Thousands take on the bulls in Pamplona run

THOUSANDS of runners packed the cobbled streets of Pamplona yesterday as they took on the bulls for the third of eight planned runs.

Spanish National Television said at least one runner was gored by a bull rumbling close to a wall in the plaza that houses the town hall.

The festival draws more than a million visitors every summer.

Television footage showed several other runners thrown to the ground or flipped into the air by bulls from Seville’s legendary Miura ranch, known for raising animals that are particularly large yet sleek, and above all fierce. All but one of those running yesterday weighed nearly 680kg.

Despite the huge crowd — the number of runners on Saturdays and Sundays doubles to about 4,000 — the run was fast. It took just over two minutes, about a minute less than average.

The six bulls stayed in a cluster for much of the run, making it safer for runners. A bull that strays from the pack can get disoriented and gore anything that moves.

The animals run with six meeker, bell-tinkling steers that are supposed to keep the fighting ones running in a tight bunch.

The worst injury so far this year came on the opening day when an American man was left partially paralysed in a side event after the run.