Francisco Larrañaga Albizu, known as Txikito de Iraeta (born 14 September 1913, date of death unknown) was a Basque pelota player, winner of the 1945

1st Hand-Pelota doubles championship The Bare-handed Pelota First League Doubles known as Campeonato de España de mano parejas is the second most important tournament of Hand-pelota category in Basque pelota, after the 1st Hand-Pelota singles championship The Bare-handed Pelota Fi ...

Early life

Larrañaga was born in Cestona on 14 September 1913. He resided with his family in the Iraeta neighbourhood, from which he took his nickname.

Professional career

He made his debut on 1931, but his best years as player were given between 1937 and 1942. On 11 August 1940 he played in Gros fronton the first professional hand-pelota singles championship of the history against

Atano III Mariano Juaristi Mendizábal (February 21, 1904 – January 12, 2001) was an Azkoitian Basque pelota player known as Atano III. He is often considered one of the best ''pelotaris'' of all time, dominating the 1st hand-pelota category from 192 ...

, who defeated him with a final score of 22–8. In 1941 he reached the finale on the

, along with

Miguel Gallastegui Miguel Gallastegui Ariznavarreta (25 February 1918 – 4 January 2019) was a Gipuzkoan pelotari (a Basque pelota Basque pelota ( Basque: '' pilota'', Spanish: '' pelota vasca'', French: '' pelote basque'') is the name for a variety of court s ...

, but they lost to Onaindia and Urcelay.. He participated in hand-pelota category during the 1930s and 1940s. In 1942 participated again on the hand-pelota 1st championship but lost to Gallastegui, in 1945 replaced Onaindia in the

, pairing up with Lazcano due to that he suffered an injury during a regional tournament. Txikito de Iraeta and Lazcano won to Atano IV and Atano VII on the finale with a final score of 22-21 .

Championships

1st Hand-Pelota singles championship

1st Hand-Pelota doubles championship

Legacy

The fronton located in the neighbourhood of Iratea,

Cestona Zestoa ( es, Cestona) is a town located in the province of Gipuzkoa, in the autonomous community of the Basque Country, northern Spain , image_flag = Bandera de España.svg , image_coat = Escudo de España (mazonado).svg ...

is named after him Txikito de Iraeta Fronton.

References

* {{DEFAULTSORT:Larranaga, Francisco 1913 births Year of death missing Spanish pelotaris Sportspeople from Gipuzkoa Pelotaris from the Basque Country (autonomous community) People from Urola Kosta