Atano III is a Basque pelota short fronton located at the Anoeta Sports Complex in San Sebastián, Basque Autonomous Community, Spain.
History The fronton was built in 1963 by the municipality, due to the high demand by the professional and aficionate players of the Gipuzkoa province, originally named Anoeta fronton. In 1995, after repair and maintenance work the fronton was renamed after Mariano Juaristi Mendizábal who played with the pseudonym of "Atano III", often considered one of the best pelotaris of all time.
Modalities The main modalities played in the Atano III fronton are Hand-pelota and Paleta-rubber. Atano III is one of the frontons which held one of the most important yearly competitions in the sport, the 1st Hand-Pelota Championship, with 40 finals played there until the current date. "JUAN MARTÍNEZ DE IRUJO Y JULEN RETEGI SE JUEGAN HOY LA TXAPELA DEL MANOMANISTA EN EL ATANO III DE DONOSTIA, QUE CELEBRARÁ SU FINAL NÚMERO 40 DE LA MODALIDAD Y RECUPERA AIRES DE GLORIA", Deia, June 29, 2014.
Events These are the most notable events held in the Atano III since the name change in 1995.
1st Hand-pelota category Championship finals Total: 16 Year Champion Subchampion Score1995BelokiErrandonea22–151996EugiArretxe22–191997ArretxeElkoro22–181998BelokiEugi22–131999*BelokiArretxe22–092000EugiBeloki22–132001BelokiEugi22–082002BarriolaBeloki22–032003Patxi RuizOlaizola II22–072004Martínez de IrujoXala22–122005Olaizola IIMartínez de Irujo22–182006Martínez de IrujoOlaizola II22–172007Olaizola IIBarriola22–102008Bengoetxea VIBarriola22–112009 Martínez de Irujo Olaizola II22–122014 Martínez de Irujo Retegi Bi22–09 * In 1999, two separate finals were played, due to a disagreement between the two organising companies, Asegarce and Aspe: the Aspe final was played in the Atano III (as listed above), and the Asegarce one in the Astelena (won by Eugi over Elkoro, 22–11).
2nd Hand Pelota category Championship finals
Total: 4 Year Champion Subchampion Score1997KokaGoñi II22–202000GonzálezImaz22–152001BerraondoXala22–162002PascualApeztegia22–18
Doubles-Pelota Championship finals Total: 11 Year Champions Subchampions Score1994–95Retegi II - ErrandoneaUnanue - Zezeaga22–171995–96Capellán - BelokiEtxaniz - Arretxe22–181996–97Retegi II - Lasa IIIEugi - Zezeaga22–141997–98Unanue - ErrastiEtxaniz - Elkoro22-211999Nagore - Errandonea y Olaizola I - ElkoroBerasaluze VIII - Beloki y Goñi II - Zezeaga22–17 y 22–152001Olaizola I - Goñi IIIAlustiza - Beloki22–132002Xala - Lasa IIIOlaizola I - Patxi Ruiz22–192003Koka - BelokiOlaizola II - Pascual22–152004Titín III - Goñi IIIMartínez de Irujo - Lasa III22–82005Martínez de Irujo - Goñi IIIBengoetxea VI - Beloki22–122009Juan Martínez de Irujo - Goñi IIIOlaizola II - Mendizabal II22-21
Cuatro y Medio Championship finals Total: 2 Year Champion Subchampion Score2005Olaizola IIXala22–052008Olaizola IIMartínez de Irujo22–17
References