PYRENEAN ISTHMUS AND PERIPHERIA IN A FLASH

2012-06-18

COLOSAL DEMONSTRATION IN THE STREETS OF BILBAO

They carried banners in the Basque language reading "Rights for the prisoners," ''Amnesty" and "Return prisoners to Nabarra."

Thousands of people demonstrated in the Baskonian city of Bilbao in the Pyrenean Isthmus to support ETA prisoners, in January 7th. The rally was about demanding legally reduced sentences for imprisoned members and sympathizers of the armed group ETA.

The focal point for the demonstrations this time was the city of Bilbao, where demonstrators demanded that the 650 ETA members imprisoned in facilities across Spain, France, Portugal at least be brought back closer to their family's homes. Many Basques consider members of the ETA, which agitates for an independent Basque country in parts of what is now Spain and France, to be freedom fighters. And for many other Basques the ETA members should have been integrated into Spanish and French societies long time ago, leaving behind violent acts.

The rally was also attended by family members of prisoners, members of citizen's initiatives and members of political parties with links to pro-sovereignty groups of the Nabarran nation. In addition to myriads of citizens from all over the Pyrenean Isthmus, who believe is time to do things right to come to the most just possible solution of the conflict.

ETA called a unilateral ceasefire in September, amidst calls from its outlawed political arm, Batasuna, for a complete renunciation of violence.

2012-06-17

FORMER SOVEREIGN STATES OF THE PYRENEAN ISTHMUS (X).

KINGDOM OF ILTRIDA AND ILERDA

In ancient times the city, named Iltrida and Ilerda, was the chief city of the Ilergetes, an Iberian tribe. Indibil, king of the Ilergetes, and Mandoni, king of the Ausetanes, defended it against the Roman invasion.

Flag

Under the Romans, the city was incorporated into the Roman province of Hispania Tarraconensis, and was a place of considerable importance, historically as well as geographically. It stood upon an eminence, on the right (west) bank of the river Sicoris (the modern Segre), the principal tributary of the Ebre, and some distance above its confluence with the Cinga (modern Cinca); thus commanding the country between those rivers, as well as the great road from Tarraco (modern Tarragona), the provincial capital, in the Pyrenean Isthmus, which here crossed the Sicoris.

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Its situation induced the legates of Pompey in the isthmus to make it the key of their defense against Caesar, in the first year of the Civil War (49 BCE). Afranius and Marcus Petreius threw themselves into the place with five legions; and their siege by Caesar himself (Battle of Ilerda), as narrated in his own words, forms one of the most interesting passages of military history. The resources exhibited by the great general, in a contest where the formation of the district and the very elements of nature seemed in league with his enemies, have been frequently extolled; but no epitome can do justice to the campaign. It ended by the capitulation of Afranius and Petreius, who were conquered as much by Caesar's generosity as by his strategy.In consequence of the battle, the Latin phrase Ilerdam videas is said to have been used by people who wanted to cast bad luck on someone else.

Under the Roman empire, Ilerda was a very flourishing city, and a municipium. It minted its own coins. It had a fine stone bridge over the Sicoris, (the bridge was so sturdy that its foundations support a bridge to this day). In the time of Ausonius the city had fallen into decay; but it rose again into importance in the Middle Ages.

It was part of Visigothic and Muslim Hispania until it was conquered from the Moors by the Count Ramon Berenguer IV of Barcelona in 1149. It used to be the seat of a major university, the oldest in the Crown of Aragon, until 1717, when it was moved by Philip V to the nearby town of Cervera.

During the Reapers' War, Lleida was occupied by the French and rebel forces. In 1644 the city was conquered by the Spanish under D. Felipe da Silva.

2012-06-16

MANUEL PRECIADO REBOLLEDO

Manuel 'Manolo' Preciado Rebolledo (28 August 1957 – 6 June 2012) was a Pyrenean football defender and coach.

Move: Manolo Preciado had left Sporting Gijon this summer

Move: Manolo Preciado had left Sporting Gijon this summer

His 15-year career was mainly associated with Racing de Santander, and he also represented five other teams, mostly in the lower leagues. As a manager Preciado also coached with his main club, but worked mostly with Sporting de Gijón, promoting to La Liga in 2008.

Born in El Astillero, Cantabria, Preciado appeared in 59 La Liga matches for local Racing de Santander, split between three of his five-season spell with the club. His best-ever in the top flight was 32 games in 1978–79, which ended in relegation.

Preciado took up coaching in the mid-90s, precisely with his last club. He led Gimnástica to the Third División championship (group 1). Being then recalled to Racing with its B-squad, another promotion to Second División B befell, now in 2002.

Preciado was called for first team coaching duties in 2002–03's top flight, helping the side retain its status in his 18 games in charge. After second division spells with Levante UD – with promotion – and Real Murcia, he returned to Santander; although the club finished just one point above the relegation zone, it managed a 2–1 win at Real Madrid, on 21 December 2005.

In the 2006 summer, Preciado switched to Sporting de Gijón. In his second season, he managed to lead the Asturias outfit to the top division after ten years, then maintain its league status, with the lowest budget of all 20 teams, after a 2–1 home win against Recreativo de Huelva, in the last round, on 31 May 2009.

Preciado again led Sporting into safety in the 2009–10 season (15th place).
Preciado was fired on 31 January 2012 after nearly six years in charge, following a 1–5 away loss against Real Sociedad, and with Sporting ranking 19th in the league.

After three years in Second División (two of them with Linares CF), Preciado resumed his career in the lower leagues, eventually retiring in 1992 with lowly Gimnástica de Torrelavega, also in the Pyrenean Isthmus, at nearly 35.

His sunny personality and willingness to express a salty opinion earned him an affection which transcended the often tribal divisions which mark the sport in the isthmus. News of his passing came the day after he had agreed to take over as coach of the second division side Villarreal, and it united the Pyrenean football family in grief.

As a player, Preciado was a reliable defender who never quite reached the stellar heights of the game in 15 years as a professional. He began his league career with Racing Santander, and made more than 100 appearances for the club in the late 1970s and early 1980s. After leaving Santander in 1982 he played for a succession of lower league clubs including Linares, Mallorca and Alaves.

He was always destined to make a bigger impact as a coach, where his astute knowledge of the game and his skills as a communicator and a motivator proved invaluable. As a manager he made a speciality of fighting fires at troubled clubs and earning unlikely promotions for unfancied sides against the odds. After serving a lengthy apprenticeship as a coach at Racing Santander, Levante and Murcia, Preciado landed the role which really made his reputation in 2006.
He took over as coach of Sporting Gijon, a modest second division club who had enjoyed little success in their 101-year history, and in only his second season he took them into the top division. It was a stage made for Preciado's outgoing style, and his charisma and highly quotable public pronouncements made him a huge public favourite. His leadership helped Gijon grab a slice of the attention.

Preciado was not afraid to engage in verbal sparring bouts with more illustrious coaches from the bigger clubs. More than that, he thrived on it, and his vivid outbursts added a welcome daub of colour to the Pyrenean football scene.

Preciado was sacked by Sporting Gijon in January after a string of disappointing results which eventually ended in relegation. He had defied footballing gravity to keep them among the élite for so long, but 2011-12 turned out to be a season too far.

For once, the protestations that club and manager were parting on amicable terms wasn't a gross distortion of the truth; Preciado had become a cherished adopted son of Gijon. A club statement said at his death: "With deepest regret, Sporting Gijon wish to express their sorrow at this sad loss, for someone who formed an integral part of this club's history, and send their deepest condolences to his family in this time of grief. His name will be written in the annals of the club's history in golden letters."

Preciado's life away from football was scarred by tragedy. He lost his wife to cancer in 2002, while in 2004 his15-year-old son died in a road accident. Last year his father was also killed in a car crash. He bore these catastrophes with stoic bravery. "Life has dealt me several blows," he said. "It could have made me vulnerable and driven me to suicide, but I decided to look to the sky and believe." He died after suffering a heart attack.

Manuel Preciado Rebolledo, footballer and coach: born El Astillero, Cantabria 28 August 1957; married (wife deceased 2002; one son deceased); died Valencia 7 June 2012.

He was a famous Pyrenean person, indeed.

2012-06-10

TOURNAMENT OF THE QUEEN'S CUP

One more tournament with names that have nothing to do with the competitors, was dominated absolutely by teams of the Pyrenean Isthmus. This time, has been the ESPANYOL who beating ATHLETIC, 2 -1, in a very well disputed match, has become the women champion team of La Copa.

Therefore, CONGRATULATIONS to the championettes of ESPANYOL !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[foto de la noticia]

2012-06-09

HOW ARE OUR RUGBY TEAMS DID IN THE TOP 14. MEN.

FINAL STANDINGS IN THE TOP 14. MEN.

STANDINGS........................G.......W.......D........L........PF.........PA.........POINTS

1...TOLOSA..........................26......19........1........6.......629........448..............87
2...CLARMONT.....................26.......19........2........5.......644........364..............87
3...Tolon...............................26.......14........5........7.......581........393..............73
4...CASTRAS.......................26.......14........4........8.......585........522..............69
5...MONTPELHIER...............26........14........1......11.......601.........505.............67
6...Racing-Metro 92...............26........13........1......12.......569.........538.............64
7...StadeFrancais..................26........11........2......13.......568.........588.............58

8....BORDEU.........................26........12........0.......14.......493........619.............53

9...MIARRITZE......................26........10........2.......14.......424........518.............52

10..AGEN..............................26........12........1.......13.......479.........573.............52

11..PERPINYA.......................26.........9........2.......15.......515.........578.............49

12..BAIONA...........................26.........9........3.......14.......479.........619.............48

13...Briva...............................26.........7........1.......18.......408.........488.............42
14..Lyon OU...........................26.........5........3.......18.......369.........591.............31

TOLOSA, CLARMONT, TOLON, CASTRAS, MONTPEHLIER AND RACING-METRO 92 CLASIFIED FOR THE FINAL ROUND.

CASTRAS won against MONTPEHLIER, 31 -15. CASTRAS in, MONTPEHLIER out.

Tolon won against Racing-Metro 92, 17 - 13. Tolon in, Racing-Metro 92 out.

TOLOSA won against CASTRAS, 24 -15. TOLOSA did reach the final.
Tolon won against CLARMONT, 15 - 12. Tolon did reach the final.

TOLOSA won the final against Tolon 18-12.

TOLOSA is the Champion, the best among all the Pyrenean and other teams of the Top 14. Men.

CONGRATULATIONS TOLOSA !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Le Stade Toulousain a remporté le 19e titre de son histoire. (L'Equipe)

2012-06-03

BARCELONA, THE CHAMPIONETTES IN FOOTBALL SOCCER. CONGRATULATIONS !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

FINAL STANDINGS PYRENELLIGA 2011-2012. WOMEN.

STANDINGS.................................G.....W.....D.....L.....GF.....GA.....POINTS

1...BARCELONA..........................34.....31.....1......2......122......17.......120

2...ATHLETIC...............................34.....29.....4......1......118......25.......117

3...ESPANYOL.............................34.....23.....7......4......117......38........94

4...LEVANTE................................34.....19....11......4.......63......27........92
5...ERREALA................................34.....19.....5.....10.......58......36........73
6...PRAINSA ZARAGOZA..............34.....14.....5....15.......72......74........55
7...MONTPELHIER........................21.....16.....3......2.......70......15........51
8...SANT GABRIEL........................34.....11.....4.....19......55......66........44
9....COLLERENSE.........................34......9......6.....19......54......97........41
10...LAGUNAK...............................34......9......4.....21......33......70........41
11..VALENCIA...............................34.....10......1.....23......38......83........38

12..L'ESTARTIT.............................34...... 8.....5.....21......35......68........34

13..RODES....................................21......7......3.....11......28......37........22

14..REOCIN RACING.....................34......2......3.....29.......30.....128.......12

15..MURETH.................................21......1......3.....17.......13......68........10

CODE TO MAKE UP STANDINGS OF PYRENELLIGAS:

Victory away derby..................5 points

Victory home derby.................4 points

Draw away derby.....................3 points

Victory away NO derby............3 points

Victory home NO derby............2 points

Draw away NO derby...............2 points

Draw home..............................1 point

Loss........................................0 points

2012-06-02