Autor: Tatiana Ourique
It is not known when bullfighting first started on Terceira Island. Some writings date back to 1852 and many names have been engraved in the history of bullfighting in Terceira.
Fifty years have passed since João Hermínio decided to get some friends together in 1973 to officially “catch” bulls in Praça de São João, in Angra do Heroísmo. Before that, the island of Terceira had already seen a few informal bullfights.
João Hermínio, António Baldaia, Adalberto Belerique and, since 2018, João Pedro Ávila. Four leaders in 50 years prove the longevity and consistency of a group that is blowing out 50 candles in 2023, a remarkable year for the Tertúlia Tauromáquica Terceirense Amateur Forcados Group.
The season began on June 24 – celebrating the group’s 50th anniversary – with six bulls from the renowned Veiga Teixeira stud farm. The season totaled nine races: four on the island of Terceira, one in Graciosa, one in Abiul, one in Alcochete and two in the USA.
After a few years' break, the Tertúlia Tauromáquica Terceirense Amateur Forcados Group once again organized an end-of-year gala. The golden occasion demanded it. The gala took place at Clube Musical Angrense and was attended by former, current and future forcados from the group, as the youth group was also honored on the evening of November 30.
The party was attended by former and current forcados, friends, family and supporters of the “festa brava”. After dinner, a film was shown of all the bullfights made in the 2023 season, followed by the awards ceremony.
All the categories were voted on by the group's active forcados, who began by choosing the recipient for the "Tony Ortins" award, a category aimed at members of the youth group and which is a tribute to the late founder of the youth group, António Ortins Cardoso. The award was presented to Caillou Fontes as an incentive and recognition of his prominence on and off stage.
The "Forcado Revelação" award was presented to the duo of brothers Alexandre and João Vieira. Tomás Ortins was chosen as the best roper, as 17 bulls were roped this season by the group's top roper. Luís Leandro was elected "Best Helper" for his competence and resilience in the face of more demanding bulls, a trophy that he combined with the main prize, "Best Forcado of the Season", which he received from João Hermínio to a great ovation from his colleagues in the trenches.
At the end of the ceremony, host João Pedro Ávila thanked all the forcados and their families for their presence and effort, stressing that bullfighting only makes sense with the friendship and companionship of everyone involved, both inside and outside the arena. GFATTT also announced that the 50th anniversary celebrations will close on December 20 with the launch of the book "50 anos do GFATTT" (50 years of GFATTT), by Ildebrando Ortins, a former forcado, with the support of the Angra do Heroísmo City Council (CMAH) and the Tertúlia Tauromáquica Terceirense.