novilleros, face young bulls accompanied by mounted picadors. Leaving through the main gate, or Puerta Grande, on the shoulders of spectators represents the highest honor of an afternoon and requires a performer to earn at least two trophy ears from the presidency.
Sergio Rollón's Winning Performance
Dressed in traditional white and silver, Rollón secured his main gate exit during his performance against the second steer of the afternoon. The animal, named Enemigo, was a chestnut steer with downward-pointing horns weighing 489 kilograms from the La Cercada breeding ranch.
Rollón opened his display dramatically by dropping to his knees at the center of the ring to perform a porta gayola pass, before guiding the beast toward the mounted lancers with a larga cambiada. Although the steer weakened following the initial pike strike, it regained stability during the final cape stage, following the red cloth with nobility and directness.
The Madrid native linked fluent cape passes on both sides to control the steer before delivering a decisive, full sword thrust that landed slightly behind target. Spectators applauded his skill and courage, successfully petitioning the arena presidency to award two ears before honoring Rollón with a lap of the ring.
Rollón returned for the fifth steer of the day, a dark brown animal named Relimpio listed at 14 kilograms. Fighting again on his knees, Rollón executed extended series of cape passes that put him on course for a third trophy of the evening.
His chances evaporated during the final kill when his sword work faltered. After an initial puncture and a poorly placed full thrust, Rollón required seven attempts with the descabello cross-guarded sword to dispatch the steer, settling for an official warning and a respectful ovation.
Emiliano Osornio's Opening Triumph
Mexican bullfighter Emiliano Osornio, wearing a suit of pearl grey and gold, opened Monday's card against the first steer, Bullidor, a chestnut weighing 485 kilograms. The native of Toluca drew applause during his initial cape work before delivering a convincing display with the muleta.
Osornio coaxed bravery from both horns of the noble steer with low cape passes as the animal dipped its head low into the cloth. He concluded the performance with a clean, full sword thrust to earn one trophy ear from the judges.
In his second appearance with the fourth steer, a dark brown 514-kilogram animal named Haragán, Osornio demonstrated ambition by greeting the bull with chicuelinas and revoleras. He then dropped to his knees in the center of the ring for a series of daring passes.
Despite being briefly disarmed by the steer without injury, Osornio completed a lively faena. He dispatched the animal with a slightly slanted full sword thrust and a second-attempt descabello under an official warning, earning a lap of honor from the stands.
Samuel Castrejón's Difficult Afternoon
Samuel Castrejón, a bullfighter from Pozuelo de Alarcón in Madrid dressed in catafalco black and jet, endured a difficult afternoon starting with the third steer, Clavelito. The chestnut steer, weighing 435 kilograms, charged aggressively into the horses and unseated a mounted picador.
The steer faded sharply after the banderillas stage, turning weak and reluctant while retreating toward the wooden perimeter barriers. Castrejón managed to center the animal for several stylish passes before killing with a puncture and half a vertical sword thrust, receiving silence from the audience.
Castrejón closed the afternoon against the sixth and final steer of the festival, a chestnut named Brasuco weighing 501 kilograms. The steer showed nobility and steady focus, allowing Castrejón to perform natural passes, chest passes, and chicuelinas.
However, Castrejón struggled during the kill, puncturing three times before delivering a perpendicular full sword thrust and completing the dispatch with a descabello. The crowd remained silent as the final steer of the festival was removed.
Event Summary and Livestock Details
The final event of the Feria de Begoña took place on a cloudy afternoon with a light breeze before a half-capacity crowd at El Bibio. The six steers from La Cercada were generally well-presented with good physique and bravery, with the exception of the third steer which proved tame and defensive.
The official record for the closing card registered one ear and a lap of honor for Emiliano Osornio, two ears and an ovation following a warning for Sergio Rollón, and double silence for Samuel Castrejón.
