Terenci Miñana i Andrés
Encyclopedia
Terenci Miñana i Andrés, el Xiquet de Simat (the boy from Simat) (Simat de la Valldigna
, 1884–1954) was a very famous Valencian pilota
player during the first decades of the 20th century.
He was a pupil of Nel de Murla
, who discovered him in 1902 during a match, and presented him in the Pelayo trinquet
of Valencia. Both, Nel as escalater and the Xiquet as mitger, were the best couple of the Valencian pilota at the beginning of the 20th century, since they were outstanding in any category of Valencian pilota. They were also the ones who began to play the Escala i corda
.
He retired in 1918, in good condition. He came back some years later, but then he played as punter or as feridor. In 1928 he became the manager of the Pelayo trinquet
.
traffic matter, and he was related with Leopoldo Risueño, the master of gambling in Valencia.
When the Spanish Civil War
finished, Terenci Miñana paid for the construction of a pantheon for a friend of him who was killed by the Committees for the defense of the Spanish Republic.
Simat de la Valldigna
Simat de la Valldigna is a municipality in the comarca of Safor in the Valencian Community, Spain. It is 50 km from Valencia, and 20 km from Cullera and Gandia. It is also near Xàtiva and Alzira....
, 1884–1954) was a very famous 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....
player during the first decades of the 20th century.
He was a pupil of Nel de Murla
José Vicente Riera Calatayud
José Vicente Riera Calatayud , 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...
, who discovered him in 1902 during a match, and presented him in the Pelayo trinquet
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 :...
of Valencia. Both, Nel as escalater and the Xiquet as mitger, were the best couple of the Valencian pilota at the beginning of the 20th century, since they were outstanding in any category of Valencian pilota. They were also the ones who began to play 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 :...
.
He retired in 1918, in good condition. He came back some years later, but then he played as punter or as feridor. In 1928 he became the manager of the Pelayo trinquet
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 :...
.
Private life
At the end of 1926 and 1927 Terenci Miñana was involved in a cocaineCocaine
Cocaine is a crystalline tropane alkaloid that is obtained from the leaves of the coca plant. The name comes from "coca" in addition to the alkaloid suffix -ine, forming cocaine. It is a stimulant of the central nervous system, an appetite suppressant, and a topical anesthetic...
traffic matter, and he was related with Leopoldo Risueño, the master of gambling in Valencia.
When the Spanish Civil War
Spanish Civil War
The Spanish Civil WarAlso known as The Crusade among Nationalists, the Fourth Carlist War among Carlists, and The Rebellion or Uprising among Republicans. was a major conflict fought in Spain from 17 July 1936 to 1 April 1939...
finished, Terenci Miñana paid for the construction of a pantheon for a friend of him who was killed by the Committees for the defense of the Spanish Republic.