ARRASTRE DE GANADO(THE LOAD DRAWN BY CATTLE)

Paula Amador Abreu

This sport belongs to the Castilian culture diffusion, because the cattle of this kind didn’t exist in the Canary Islands before the arrival of these settlers.The precedent of this sport belongs to the struggle to measure the cattle. We know that in the late nineteenth century there were various struggles to move big stones with the cattle in San Mateo( Gran Canaria). In Tenerife, in San José of Los Llanos, the struggle form characterized to no exist limit weight, to check the route done and the limit time. The beginning in the island of La Palma was also product of struggle, with a distance, and to increase the weight, it is characterized to use yoke, like an artefact adapted at body and neck of the cattle.

ORIGIN.

FACILITIES.

We need a big

piece of land of about

seventy meters long.

MATERIAL.

• We use yoke like an artefact adapted to the body and neck of the cattle to execute about it the strength of animals.

• A wooden pallet with some stones or bags full of sand on top to fit a certain weight. We call it «corsa».

• A stick to guide the animals.

HOW TO PLAY?

The “arrastre de ganado” is a proof of strength and speed in that the cattle of cows or bulls,tries to move along a distance of seventy meters (coming and going), in a short period of time, a “corsa” with 100 kg of stones, following the rules of the “guayero”(the person who directs the cattle).

RULES.o The “guayero” can’t harm the animals.o The animal must weight 600 or 700

kilos.o The cows can move a maximum of 800

kg and a minimum of 600kg.o The bulls can move a maximum of

1100kg and a minimum of 800kg.o The proof is controlled by three

referees. o The land must be 50 m long and 15m

wideo There is a limit time of four minutes.o The animals must be cows or bulls.o The “guayero” will be desqualified if

he is reprimanded three times.o The “guayero” will have ten minutes

to repair his cattle.

«GUAYERO»:JESÚS MANUEL GONZÁLEZ

MEDINA

Jesús Manuel González Medina was the winner of the XXIII competition of arrastre de ganado in Tenerife Island. His bulls moved a weight of 1500 kg in a time of thirty three seconds and fifteen hundredths, overcoming to his opponents.

ANECDOTE.In the XXIII competition of “arrastre de ganado” final in Tenerife Island, all people thought that it was spectacular, beautiful and with many feelings. Pedro Molina, the president of the federation who is a lover of our traditions and native sports said:- It has been the best proof that I

have ever seen. There were a lot of people enjoying it. And there were farmers that work everyday to make their animals be the best. They are an example of sacrifice and work.

MY OPINION.

This sport is a tradition that we have keeping in the history of Canaries, and it is a good form of show our personality.

BIBLIOGRAPHY.

http://www.diariodeavisos.com/2011/09/19/actualidad/%E2%80%9Cel-mejor-arrastre-de-mi-vida%E2%80%9D/

http://canarias24horas.com/index.php/2011091987402/deportes-canarios/jesus-manuel-gonzalez-vence-en-el-concurso-de-arrastre-isla-de-tenerife.html

http://www.rinconcitocanario.com/SantaCruz/arrastre/arrastre.htm

http://www.culturatradicionalgc.org/Juegos-y-Deportes-Tradicionales/Arrastre-de-Ganado/

http://www.gobiernodecanarias.org/educacion/culturacanaria/juegos/juegos.htm