NEWS

Athletic Club and its followers receive the ‘Angula de la ría’ (River Eel) for recuperating the rojiblanco spirit

The prize was accepted by Jose Iribar Angel, ‘El Txopo’, in representation of the Club, in a celebration hosted by Itziar Lazkano, Gurutze Beitia and Iñaki Astigarraga and to which more than 700 people were in attendance at the Campos Eliseos Theater.

The magazine ‘La ría del ocio’ celebrated its 25th anniversary this past Tuesday, 15 May, at the Campos Eliseos Theater, and on that occasion a nourished group of guests gathered. There was no lack of illustrious personalities of the Villa, such as the Mayor, Iñaki Azkuna, town councillors and people from the world of culture, sports and Bilbao society.

A total of fourteen prizes were awarded at the event, that corresponds to the Bilbao Newspaper, (the prize was presented by Mayor Iñaki Azkuna, and picked up by its director, Elena Puccini), Virginia Berasategui (received the award from Enrique Thate and Isidro Elexgaray), the Euskalduna Palace (Jon Ortuzar received the ‘Angula’ award from the hands of Gonzalo Olabarria), Athletic and its followers (very well represented by Jose Angel Iribar ‘El Txopo’, received the award from the hands of Jose Antonio Nielfa, ‘La Otxoa’), Sala BBK (Gorka Martinez of the unrivalled ‘Txirenitas’ picked up the award), society columnists Txema Soria and Jon Mujika, (were handed the ‘Angula’ award by La ría del ocio director himself, Arturo Trueba), Teatro Campos, Radio Popular (which received the prize for the programs ‘La flor de la canela’ and ‘La emocion del bacalao’, were handed the award by Iñaki Astigarraga and was received by Jose Iragorri), Telebilbao, (represented by Enrique Campos, who collected the award from the hands of Aranzta Ocio), Kirmen Uribe, (who recently arrived from the United States, who received the award from Asier Muniategi), Bilbao Choral Society (headed by Cecilio Gerrikabeitia, took the award from the hands of K-Toño Frade), the Accessible Tourism Program of the Basque Government (represented by Isabel Muela, who received the prize from Jose Mari Amantes) and the BOS (the prize was presented to Ibon Aranbarri by councilwoman Itziar Urtasun).

During the celebration guests enjoyed the performances of La Otxoa (who appeared on board of the famous Athletic ‘Isocarro’ and interpreted such well-known songs as ‘El Athletic’ or ‘La baldosa’), the Txirenitas (responsible for awarding the prize to Sala BBK and brightened up the event with their particular dance) or the spectacular ‘Lady Cotty’ (fictitious society columnist of the first years of La ría del ocio which were brought to life by Arturo Trueba, Javier Urquijo and Iñaki Astigarraga) interpreted by the actress and presenter Gurutze Beitia.

After the ceremony a cocktail was held in the Sala Teatro itself, which then transferred to Sala Cupola as of 23.00 hours, where the liveliest ones enjoy some drinks.

This celebration would not have been possible without the sponsorship of the City council of Bilbao, Water Consortium, Eusko Label, Iberdrola, Metro Bilbao, Bizkaiko Txakolina, Coca Cola, Lengendario, Schweppes, Absolut, Hendricks or Teatro Campos itself.

In the 20th anniversary of the gala the awards ceremony took place under the Euskalduna Bridge, and prize winners on that occasion were twenty illustrious figures such as Javier Urquijo, Alex de la Iglesia, Juan Bas, Boulevard, Unai Basurko, Teatro Arriaga, Miguel Zugaza, Julen Guerrero, Jesus Mari Lazkano, Pedro Olea, Karraka, Durango Book and Record Fair, El Consorcio, Water Consortium, Metro Bilbao, Guggenheim, La Otxoa, Miriam Ocáriz, Toti Martinez de Lezea or Anne Igartiburu.