Every several years our federation of N.A.B.O. serves as the host of the international tournament of Mus.  This was the fifth time that the tournament was in the United States (previously in San Francisco twice, Las Vegas & Boise).  Eleven delegations participated, with the Euskadi winning this year followed by the French team.

Related links:  www.GlobalMus.com (posting of game scores)    Estatutos de Mus

 

The mus players and delegates, sporting their cowboy hats that were presented to them by the U.S. hosts.

 2010       XXXIII      Los Angeles, California                                Euskadi

A special treat for the final dinner-show included a performance of Basque song by Visiting Zuberoa singers
 

Longtime NABO Mus chairman Pierre Etcharren, and his daughter & now NABO President Valerie Arrachea.  Organizers of the tournament presented Pierre a special plaque in appreciation of his five decades of work for Basque culture.  He organized the first World Mus Tournament held here in 1979 in San Francisco and has been instrumental in all five tournaments hosted here in the United States.
 

This year's tournament was scored via computer thanks to the work of Jean Baptiste Bidegarai of Fresno.  He also created the team photographs above and did double-duty driving the 15 passenger van!

MVP: Most Valuable Participant goes to Frank Etchart (Canada).  Though he was a paid participant, he was always there to assist others.

Museko Xapelketa

Agur bat bihotzetik, anai ta arrebak
Ongi etorri zuer, NABO batasunak
Ainitzak urrunetik, zarezkete jinak
Besarkatzen zaituzte, Chinok egun denak. 

Mendeak badituzke, iragan direla
Euskaldunen lurrean, musa sortu zela
Arbasoek hedatu, mundu zabalera
Berekilan segituz, otoitz bat bezala. 

Bi milako mendetik, lehen hamarkada
Ilabetez Iraila, laugarren eguna
Estado batuetan, dugu atsegina
Hamabi erresuma, elgartzian hola. 

Euskadin loratua, musaren azia
Zure uztak bete du, gaur mundu guzia
Auzo gisa hor ‘tuzu, Espana, Frantzia
Aziako aldetik, hartuz Auztralia. 

Heldurik bestaldera, heg-o-amerikara
Adixkidetu ditzu, han bost erresuma
Uruguai eta Peru, berdin Argentina
Heiekilan batean, Chile, Venezuela.

Estado batuetan, gira orroituko
Atsegina izanik, zuen ikusteko
Auzoak hemen ‘tugu, denen konplitzeko
Iparretik Canada, hegotik Mexico.

Musak orroitzapena, asko du gurekin
Euskal herrian ala, atzerrian berdin
Guziek jainkoari, dezagun galdegin
Musak atxiki gaitzan, oro elgarrekin.

~Johnny Kurutxet
Chino, California  |  September 4, 2010

 

The first place trophy.  The eagle was chosen as symbolic of this U.S. tournament.

The plaques for each participating country delegation, as well as the first and second place trophies.  The national delegation plaques were donated by NABO member organizations:  San Francisco Basque Cultural Center, San Francisco Basque Club, Reno Basque Club, Southern California Basque Club, Ventura County/LA Basque Clubs, Rocklin Basque Club, S.F. Anaitasuna, Elko Basque Club, Marin-Sonoma Basque Club, Kern County (Bakersfield) Basque Club & the Buffalo Basque Club.  Mil esker!

The national delegations exchanges gifts with the other delegations; here the U.S. delegation gives their gift of a cowboy hat.

Delegates following their annual meeting to agree on rules and to establish future tournaments.  The next tournament is slated for the Iparralde in 2011.  Find out more at www.globalmus.com


Daily review of the 33rd World Mus Tournament:
   
Saturday (Aug. 28) was arrival day for most.  The evening concluded with a welcoming dinner at the Chino Centro Basco Restaurant.

       
Sunday (Aug. 29) started with a drive out to Ventura County were the group was hosted to a picnic lunch by the Ventura County "Itxas Alde" and Los Angeles "Hoberena" Basque clubs.  Then it was a brief tour of the Getty Museum with its artwork and spectular views of the westside of Los Angeles.  The evening concluded with a Mexican Mariachi dinner-show.

Monday (Aug. 30) commenced with the first round of Mus games.  Then following that it was off to downtown LA for a wine-tour and lunch.  The obligatory stopover at Hollywood was next, and the evening concluded with a fine dinner at the Chino Basque clubhouse.

Tuesday (Aug. 31) began with another round of Mus games, then a lunch at the Chino Basque Club.  Following that, the group went to Universal Studios for the day.

 
Wednesday (Sept. 1).  A double round of Mus games, and the Southern California Basque club hosted the lunch for all.  Then the group was off to Las Vegas where they had a free day.

The week concluded with the annual Chino Basque festival during Labor Day weekend.  On Saturday there was an all-comers Mus tournament, then a dinner show that night with the presentation of trophies at the Chino Fairgrounds.  Then the next day was the Basque festival with two meals, dance & Klika performances and dancing for all.  This way they got to see what a Basque-American festival is like.
 

  Agur Jaunak!