We recently received various news from the Itxaropen Basque Club in Saladillo, Argentina: students visiting its headquarterd from neighboring schools, new functions as part of the Basque Film Series and the enthronement of the Saint Ignatius (San Inazio) of Loyola statue among others. But the most original has to do with a Basque and a challenge. Carlos “Caia" Zarragoicoechea biked for 55 hours continuously, peddling his bicycle around the main plaza in the city and broke the original record set 40 years ago.
Saladillo, Argentina. The Basque community and the community of Saladillo celebrated the record set by Carlos Zarragoicoechea last Sunday. The challenge began on September 15th just after 10am, when the cyclist, faithful member of the Itxaropen Basque Club began to peddle to break the record set by another local, Carlos Gianonni, set in 1977.
The test took place around the city’s main plaza where Zarragoicoechea rode several hundred laps over three days in a row, without breaking or putting his feet on the ground. The cyclist didn’t do this alone; the community and especially the Basque Club accompanied him every day. The challenge concluded after 55 hours and 4 minutes and met with applause, cheers and even champagne. A large crowd gathered to witness the moment including local mayor Jose Luis Salomon and Gianonni himself who accompanied Zarragoicoechea on his last lap.
The club with open doors
The Itxaropen Basque Club in Saladillo is a club that works for the community, and so maintains permanent relationships with other local institutions specifically through the visits that it makes, for example. This week, students at the Kindergarten #904 were welcomed by club members at the clubhouse who visited with the children about some cultural aspects of Euskal Herria.
Another proposal that the club carries out for the community is the Basque Film Series, coordinated by Carlos Gabilondo. The fourth screening was held on August 25th, and as always these are events are free and open to the public, with the next being scheduled for October 20th.
At the end of July, the club celebrated two anniversaries and did so in a special way. As part of the San Ignacio festivities and as part of the 154th anniversary of Saladillo, and the 19th anniversary of Itxaropen, members of the club enthroned a statue of the Patron Saint of Gipuzkoa in the club headquarters. The ceremony was led by the local priest and Mayor Jose Luis Salomon, and was also attended by club members and friends. Those present, shared lunch and enjoyed dances by the recently-formed dance group, who performed for the first time at this occasion.
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