He was an outstanding rider, rejoneador razeteur, but also director of arenas.
Arthur Sanjuan’s son can only follow the path traced by his father. At 9, he was already galloping alongside Henri Aubanel in the abrivados of Gallargues-le-Montueux. However, his education is not neglected. Certificate of studies in hand, he joined the college of Lunel then the boarding school of the college of L’Assomption in Nîmes and, finally, the practical school of this same city.
In 1946, Francis was 17 years old and had a pressing need to spend the vitality that bubbled within him. In the arenas of Paludes-de-Noves, he faces twice a raging bull which sows panic among twenty razeteurs.
At the end of the military service, a return to the native country is necessary. The father, handicapped by a fall from his horse, can no longer take care of the cattle transport business. Arthur Sanjuan recovered, his son nonetheless continued to support him.
Sorting in the arenas of Nîmes
The two generations are also found in the arenas. Those of Nîmes, for example, whose director Paul Laurent presented a unique spectacle one day: the sorting of forty bulls. Twenty belonging to him, the others brought by Jean Lafont and recognizable by a red ribbon floating on their withers.
Five riders are active in the selection including Jean Lafon himself and the father and son Sanjuan. Thirty-eight bulls quickly find their respective herds, the other two are easily identifiable.
Such services inspire Francis Sanjuan, who dreams of making a name for himself in the arena by fighting bulls on horseback. In the image of Arlésienne Emma Calais or Lunellois Jean Sicard, alias “Romanito”.
To be continued.
A high level athlete
Francis Sanjuan first developed his extraordinary athletic abilities at Creps in Montpellier, then among the two hundred students of the school of physical education in Pau. After a year spent in the city of Henri IV, he joined the famous sports school of Fort-Carré d’Antibes. For only three months! The time to distance his classmates on the course and learn to handle the lasso with mastery.
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