José Vicente Riera Calatayud
Encyclopedia
José Vicente Riera Calatayud (Murla
, Marina Alta
1867 - Elche, 1954), el Nel de Murla, is regarded to be the first Valencian pilota
genius.
He was 23 and got announced as the main player at the Pelayo
and Juan de Mena trinquets
, in Valencia. He was also an idol at the Llargues
and Galotxa
street matches, where bettings were a relevant fee.
El Nel de Murla was one of the few who deserved some attention of the Spanish media, such as an article by the writer Azorín
on the ABC. It was very unusual since those media were in Spanish
and for the high class, while Valencian pilota was in Valencian
and for the middle or low class.
But his great contribution was his invention of the Escala i corda
variant, which turned to be the more appreciated by watchers. He proposed to stand a 1.80 m high rope on the middle of the trinquets courts, so that there were two clear midfields and there was no more confusion with the ratlles scoring system (as in the Llargues
).
Murla
Murla is a village in the province of Alicante and autonomous community of Valencia, Spain.-References:...
, Marina Alta
Marina Alta
Marina Alta is a comarca in the province of Alicante, Valencian Community, Spain.- Municipalities :*Adsubia*Alcalalí*Beniarbeig*Benidoleig*Benigembla*Benimeli*Benissa*Benitachell/El Poble Nou de Benitatxell*Calp*Castell de Castells*Dénia...
1867 - Elche, 1954), el Nel de Murla, is regarded to be the first Valencian pilota
Valencian pilota
Valencian pilota is a traditional handball sport played in the Valencian Community. Its origins are not known, but seems to be related to the French Jeu de paume....
genius.
He was 23 and got announced as the main player at the Pelayo
Pelayo trinquet
The Pelayo trinquet is one of the most renowned trinquets courts of the Valencian pilota sport in Valencia. The most important Escala i corda competitions, such as the Circuit Bancaixa, have their final matches played there.- History :...
and Juan de Mena trinquets
Valencian trinquet
Valencian trinquet, or simply trinquet , is the court used in the Valencian Community for two different modalities of Valencian pilota: the Escala i corda and the Raspall.- Court :...
, in Valencia. He was also an idol at the Llargues
Llargues
Llargues is the oldest Valencian pilota modality. It's played on the streets, where two teams formed by 3, 4 or 5 players throw each other the ball with the hand try to surpass an imaginary line which changes every game....
and Galotxa
Galotxa
Galotxa is a variety of pilota that is always played in the street, whether artificial or natural, practiced mostly in the northern counties of the Xúquer river....
street matches, where bettings were a relevant fee.
El Nel de Murla was one of the few who deserved some attention of the Spanish media, such as an article by the writer Azorín
José Martínez Ruiz
José Augusto Trinidad Martínez Ruíz, also known as Azorín , was a Spanish writer and literary critic.-Early life and education:Martínez Ruiz was born in Monovar, Alicante in 1873...
on the ABC. It was very unusual since those media were in Spanish
Spanish language
Spanish , also known as Castilian , is a Romance language in the Ibero-Romance group that evolved from several languages and dialects in central-northern Iberia around the 9th century and gradually spread with the expansion of the Kingdom of Castile into central and southern Iberia during the...
and for the high class, while Valencian pilota was in Valencian
Valencian
Valencian is the traditional and official name of the Catalan language in the Valencian Community. There are dialectical differences from standard Catalan, and under the Valencian Statute of Autonomy, the Acadèmia Valenciana de la Llengua has been established as its regulator...
and for the middle or low class.
But his great contribution was his invention of the Escala i corda
Escala i corda
Escala i corda is the most prestigious variant of Valencian pilota, and the only one, with Raspall, that have professional players.- History :...
variant, which turned to be the more appreciated by watchers. He proposed to stand a 1.80 m high rope on the middle of the trinquets courts, so that there were two clear midfields and there was no more confusion with the ratlles scoring system (as in the Llargues
Llargues
Llargues is the oldest Valencian pilota modality. It's played on the streets, where two teams formed by 3, 4 or 5 players throw each other the ball with the hand try to surpass an imaginary line which changes every game....
).