On this Sunday afternoon after church, with a satisfied stomach from a superb lunch prepared in Mrs. Elizalde's Noriega kitchen, we gathered in the wooden stands behind the court. An older man (old enough to be any one's grandfather) sat in anticipation of the games. Sporting an interesting western hat he rolled his own cigarettes and carefully licked the paper with the steady coordination of hand and mouth. Judging by his tobacco-stained hands and leathery skin, he had been doing this for many years. After a friendly exchange with a fellow spectator, each pulled out some money, handed it to a third person, shook hands and made a wager on the outcome.

As people filled the bleachers, a women with a personality as colorful as her wardrobe made her entrance. Wearing more jewelry than all the other women combined, this "grande dame" of the game announced in a velvety voice her favorite player. She yelled out, "Come on... Blue Boy!" I followed her gaze to see the image of a young dark-haired handball player with a blue cinta or cloth belt. Bennat Arduain held his head high as he prepared his hands for the match, bouncing the ball on the court with alternating hands. The name Blue Boy, coincidently the name of a a famous 18th century painting was to be Benji's name on the court. A quick look across the cross revealed his partner also sporting a blue belt. His partner was altogether different though. He paced the handball court, hands on his hips, breathing deeply and rhythmically as he maintained a steely cold gaze at an imaginary point above the bleachers. He looked like Yul Brenner with an intensity of concentration like no one on the court. Like all great athletes he was focused and seemed to be in a trance. I soon learned by listening to my mother and father's conversation that this was my father's cousin Sauveur Bidart.
During the match I remember how emotions ran high on the court as well as in the stands. People yelled their approval and sometimes their disappointment after each point. The score keeper held a wooden palette as he announced the score in a semi musical voice. With increasing anxiety the oldest spectator rolled more and more cigarettes and smoked them until he could no longer hold them between his lips. Jewelry chiming in the wind, our most colorful character yelled with added enthusiasm, "OK Blue boy!"
With all the hoopla the most memorable actions that day were those of Sauveur's. He celebrated points by keeping a stiff upper lip. During long exchanges with his opponents he would pump his arm in excitement like Tiger Woods. In stark comparison during a lost point or fault of his own he would markedly show his disapproval. This was the most entertaining of moments. Sauveur would vocalize his disappointment, discuss the point with himself or often times give the audience an instant replay of how the point should have been played. On some occasions he would replay the point with his head. This was the sign of how deeply he wanted to win the game. Physically he was not an ordinary athlete. He was not a large man by any means. This is what made him such a great player. He was the quickest the Bakersfield crowd had seen and perhaps will ever see. Playing a clever game, his opponents were careful not to allow him to control the game in the front court. If allowed the opportunity Sauveur would make the competition run the court in pursuit of his finely placed pilota. Their best bet was to keep the ball away from Sauveur. But this was not an easy task since Blue Boy Benji was equally as adept playing the back court. The two played a awesome game. On the Noriega court Sauveur displayed his all-around game and athletic style. And the crowd loved it.

The enthusiasm for the game and a growing need to build a court that the club could call its own.
People had been coming out to see the players for many decades at Noriega's. The players that had graced the court with their presence were much larger players such as Pete Ermigarat, Frank Pedeflous, Jean Lorda, Pete Borda, Jean Errassarett and Jean Arrayet. In 1972 the Kern County Basque decided to buy a property with a clubhouse and soon build a handball court. In August 1974 the Union Avenue property was purchased. Rainbow Gardens as it was called, was acquired for $60,000. Later the dream of our own handball court would become a reality. Many great handball players and supporters of the sport were active during this time; Amedee Irey and Joxe Recondo as well as John (Pampi) Urrutia, Marcel Membrede, Bernard Arduain, Henri Duhart and Sauveur to name a few.

With the talk of a new mur à gauch (left-handed wall court) came an increase in club membership. Members rushed in to help a club with the creation of a handball court that to this day pays tribute to the popularity of the game. A large sum of money even today was gathered through loans, donations and IOU's to raise the $40,000 needed to build the court.
The Gure Amentsa court was completed in 1978 with the court's inauguration shortly following in November of the same year. The picnic that year was celebrated at Sacred Heart Church in Greenfield just outside of Bakersfield and then festivities were moved to the club's new court for a handball match between doubles teams Ganix Iriarborde & Frank Pedeflous against Augustin Artechea & Pete Etchegoinberry.
During the summer of 1978 a delegation of handball players traveled to France from Bakersfield to represent the Basque Club to compete in the World Championships. Before the completion of the Gure Amentsa court, Sauveur Bidart traveled to the nearest trinqueta court in Los Angeles to prepare for the competitions. His efforts paid off since he was the only one to get a Bronze medal.
Although my cousin Sauveur was only here a short time to enjoy it, I can still recall the excitement that playing on the Gure Amentsa gave him. Sauveur would say that the Basques of Bakersfield, young and old alike, would finally have a handball court they could call their own.

Written by Pierre Igoa
edited by Philippe Igoa

Delegates on their way to the World Championships held in France in 1978 pictured KCBC President, Marcel Membrede, Bennat Arduain, Sauveur Bidart, Frank Maitia, Sr., Amedee Irey, Joxe Recondo and KCBC Treasurer Bernard Igoa.

Those who had contributed to the sport of Pilota are recognized.
A small group of members gathered at the clubhouse for a ceremony. Honorees of the Pilotaren Biltzarra received awards for their contributions of keeping the sport alive.


Honorees of the Pilotaren Biltzarra Award
Back Row: Maurice Nigeloa, Anne Marie Minaberri, Christian Curutchague, Christiane Arduain, Jean Arrayet, Javier Vidaurreta. Middle Row: Robert Dufour, J. B. Curutchague, Maite Curutchague, Bernard Arduain, Linda Elizalde, Loli Dalia. Front Row: Frank Maitia Sr., Jean Ibarra, Francois Vidaurreta, Pierre Lissar, Francois Pedeflous, Jean Pierre Cabalett & Jean Pierre Dalia

Michel Laxague, Jeanot Arrayet, Pierre Etchegoinberry, Jean Pierre Palla and Jean Lorda.

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