The “encierro” of the 15th July, closes the fiestas

15/07/2010. sús Pérez, the first driver of the city bus that inaugurated this event, came to cheer up “Induráin” (Jotas)

The encierro "bull-running" of the morning of the 15th was the final event of the Sanfermin 2010 festivities this year. There was a big turnout for the event. The "run" lasted 5 minutes and 10 seconds. There were no injuries to lament and it went ahead with the fencing in Santo Domingo still in place. This circumstance has not been the case now for many years. Various pile-ups were caused without any consequences, and there were several falls at the Mercaderes bend. Some fine running was seen in Estafeta Street. Among other curious incidents, "Miguel Induráin" (Jotas) loosened the chain of his bike in Santo Domingo but luckily, he was able to solve the problem and continue to move ahead.

More than five hundred people took part in this singular "running of the bulls" which has over the past years become the real final event of the fiestas de Sanfermin and which is organized by the Movimiento 15 de Julio. It all starts in the early hours of the morning in Estafeta Street with a lay procession and with a pretense saint who seems like a real one. Then at some point, Txarli, the monkey joins the proceedings along with some of his mates. At 7.30 a.m. these and many other bodies are gathered at the bottom of Santo Domingo. After the opportune chants have been made to the saint, and strict punctuality has been observed, the rocker is set off. The runners begin their "run" which is held above all, to make the point that "the fiesta does not come to an end when the mayor, Barcina, says that it does.".

Among other curious details in the "encierro" of today, it must be stated that the first bus driver to give origin to this special "running of the bulls" turned up to cheer on Induráin and the others. This man was driving his early morning bus on the first day of the New Year in 1985 when he met up with the curious bunch of runners waiting to run in front of his bus. Soon the event was being called •The City Bus Running of the Bulls." or the "El encierro de la Villavesa". Jesús Pérez cheered on Induráin and had his photo taken with the monkey, Txarli. It was precisely the monkey who climbed up to the spot where the rocket is set off in the normal running of the bulls to start off the run this morning.