A name to look out for

Novilladas sin picadores do not tend to get much media attention, but performances at the start of temporadas can be an exception, as this year has shown with coverage of Ciudad Rodrigo’s annual Bolsín, the revived ‘Oportunidad’ series at Madrid’s Vistalegre under the title ‘Kilometro 0’ and the opening festejo of Valencia’s Las Fallas.

All three events have had the same triunfador - 19-year-old Samuel Navalón. Born in Ayora (Valencia), Samuel entered the escuela taurina of Alcázar de San Juan at the age of 11 before transferring to Albacete’s escuela three years later. He debuted in a traje de luces in April 2021.

I came across him last September on a visit to the Yecla finca of Nazario Ibáñez (see ‘With NATC members in Calasparra, Albacete, Murcia and Yecla‘), where Samuel has been working as a ranch-hand. After helping run a group of novillos, he attended the tienta that had been arranged and spent some time toreando animals after the day’s main players had finished with them. Unshowy in nature, in the ring he impressed with his calmness and elegant style and also his ability to cleanly pass animals which other tienta participants had found difficult.

The radio station Cope’s website, reporting on his Valencia success, said that Samuel “has the appearance and style of an honest and fully-formed torero. Solid and secure. Tough and slender. A powerful dominador. Sharp, graceful and attractive. He has everything. What the figuras do with a bull, Navalón did with his jandilla.”

It’s highly likely that Samuel will make his debut with picadors later this season. His ‘Kilometro 0’ rewards include a contract for a novillada con picadores at Las Ventas. His next big festejo is the final of Arnedo’s ‘Zapato de Plata’ on March 18, the winner of which is automatically included in Arnedo’s September ‘Zapato de Oro’ series of novilladas con picadores.