Roger Pascal marked the world of Camargue racing. This prestigious left-hander is part of the mythical Carré d’As, a legendary group of raseteurs formed by André Soler, Francis San Juan and François Canto. An impressive track record, which the president of the Union of bullfighting clubs of France, Gérard Suberchicot, honored by presenting him with a trophy for his entire career.
Born in Gallician but Beauvoisinois at heart since 1962, the last of the Aces, 90 years old in August, retains this passion for bouvine and continues to frequent the stands of the arenas.
A night in the clinic on a barrier blow
“I began, like all the youth of that time, to run behind bulls and to rase in village races during votive festivals, to the great dismay of my mother.says Roger Pascal, evoking his beginnings. I was noticed by Jean Cabanis who offered me to participate in the final of the trophy at the arenas of Nîmes. At the time, the race was free and open to whoever wanted to enter. Jean lent me an outfit in white. On the first bull, Sangar de Laurent, I raise the acorn 20,000 F, in 1953 it was a significant sum. Jean rose to the presidency, gave my name, no one knew me. I continued on the cocardier Facteur and undressed Lopez from the Thibault herd. A memorable race that launched my career.”
The former raseteur had the chance to fight big bulls like Vovo or his favorite Cossack. “Gandar, from Blatière, whom I passed once in my career at Lunel. Fidani said to me: Boy, look at him but don’t pass him. The bull takes place, I commit myself to do the raset, in the middle of the track I was caught, I put my hand on his head, as I could I dived over the barrier and he, with his giraffe neck, he was trying to pick me up on the other side, he was unshakeable for a left-hander”he recalls.
Roger Pascal rubbed shoulders with the aces of the moment: Fidani, Volle, Douleau… “Falomir was a very great raseteur, his character prevented him from entering the fifth of Aces. The best, Christian Chomel with twenty years of career. Fear, we did not think about it, everything was in the mind. twenty years of career, one night in the clinic on a sudden barrier, I was lucky. My most beautiful memory, the gold cockade in 1963, medal that my wife wears around her neck.
Roger Pascal ran cafes in Beauvoisin for more than thirty years. “In 1962, I bought the Café du Nord, that’s where, in a retort, I made pastis soup for young people, which I served for free with a ladle. Another era”he concludes mischievously.
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