Basque bowls

Basque bowls ("bola jokoa" in Basque), is one of the few Basque rural sports which do not originate in an activity related to rural or marine work. It has a number of other names too and is played in a "bolatoki" or "bolaleku" "bowls place" which often consists of a playing area in the open, an open sided structure with a low roof or a playing area located inside a colonnaded hallway.

The game has been more common in the southern parts of the Basque Country in the las few centuries, especially in Álava and Biscay and to a lesser degree in Gipuzkoa and Navarre but documents from the Bayonne archives from the 1600s mention the games and there is also other evidence to show that the game was also played historically in the northern part of the Basque Country.

The main characteristic of the Basque variants of the game is the more prominent use of balls with finger-holes and hand-holes which distinguishes it from other regions in the are which prefer balls without.

Basic terms

*the game is variously called "pirlak", "pirleak", "bolak" and "botxak" (from boccia); "-ak" is a Basque plural ending.
*the bowling ball is called "bola"
*the pins are variosuly called "bolo", "pirla", "pirle", "birla", "txirla", "esku", "zilla", "erdiko" or "guena"
*a player is called "bolari"
*a playing area is called "bolatoki"

The game

They are all variants of dirt-track and lawn bowls and as such related to games such as bowls, skittles and bowling. There is a large number of different variations of the game (over 25 variants in Biscay and Álava alone), sometimes sharing their rules with varieties in other areas like Cantabria, Burgos or León. Some varieties are extremely localised and with specialised playing areas not found outside the area.

The main points of variation center around points such as:
*how many pins there are and how they are arranged
*the shape of the "bolatokia"

Due to societal changes, some variants are reduced to events at fiestas rather than everday past-times. For example, of the over 400 playing areas that existed in Biscay in the last century, only some 100 remain. At the same time, organised competitions are also held these days among the provincial federations and clubs. Always keen to embrace new technologies, enthusiasts are also using the internet to attract new members and players.

Particular variants

Many varieties are known only by the geographical affiliation: "Arabar boloa" (Araba bowls), "Burgosko bola" (Burgos bowls), "Gesaltzako bola" (Gesaltza bowls), "Palentziako bola" (Palencia bowls) and so on.

Aiara bowls

Known as "Aiarako bola jokoa" and "Aiararra" in Basque, "ayalés" and "remonte" in Spanish. Two "bolatoki" in Aiara for this variant remain in popular use but other exist in an area between Gueñes, Artziniega, Tertanga and Ibarra.

The sunken playing area, called "carrejo" or "boladera" is 20-28m long and 3.5-4.20m wide and surrounded by slanting sides, giving the playing area the appearance of a large, sunken trough. Originally played on clay, many use a wooden floor now. The launching area is up to 5m long and the nine large pins are arranged in a 3x3 square at the far end. There is also a small pin (called "bolinchín", "cuatro", "txikerra" or "chiquito") which is worth four points. The balls have finger and hand-holes, are 28-30cm in diameter and usually weigh between 8-14kg but heavier ones have been used.

The player, using spin, launches the ball onto either the left or right long incline and to achieve a valid throw, has to knock over at least the small pin and one large pin. The ball the (ideally) rebounds from the back incline and knocks over more pins. Pins knocked over by other pins also count.

Álavan bowls

Called "Arabar boloa" or "lautadakoa" (the one from the "lautada") in Basque, "juego de bolo alavés" and "bolo de la Llanada" in Spanish. The playing area consists of three main parts, all of which are a step down from the surrounding areas:

*the "parra" or "pato" which is a sunken wooden board delineating the edge of the area where the player may launch from
*the "loma" which is an 18-21m long wooden plank, between 18-20cm wide running between the walls of the sunken into the ground.
*the pin area, where the playing area widens again, with markers for the location of the pins.

The balls have no handles, weigh between 2.1-2.5kg, have a diameter of 16-17cm and have no finger or hand-holes. There are four pins arranged in a triangle with the point towards the players. The one closes to the "parra" is the "cantón", to the back and left is the "carraca", to the back and right the "guarda" and directly behind the "cantón" sits the "medio". The distance between the "carraca" and the "guarda" is about 2.4m.

The players must launch the ball onto the "loma", stay on it (otherwise a foul is declared which is called "zula") and at the very least knock over the "cantón" to score. The aim is to knock all four over but if the ball rebounds from the side panels and knocks over a pin, they do not count. Some 15 "bolatoki" for this variant remain, roughly between the towns of Otxandio and Legutiano in the east and Abornikano and Uzkiano in the west. The most frequently used ones are near Otxandio which are used in local town festivals.

Bederatzi txirlo jokoa

The history museum of Baiona has a historic exhibit of a "bederatzi txirlo jokoa" or "nine pin skittles" with pins of almost a meter in height. "Bolo jokoak" are not commonly played in this part of the Basque Country anmore but the game is assumed to have been played along the lines of the Bearnese game called "quilhas de nau" and "quilles de neuf" in French.

Bermeo bowls

Called "Bermeoko bola jokoa" in Basque and "bolo de Bermeo" in Spanish. The last "bolatoki" for this version disappeared in the 1940s and 50's. The playing area for this version is rectangular, 13.5m long and 1.5m wide. At the player's end there are two launch boards sunken into the ground, parallel to each other at either side of the playing area. As in many "bola jokoak" the balls are launched onto the wooden planks because it helps maintain the forward speed of a ball, whereas launching it onto a dirt floor would tend to slow them down. At the far end, woode planks were fixed to the side panels to create a semi-hexagon. This game uses 4 pins, three "nagusiak" or "main ones" and one "bostekoa" or "one of five". The "nagusiak" are arranged in a triangle following the line of the semi-hexagon. The "bostekoa" is placed in front of either of the "nagusiak", left or right depending on the direction of the game. The ball has two holes, one for the thumb and a larger one for the remaining four fingers. The game proceeds as follows:

*The players must launch the ball onto the launching planks to begin with. If the board is not hit, a "txorra" or "toto" is declared (foul) and the player gets zero points.
*The "bostekoa" (worth five points) must be hit first as it determines the direction of play. If the board is hit but no pin, six points are awarded.
*Following the "bostekoa" the ball will rebound from the side panels and ideally hit the big pins. The two "nagusiak" closest to the player are worth eight points each, the "nagusia" furthest away nine points.

If all "nagusiak" are knocked over, only 14 points are awarded however so with the "bostekoa" the maximum number of points is 19. The aim of the game is to reach 300 first.

Bolo palma

This is a version common in the north of Spain in general. The balls are lighter in the Basque Country than in other areas.

Burgos bowls

The Basque name, "Burgosko bola jokoa" translates as "bowls from Burgos", "bolo burgalés" in Spanish. This variant arrived in the Basque Country late when some people from Burgos brought it to Basauri in 1980 and to Gasteiz in 1985. Since its spread to areas outside Burgos, championships have been held involving clubs from Burgos, Biscay and Álava.

The main characteristic of "Burgosko bola" is that it is played on two different levels, involving a "goiko jokoa" or "high game" ("juego alto" in Spanish) and a "beheko jokoa" "low game" or "barruko jokoa" "inside game" ("juego bajo" or "juego interior" in Spanish).

Ea bowls

This is called "Ea aldekoa" in Basque and "juego de Ea" in Spanish. This version is played on a sunken dirt playing field about 23m by 1.8m. The bowls have finger and hand-holes and weigh 8kg and must be launched onto a 4m long platform in the playing area for the throw to be valid. The aim is to knock down 10 pins at the other end, 9 large ones (45cm tall) and a small one (half the size of the big ones) in front of the big ones either at the centre, left of right.

The big pins are arranged in groups of three (one behind each other) in three lines at the far end of the track. A player has to hit the small pin (worth five points) first for it to be a valid throw, the other pins are worth one point each. Unlike in other variants, pins knocked over by a ball rebounding from the side panels also count.

There are two "bolatoki" left for this variant, one in Bedaroa and one in Natxitua. The one in Bedaroa is played mainly during town festivals.

Hiru oholtzar

Originally from the Burgos area and called "tres tablones" in Spanish, this version was brought to the west of Biscay by migrants. This is a visually spectacular variant on a 30m by 6m playing field, balls weighing between 5-7kg with a 28cm diameter which are launched at nine slim, pointed 35-40cm tall pins arranged in a square, one behind the other in groups of three. They're each worth one points except for the one at the centra of the square which is worth two. The aim is to scatter the pins as far away from their original location as possible. There is also a smaller 20cm tall pin called "miko" or "cuatro" (because it is worth four points). Depending on they type of game, each player has 2-4 balls per round and the "miko" is placed in two different positions behind the big pins.

In this variant, the ball and the central playing area are kept wet and the player launches the ball into the air and at the central row of pins using spin in an attempt to also catch the "miko" which is at the back and to the left or right of the central row. For a valid throw, the ball must pass a line in front of the pins in the air, touch down onto one of the platforms on which the pins stand and pass a line at the back on the ground to be a valid throw. Fouls are designated as follows:
*a "morra" is declared if the ball touches down before it reaches the pin platforms
*a "zula" is declared if the ball does not reach the back line
*a "blanca" is declared if the ball does not knock over and pins

In all these cases the throw is invalid and the player may not bowl again in this round.

Once a valid ball has come to rest past the line at the back, the player crosses over to the back area called "cas de birle" and is allowed to throw a second time from where the ball stopped but the "miko" is removed. Again, the throw has to be through the air until it touches down on a pin platform. There are usually also markers at the back indicating the lines of the pins.

It is a very popular game both in Biscay and Cantabria.

Kanaleko hiru txirlo

Called "hiru txirlo común" in Spanish), this is a variant of bola jokoa played in the Basque Country. The name "kanaleko hiru txirlo" literally translates as "3 pins of the canal" but it also goes by the name of "hiru txirlo arrunta" (common three pins). This game is still fairly widespread in the east of Biscay from Mendiola to Mutriku and parts of Gipuzkoa (the Deba valley), there are bolo federations for this variant at the cross-provincial level and annual leagues.

The game is played under a roof on a playing area about 25m long and 2.5m wide. In this variant the balls are 2.5kg heavy, made of wood with finger and hand holes and are not entirely spherical. Each player has two of these. There are three 21cm tall pins with a 5cm diameter are arranged in a line one behind the other with 1m gaps between them. These have names in Basque:
*the one closest to the players is called the "eskua" (hand)
*the middle one "zilla" or "erdikoa" (the middle one)
*the one furthest away "guena".

Between the pins and the launching area there is a 19m long, narrow elevated canal called "kanala", "pista" or "ibilbidea" (walkway), located on the right hand side of the playing area. The lower lying dirt floor on the left is called the "kalea" (street). The ball must be rolled onto a launching plate and towards the pins along the elevated "pista". The aim is to knock down the pins without the ball falling into the "kalea". This is the trickiest part of the game and various techniques are employed to keep the ball on track such as:
*"azpijana eman", to add backspin
*"gainjana eman", to add topspin

When launched, the ball must hit the launch plate otherwise a "ohol-hutsa" is declared and the throw is invalid. If the ball stays on the canal but doesn't hit any pins, a "gain-huts" (top zero) is declared, if the middle one is left standing an "erdikuts" (middle zero) is declared. The maxmimum one can make is three per throw, either by knocking the pins over with the ball or by a pin knocking another pin. Pins knocked over by a ball rebounding from the sides do not count.

Bets are placed either by guessing the number of pins that will or will not get knocked over using the following phrases:
*"bat baietz" (one yes), "bi baietz" (two yes), "hiru baietz" (three yes)or
*"bat ezetz" (one no), "bi ezetz" (two no), "hiru ezetz" (three no)

Katxete

This version ("bolos a cachete", "smack bowling" in Spanish) is played in the mining area of the Enkarterri today although "bolatokiak" also exist in Biscay, in the area from Barakaldo to Muzkiz. A "bolatoki" for this game is also called a "carrejo" and was formerly often played on threshing floors.

The ball in "katxete" weighs 3.5-4kg and have not hand or finger-holes. The 4-6 pins weigh 1kg, are about 9cm tall and are oblate spheroids. They need to have this flattened shape because the "tako" ("woodblock") upon which they are placed isn't level but has an inclined surface, the end furthest away from the player being higher up. They are arranged in a V shape, with the point of the V pointing away from the player. Right in front of the "tako" is the "ur putzua" or "water puddle". The purpose of the puddle is that the player's helper (called "armador") can wet the pins and the "tako" before the shot.

The aim is to knock the pins across the lawn over one of two semi-circles, called "marrak" (lines), delineating the edge of the "bolatoki". The first "marra" is 10m away from the "tako" and the second 18.5m. To score a point, the pins have to pass the first "marra", otherwise a "txorra" is declared and no points are scored. If a pin passes the second "marra", it is worth two points and a game usually is played to 200 or 300 points.

There are up to 20 "bolatoki" for this variant and there are federations at the provincial level and annual league games.

León bowls

Called "Leongo jokoa" in Basque and "juego leonés" in Spanish and as the name suggests, this variant comes from the pronvince of León but is common throughout Spain today. In the Basque Country it is played roughly in the area between Basauri and Portugalete.

The minimum playing area for this game is 25-30m long and 9-10m wide, split into two main areas: the "castro" (castle) where the 10 pins are located and the rest of the playing area. There are nine large pins which are 55cm tall and a smaller one called "miche" which is 30cm tall. The nine large ones are arranged in a 3x3 square, the one at the centre being called "medio".

The wooden balls are the most extraordinary characteristic of this variant because the are hemispheres and weigh up to 1kg. Around the "castro" are a number of lines:
*the "hamaikaren marra" or "line of 11" ("línea del once" in Spanish), which goes from the "chincón" to the "miche"
*the "marra osagarria" or "complementary line ("línea complementaria" in Spanish) which goes from the "miche" to the third pin
*the "parada" which is a circle with a 2.25m diameter around the "castro"
*the "sobrecastro" which is 50cm behind the "castro"

There are two parts to a player's round. In the first, the player stands in the square launching area called "mano" at a distance of 6-22m from the "castro" to throw the ball through the air into the "castro". When it touches the ground (which is kept moist), it must neither stop there or rebound but spin onwards for the throw to be valid. At this stage scores are allocated as follows if the ball is valid and comes to rest inside the "parada":
*if the ball does not touch down in the "castro" a "cinca" is declared and the throw is worth no points
*if the ball only knocks over the "medio", the throw is worth two points
*if the ball does not knock over any pins or just one, the throw is worth six points
*if the ball knocks over two pins, the throw is worth seven points; any extra pin is worth an additional point

If the is valid and comes to rest outside the "parada", scores are allocated as follows:
*if the ball only knocks over the "medio", the throw is worth two points
*if no pins or just one pin is knocked over, the throw is worth one point
*if two pins are knocked over, the throw is worth two points; any extra pin is worth an additional point

There are also special combinations of pins knocked over and path of the ball which can be worth up to 16 points (called "ahorcada"), for example if the ball touches down in the "castro", only knocks over the "miche" and then comes to rest inside the "parada".

In the second part, called "birlaketa" ("birle" in Spanish), the player can bowl a second time towards the "castro" from where the ball landed provided it landed outside the "parada" circle. At this stage, if only the "miche" is knocked over, no point is awarded.

Munadun erremontea

This game is called also called "Zornotza aldekoa" or "the one from the Zornotza area", "remonte con muna" and "juego de Zornotza" in Spanish. This version was particularly common in Biscay roughy in the area between Zollo and Bernagoitia and is still fairly widespread, especially in the area of Amorebieta-Etxano where most "bolatokiak" are attached to rural churches. There are bolo federations at the provincial level and annual leagues for this variant.

It is played on a rectangular clay surface, 24-27m long and 4.5-5m wide. The sides of the playing area rises upwards but the most obvious characteristic of this variant is the "muna", a ridge that runs down the middle of the playing area. At the far end it is delineated by the "topea", a wooden anel. The aim is to knock down ten pins, 9 large ones (up to 52cm tall) arranged in a 3x3 square and a small one called "txakina". The balls weigh 10-12kg and have a hand and finger-hole.

The player stands in the launching area to throw the ball which must touch down in the "ohola" or landing area just past the launching area, consisting of a number of sunken boards. This area is about 3m long and if the ball does not touch down here first, it is declared "lur" (ground) and invalid. The ball then travels down some 15m on the ground, sides or "muna" to reach the area of the pins.

The large pins are worth one point each except the one at the centre of the square which is worth two. The "txakina" is worth either six or ten points and can be placed just about anywhere within the playing area and the maximum number of points in a throw is 20. Other throws are calculated as follows for a valid ball:
*if it passes all pins on either side and hits the "topea", the throw is worth five points
*if it passes through all pins without knocking down any and hits the "topea", the throw is worth six points
*if it knocks over the "txakina" and the central pin, the throw is worth 12 points
*if it knocks over the "txakina" and at least one other pin, the throw is worth 11 points

There are other special throws which depend on the placement of the "txakina" apart from the above and some vary from area to area.

Oholtzar pasaboloa

This version is common even today in Cantabria and Biscay in the area roughly between the river Asón and the river Ibaizabal and as far south as Burgos, called "pasabolo de tablón" in Spanish.

There are three parts to the playing field in this game. The first is the launching area, about 6m long, where the player takes a run to launch the ball. The ball weighs 5-7kg and has finger and hand-holes. It the travels down a shallow groove about 8m long, the "oholtzarra" ("cureño" or "tablón" in Spanish). At the far end three light pins, weighing about 100g each (the lightest of all pins used in Basque bowling games) which are set in holes in the ground, one behind the other. Both the "oholtzarra" and the pin area are kept wet in this game to minimise friction. Not far behind the pins is a barrier (called "paraboloa") to stop the ball but behind the barrier the actually target area lies, the "marren zelaia" "field of lines" ("campo de rayas" in Spanish), 20m wide and 40m long. The lines are parallel to each other and at a distance of 5m and important for scoring.

The basic aim of the game is to hit the pins with enough force to propel them over the barrier and as far into the field as possible. Skill is needed to keep the ball in the groove and hit the pins head on, otherwise they tend to go sideways rather than forward. If a pin lands in the area up to the first line, it is worth 10 points and each additional line another 10 so the maximum score per bowl is 210 points if all land past the 6th line. In a game each player has eight balls and the highest scorer wins.

Olazabal bowls

"Olazabalgo bolo jokoa", the game from Olazabal, a borough of the town of Dima. The game also known as "Olazabalgo zazpi boloen jokoa" (called "juego de siete bolos de Olazabal" in Spanish) - "the seven pin game from Olazabal". There is only one known "bolatoki" for this variant. The rules and setup resembles those of "munadun erremontea" somewhat and it geographically played within the same area, suggesting it may well be a variant that developed from "munadun erremontea".

This dirt "bolatoki" is outdoors, set under trees in a park. The balls used have finger and hand-holes and usually weigh 5-6kg. There are only six large pins (36cm tall) and a small "txirlo" (26cm tall). The playing area is rectangular, about 20m long and 4m wide. The main characteristic of the playing are is that the middle part has both an "erdiko muna" (central "muna") and sloping sides, effectively creating two parallel wide channels. The pins are set in a slightly diagonal line in groups of three, one at the other end of each "channel", the small "txirlo" sits in between them but there is no special platform for them as in other varieties. At the player's end there are two launching platforms, one in front of either channel.

To score, a player has to launch a ball onto the launching platform down either channel. For the throw to be valid, it also has to travel onto the "muna" or the left or right slope. It then knocks down pins (who in turn may knock down other pins) but also has to hit the barrier at the far end or a "txorra" is declared and the throw is invalid. All pins are worth only one point each.

In theory it is possible to score more than 4 points but this has not happened in living memory.

Zabaleko hiru txirlo

This three pin game is also called "Berrizko hiru txirlo" or "hiru txirlo de Berriz" in Spanish.

Most "bolatoki" for this variant are in the area around Berriz in Biscay, most notably the one attached to the small church (a type called baseliza in Basque) of San Lorenzo of Mendibil.

The playing area is about 18-20m long and 1.5-2.5m wide and consists of a slightly sunk dirt (or sand) area which uses the slope and (in most cases) a church wall as a border on one side. The wooden balls weight about 2kg and there are only three 21cm tall pins. These are arranged in a line, one behind each other, very close to the wall.

The main characteristic of this game is a triangular barrier called "motie" which prevents players from bowling directly at the pins. Instead, players launch the ball onto a launching platform, aiming for the incline opposite the wall and the pins, with the intentions of letting the ball curve around and hit the pins from the side.

Each player bowls two balls and the pins are worth one point each but pins knocked over by balls rebounding off the back panel do not count.

Zeanuri bowls

This variant is called "Zeanuriko bola jokoa' in Basque and "juego de Zeanuri" in Spanish and played around the area of Zeanuri in Biscay only.

Four "bolatoki" for this variant remain, 19-26m in length and 2.5-3.5m in width with a launching platform at the player's end and an end panel at the far end called "zubile". Roughly half way down the playing are there is a small stake on the left slope called "katxine". There are four pins, three large ones (41cm tall) and a small one (25cm tall), arranged in the shape of an equilateral triangle with the point towards the player, the three large pins on the side going off to the right and the small pin at the far left corner. All pins are worth one point each. The balls for this game have finger and hand-holes and weigh 7kg.

There are different ways of playing this game. Players either place an amount of money before the game called the "arrapea" and then get to bowl three balls (if played in teams, then there are three balls per team). In the other version, the "arrapea" is placed and each player or team has six balls but only the best throw is counted.

Players launch their balls onto the launching platform and most come off the left slope before hitting any pins but if the "katxine" is hit, the throw is invalid. Pins knocked over by a rebounding ball do not count but the ball must hit the "zubile" otherwise a "txorra" is declared and the throw is invalid. Scoring works as follows for valid balls:
*if only the small pin is knocked over, the throw is not worth any points
*if one of the large pins knocks over the small pin, the throw is worth four points

History

The earliest historical records which mention "bola jokoak" are almost all records of writers complaining about the game as a sign of moral decay or administrative records of forbidding the play of such games on the streets. A law from Santander dating back to 1627 for example penalised the playing of bowls on the streets of the city, as did the council of Ulibarri-Jauregi 1632.

Probably the first document to give us a limited insight into the actual gameplay comes from the 1726 dictionary of the "Real Academia de la Lengua Española" which gives a very brief outline of a game very similar to "bolo palma".

Up until the end of the 19th century most neighbourhoods would have a playing area where the locals would play and bet the payment of their drinks (often txakoli or cider) on their bowling skills. Due to the suspicion of the Catholic church and the nobility such activities, many bowling courts were historically located near churches.

The first over-regional competition was organised by the council of Gasteiz in 1949 with players from all over Álava competing for 3 prizes of 500 pesetas and a trophy. Competitions at all levels have been held in various places since.

References

*Etxegoien, J. "Orhipean", Xamar 1996
*Zorilla, J. "Bola Jokoa/El juego de bolos", Bizkaiko Foru Aldundia (Regional Government of Biscay), Bilbao 2006, ISBN 84-88916-96-5

ee also

*Basque rural sports
*Bocce
*Boules
*Bowling
*Bowls
*Pétanque
*Skittles

External links

* [http://www.kultura.ejgv.euskadi.net/r46-518/es/contenidos/informacion/herrikirolak/es_1324/deporte03_c.html Basque rural sports on the Basque Government's website] (in Basque and Spanish).