Pigeon racing

Pigeon racing is the sport of releasing specially trained homing pigeons, which then return to their homes over a carefully measured distance. The time it takes the animal to cover the specified distance is measured and the bird's rate of travel is calculated and compared with all of the other pigeons in the race to determine which animal returned at the highest speed.
Pigeon racing requires a specific breed of pigeon bred for the sport, the Racing Homer. Competing pigeons are specially trained and conditioned for races that vary in distance from approximately to . Despite these lengths, races can be won and lost by seconds, so many different timing and measuring devices have been developed. The traditional timing method involves rubber rings being placed into a specially designed clock, whereas a newer development uses RFID tags to record arrival time.
While there is no definite proof, there are compelling reasons to think the sport of racing pigeons may go back at least as far as 220 AD. Furthermore, it is recorded in the Mishnah that a pigeon racers are forbidden from bearing witness. The sport achieved a great deal of popularity in Belgium in the mid-19th century. The pigeon fanciers of Belgium were so taken with the hobby that they began to develop pigeons specially cultivated for fast flight and long endurance called "Voyageurs". From Belgium the modern version of the sport and the "Voyageurs" which the Flemish fanciers developed spread to most parts of the world. Once quite popular, the sport has experienced a downturn in participants in some parts of the world in recent years, possibly due to the rising cost of living, ageing fanciers, and a severe lack of public interest. Hypersensitivity pneumonitis is also a reason why some people are leaving the sport.
One recent development in the sport of pigeon racing is "one loft racing", where birds are raced against each other under the same training regimen, from the same location. The principle being to find the best individual race bird irrespective of the race trainer. This will determine which bird is then the most successful.
History.
Pigeons are the oldest domesticated bird. The predecessors of modern-day racing pigeons were pigeons bred for their homing ability, primarily to carry messages. "Pigeon posts" have been established all over the world and while mainly used in the military, some are still in service today. Modern pigeon racing originated in Belgium in the mid 19th century.
The sport was aided by several new technologies of the era. The advent of the railroad permitted pigeons to be sent to distant release points quickly and at modest cost. In addition, the creation of mass-produced, sophisticated timing clocks brought accurate and secure timing to the sport. These clocks were designed with special compartments where an entry band, removed from the returning race bird was placed. When struck, the clock recorded the time and also placed the band in a compartment that could only be opened by race officials.
The importance of homing pigeons in the centuries before electronic communications, such as the telegraph and telephone, is seldom recognised. However, the Reuters News Agency, the world's largest information provider, began as a pigeon service carrying closing stock prices between Belgium and Germany, basically between the western and eastern terminus of the telegraph in Europe.
The most expensive pigeon ever sold was "New Kim" which was purchased for $1.9 Million by a wealthy bidder from China in November 2020.
Racing.
Pigeon racing has been described as the "sport with a single starting gate and a thousand finish lines." In short, competing birds are taken from their lofts and must race home. The time taken and distance are recorded and the fastest bird is declared the winner. Races are generally between and in distance. In the United States flights of up to have been recorded.
Provided it survives the many hazards associated with racing, a single pigeon could compete from about six months of age and still be in competition at over ten years of age. Such feats are uncommon, however, and the average racing career rarely exceeds three years. Hazards can also come from weather conditions on the day of the race. Pigeons can become grounded and disoriented, and therefore not finish the race. In one instance in Madison, Wisconsin, in 1941, a family found a pigeon on their property. Since the bird was sporting an identifying leg band, the Wisconsin Conservation Commission was called, who identified the owner as a man from Green Bay.
In the early days of racing, paint was used to identify birds for owners. Belgium then developed a ⅛-inch brass leg band, that was sent to racers in America to use. Since then, to compete in a race, it must wear a permanent, unique numbered ring or band that is placed on its leg at about five days old. For a race to be conducted, the competing pigeons must be entered into the race, usually at the organisation's clubhouse, and taken away from their home to be released at a predetermined time and location. The distance between the bird's home loft and the race point is carefully measured by GPS and the time taken by the bird to return is measured using one of the two acceptable timing methods. Sometimes in some leagues, there are two divisions: one for the young birds (usually yearlings in their first year of competition) and another for older birds.
Traditional timing method.
The traditional method of timing racing pigeons involves rubber rings with unique identification numbers and a specially designed pigeon racing clock. The ring is attached around the bird's leg before being sent to race. The serial number is recorded, the clock is set and sealed, and the bird carries the ring home.
When the first bird returns, its trainer removes the ring and places it in a slot in the clock. The time that the ring was placed in the clock is recorded as the official time that the competing bird arrived home. From this time stamp an average speed is measured and a winner of the race can be found.
Although serving its purpose, this method has proved somewhat problematic for a few reasons:
Electronic timing method.
The latest development and preferred method for timing racing pigeons is the Electronic Timing System. The bird's arrival is recorded automatically. When using an electronic system, the pigeon fancier does not even have to be at the loft to clock the birds as they return. Birds are fitted with a band that has a tiny RFID chip in it which can be read when the bird comes home. At the home loft the electronic scanning records the pigeons' arrival. The pad or antenna is placed at the entry point to the loft entrance and as the pigeon crosses it the electronic band is scanned. The clock is attached to the antennas. The serial number of the transponder ring is recorded along with the time of arrival. This is very similar to transponder timing systems used in human races.
In February 2008 the members of the Penygraog Homing Society Racing Pigeon Club in Wales won an award to fund a new electronic timing device. The club was able to obtain the device thanks to funding from the All Wales award initiative. Club secretary John Williams said: "The electronic timer certainly makes it a lot easier for us".
With the advent of electronic timing system recording birds’ arrival has never been easier. The ETS technology is developing year on year and it is taking over the pigeon world, changing it and making it fit for today's conditions. As a result of this new way of registering a bird's arrival, several loft management software have been created in the last 10 years to help fanciers with record keeping, pigeon pedigree, publishing race results or keep track of treatment and vaccination records.
One-loft racing.
One-loft racing originated from local futurity races. Futurity races are when the birds race home from the racing station to their homes. The difference between regular racing and futurity races is futurity races has prize money involved. Usually, the prize is used for a bragging right more so than to win the money. The process of racing could be a bit complicated as handlers of their racing pigeons compete with one another. Some handlers could be better than some when it comes down to racing. Therefore, one-loft racing was created. One-loft racing is the process of training birds bred by many different breeders in the same loft, under the same trainer and in the same conditions (as opposed to trainer against trainer in their own lofts and usually with their own birds). It is thought to be the fairest method of proving which bloodline or breeder is best and usually provides the highest amount of prize money. Pigeons are recorded by electronic timing systems scanning the birds as they enter the home loft with winners decided by as little as 100th of a second. The birds are all taken to the same release point and they return to the same home loft, so therefore it is the fastest bird to complete the journey from A to B. One-loft racing is now becoming very popular all around the world with fanciers able to compare their bloodlines on an equal basis against the best breeders.
Training.
Racing pigeons are housed together in a specially designed dovecote or loft. From about four weeks of age until the end of its racing career, the racing loft is the pigeon's home and is where it returns to on race day.
After 22 to 28 days in the nest (depending on the owner's preference) the young birds are removed and placed in a section of a large loft or in a smaller loft built for the purpose. After a few days of learning how to locate the water and eating by themselves they are allowed to wander out of the loft and peck around in the garden, while doing this they are constantly observing their surroundings and becoming familiar with them. At about age six to seven weeks the birds will begin taking off, flying in very small circles around their loft and owner's house. As their confidence grows they gradually wander farther and farther from home until they are out of sight and can remain so for as much as two hours before returning. When a few trainers fly their pigeons in the same area, these flying "batches" (as flocks of pigeons are called) can number in the thousands. It does not, however, help them much in relation to finding their home from long distances away, a fundamental of pigeon racing. As confident flyers, the young pigeons are taken on progressively longer 'training tosses', driven a distance away from their home and released. This method of training is a way to condition the birds mentally and physically to prepare them for the races. This practice of loft flying and tossing continues throughout a pigeon's career to keep their homing instincts sharp.
There are many ways to train racing pigeons. Like every sport out there, racing pigeons is an evolving sport. One of the most popular systems is widowhood. This system uses the birds' desire to reproduce as motivation to try to give the bird a sense of urgency on race day. The use of widowhood is usually begun by first allowing the racer to raise a baby in their nest box. After the baby is weaned the hen is removed and often the nestbox is closed off, from then on the only time these birds are allowed to see their mate or enter the nest box is upon returning from training or a race. This conditioning is one of the key elements in a lot of racing programs.
Due to advancements in technology researchers have been able to use small Global Positioning Systems to track the flight paths that their birds follow. Small GPS systems have recently begun to hit the consumer market. Companies like PigeonTrack and GEM Supplements currently sell GPS units for novice to advanced race trainers to use to gather data.
Hazards.
As pigeon racing takes place over great distances in the sky, instead of on a racetrack, there are many hazards that could befall a pigeon during racing as well as training. The main hazard encountered by racing pigeons is predation by birds of prey. The killing of valuable pigeons by wild predators has led to some pigeon fanciers being suspected and prosecuted of killing birds of prey such as falcons.
Another hazard that racing pigeons encounter is flying into objects they sometimes cannot see, mostly when flying at high speeds or in darker weather conditions. The most common obstructions are electricity pylons or TV aerials. Pigeon fanciers will often have one of their pigeons return home with wounds or missing feathers from the belly or flanks region.
It is thought that racing pigeons rely on the Earth's magnetic field to find their way home. Some speculation has surfaced indicating that mobile phone towers may be interrupting the birds' navigation, although no published research has investigated this theory.
Breeding.
Pigeons are sexually mature at about six months of age. However, fanciers will often wait until the pigeon is at least a few months older before breeding. A hen bird will usually only lay two eggs in a clutch, laid every other day, after which incubation begins. The incubation period is 17 days. Pigeon breeders are careful in selecting birds to pair together so as to continue improving the breed and gain a competitive edge. It is this selective breeding that has given rise to the racing pigeons of today, capable of finding their way home from over away and flying at speeds in excess of with a tail wind but average on a calm day. Hens are often capable of laying upwards of 12 eggs per year, and squabs usually leave the nest at approximately three to four weeks of age.
Doping.
Doping in pigeon racing is the practice of giving performance-enhancing drugs to avian racers. The drugs are used to produce similar effects to those found in human athletes, building up muscle tissue and opening the respiratory tracts. In addition, corticosteroids can be used to delay moulting, allowing a bird to race late into a season.
In October 2013, blood samples from twenty Belgian pigeons were sent by the Pigeon Fanciers Association to South Africa for testing. This was the result of an exchange visit by the association to the National Horseracing Authority of Southern Africa. While tests in Belgium had not found traces of any drugs the South African laboratory discovered that six samples contained unusual substances. Five samples were found to include traces of acetaminophen (paracetamol), a widely used over-the-counter analgesic (pain reliever) and antipyretic (fever reducer). The sixth sample was erroneously reported in the press as having shown indications of cocaine use, but the lab reported that it was indications of caffeine usage. As the samples were sent anonymously no action could be taken against the owners of any of the birds.
In 2001 a series of raids across 80 homes led to the confiscation of large quantities of illegal performance-enhancers. Currently, all race winners are tested and over 100 samples were collected and tested in 2013.
In 1995 the Belgian Ministry of Health mandated drug testing in order to protect the welfare of the birds. The sport's governing body was looking at the possibility of implementing new anti-doping rules for the sport prior to the commencement of the 2014 season.
By region.
The Americas.
United States.
The sport was introduced into the United States about 1875, although regular racing did not begin until 1878. The sport of pigeon racing is well established in the US, and growing. According to the American Racing Pigeon Union, one of two large accrediting groups, there are 15,000 registered lofts in the U.S.
The sport was banned beginning January 1, 2004 in Chicago, but there have been a number of attempts to amend the ban since then (by making exemptions to the ban for members of a national professional organization). Ald. Gilbert Villegas of the 36th ward introduced the newest legislation June 2018, on behalf of the Polish constituents in his ward, saying the sport is deeply loved in Poland and a number of residents want to bring the sport back to Chicago.
Pigeon racing was particularly popular throughout the twentieth century in the New York City area, particularly in Brooklyn/Coney Island and in Hoboken New Jersey, where it still has devotees. Shady Hills, Florida is home to a pigeon racing club and hosts an annual racing event.
Canada.
The sport of pigeon racing has increased in Canada with Pigeon Clubs and Ladies Auxiliary popping up in cities and towns. The CRPU, the Canadian Racing Pigeon Union, is an organisation that is dedicated to the growth, preservation and support of pigeon racing in Canada.
The Canadian Pigeon International magazine is a monthly publication dedicated to the sport of pigeon racing
Brazil.
The "Brazilian Pigeon Racing Grandprix" is the biggest pigeon race in South America. The Sergipe's Pigeon Racing Association and the government from Aracaju organise this event.
Asia.
Pigeon racing is becoming increasingly popular in parts of Asia, especially Indonesia, India, China, Pakistan, Iran, Philippines, Japan, Taiwan and Bangladesh. In Bangladesh there are three pigeon racing associations which look after the sport and organise many races. There are thousands of registered pigeon fanciers in Bangladesh .
PAKISTAN also has many pigeon clubs.karachi Peshawar lahore sargodha are leading in good quality racing pigeons
The heart of the sport in India is Chennai, the capital city of the state of Tamil Nadu.
Taiwan has more racing pigeon events than any other country in the world, and can point to between two and three million birds. Nearly 500,000 people race pigeons on the island, and each year, prize money for races reaches the billions of NT dollars.
Oceania.
Australia.
The largest racing organisation in Australia is the Central Cumberland Federation. The state of Queensland also has a number of clubs and organisations. The biggest of these is the Qld Racing Pigeon Federation Inc (QRPF). Located in Brisbane, the QRPF has a long history dating back to the Second World War. Each year the QRPF organises pigeon races for its some 80 members. These races start at approximately in distance and continue on a gradual basis out to distances of over . A specialised transporter is used to transport the birds to the release points. This transporter enables the birds to be fed and watered en route before mass release at a predetermined time for their flight back to various home lofts. Many thousands of pigeons compete in races each weekend during the winter months.
In Western Australia racing is conducted by the Pigeon Racing Federation of Western Australia (Inc).
An innovative new one-loft race is the Australian Pigeon Punt Race held in Victoria, Australia.
The sport of pigeon racing has been declining around Sydney with pigeon club members gradually dying off as fewer younger people take up the sport. The high cost of feeds and fuel have also contributed to the decline.
Europe.
Poland.
Pigeon racing in Poland is overseen by "Polski Związek Hodowców Gołębi Pocztowych ("the Polish Pigeon Breeders Association), which has over 40,000 members. The first local association of pigeon breeders in the Polish lands under occupation was established in 1905 in Zabrze. After Poland regained independence in 1918, several such organisations were established and in 1926 the first nationwide breeders' association was established - "Zjednoczenie Polskich Stowarzyszeń Hodowców Gołębi Pocztowych na Rzeczpospolita Polska" (Unification of Polish Pigeon Breeders' Associations for the Republic of Poland). The breeding of racing pigeons was banned during the Nazi occupation, but at the end of World War II the Polish Pigeon Breeders Union was recreated on April 1, 1946 in Kraków.
Belgium.
The Janssen brothers (Louis, Charel, Arjaan and Sjef) were a famous and very successful pigeon racing family from Arendonk, Belgium. Louis Janssen, born 1912, was the last-surviving of the famous brothers. He died on 16 April 2013, at the age of 100. Descendants of the brothers' pigeons can be found racing all around the world.
Another famous and successful pigeon fancier is Karel Meulemans. Karel, born in Retie, also lives in Arendonk.
As often occurs in smaller communities there is much competition between the families Meulemans and Janssen.
UK and Ireland.
The first regular race in Great Britain was in 1881. The British Royal Family first became involved with pigeon racing in 1886 when King Leopold II of Belgium gave them breeding stock. The tradition continues to this day, with a bird of Queen Elizabeth II even winning a race in 1990. The sport is declining in the UK with membership of recognised clubs and federations falling by about five per cent annually.
The National Flying Club is a British pigeon racing club, and open to anyone in England and Wales.
In the United Kingdom and Ireland pigeon racing is regulated by six independent organisations.
In 2007 the British Parliament banned pigeons racing from the mainland of continental Europe to Britain because of the risk of bird flu. A British MEP supported fanciers to have the ban lifted. Labour's MEP Brian Simpson, from Golborne, believed that it was unfair to allow concerns about avian flu to throttle the fanciers' sport. Simpson said, "But what is clearly apparent now is that pigeon are low-risk in regards to avian flu and the decision to ban continental pigeon racing was wrong."
Romania.
Pigeon racing in Romania is one of Europe's hot spots in the sport. Many pigeon breeders join the National Federations every year, triggering more and more competitive challenges. Another aspect is the image that has changed in the last decade in regards of pigeon racing, since nowadays it stands for a fine art within the country, with symbolic prizes and bets. A high collaboration with pigeon fanciers from Belgium, the Netherlands and Germany is also observed.
In Romania, the competition organized by Best Pigeons, more exact, the Madona National Maraton, in 2019 had the highest number of pigeons ever registered on a Romanian competition. Over 19.000 birds and over 1.000 breeders. More information can be found on
Turkey.
The sport is popular in Turkey. In May 2008 a nine part, pigeon race from the town of Manisa to Erzurum was organised with participants from many pigeon associations across the country.
Africa.
South Africa.
South Africa is the home of the richest one-loft race in the world, the Million Dollar Pigeon Race. The Million Dollar Pigeon Race pits 4,300 birds from 25 countries against each other for a share of $1.3m in prize money. The runners-up win cars and smaller monetary prizes, while the overall winner can expect to pocket US$200,000. Sun City's one-loft race, sees birds from across the world air-freighted to South Africa as squabs, months before the race, and trained to orient to a single loft. Then on race day, after being released out on the South African veldt, the birds all race back to the same destination. The first race was in 1996 and attracted 893 pigeons. The race broke even after five years.


Totilas

Totilas (23 May 200014 December 2020), also known from 2006 to 2011 as Moorlands Totilas, and nicknamed "Toto", was a Dutch Warmblood stallion standing high who was considered to be one of the most outstanding competitive dressage horses in the world, the first horse to score above 90 in dressage competition, and the former holder of the world record for the highest dressage score in Grand Prix Freestyle Dressage. Going into the 2010 FEI World Equestrian Games (WEG), Moorlands Totilas and his rider, Edward Gal, had amassed multiple world-record scores in international competition, leading one American journalist to call them "rock stars in the horse world". Totilas was retired from competition in August 2015 and died on 14 December 2020 due to complications from colic.
Early show career.
Totilas was bred by Jan K. Schuil and Anna Schuil-Visser in Broeksterwâld (Broeksterwoude) in the Netherlands. They gave him his basic training. Upon entering major competition at age five, he was ridden by Jiska van den Akker and exhibited at the 2005 World Breeding Championships for Young Horses at Verden, Germany. There he distinguished himself as the best horse from the Netherlands, and placed fourth in the final ranking of five-year-old dressage horses. Also in 2005, his owners contacted Edward Gal and asked him to ride and compete Totilas. In 2006, after Gal began working with the horse, his sponsors Cees (also spelled Kees) and Tosca Visser purchased Totilas in the name of their investment company, Moorland BV. After this purchase the horse competed under the name "Moorlands Totilas".
Totilas was ridden throughout most of his international Grand Prix career by Gal, under the flag of the Netherlands. Gal first began working with Toto in 2006 and the pair started to compete in 2008. Gal and the team of people who worked with the horse understood that Toto was "something special" after their first Grand Prix (GP) competition, with Gal later stating, "He has an incredible amount of talent; it’s simply a pleasure to ride him."
In July 2009, Gal and Toto broke Anky van Grunsven's world record score in Grand Prix Freestyle with an 89.50% mark at Hickstead, England, and shortly thereafter followed it up breaking their own record with a score of 90.75% and win gold at the 2009 FEI European Jumping and Dressage Championships. The pair also won a silver in the special dessage and gold in the team dressage event. In December 2009, at the fourth leg of the 2009–10 FEI World Cup Dressage series at Olympia in London, they extended their record in GP Freestyle to 92.30%, more than 10 points above the second-place finisher. They won that season's FEI World Cup final with a win in GP Freestyle at home in the Netherlands, winning by more than 7 points with a score better than their first world record. The pair also have a world-record score in the Grand Prix Special discipline to their credit, having recorded 86.460% at Aachen in July 2010. The pair were triple gold medalists at the 2010 FEI World Equestrian Games, becoming the first horse–rider partnership ever to sweep the three available dressage gold medals (team, special and freestyle) at a single FEI World Games.
The horse's career was not free of controversy, particularly due to his training using the highly controversial "LDR" (low, deep and round) hyperflexion training technique also known as Rollkur, which faces claims of causing physical harm to the horse, and is considered "mental abuse" by the FEI. Critics claimed that his extravagant paces were not natural, but rather a product of harmful training, accusing Totilas' trainers of artificially inflating dressage scores and corrupting the fundamentals of the sport. One German equestrian magazine compared his performances to those in a circus. The head of the World Cup judging panel at the Olympia competition in London dismissed such criticism, saying, "People should be big enough to recognise brilliance when they see it."
While some give primary credit to the skill of Gal as the primary reason the horse reached such a high level at a very young age for a dressage horse, Anne Gribbons, dressage technical adviser for the United States Equestrian Federation, assessed Totilas as having taken the sport to a new level: "He is capable of such power and balance while he's in motion that it is almost beyond what most other horses can do."
Breeding status and sale.
Moorlands Totilas was approved for breeding by the KWPN in 2009, and stood at stud in 2010 for a stud fee of €5,500, or about $7,000 (US), considered a very high fee for a warmblood stallion. A total of 175 mares were approved for the stallion, including US Olympic medal-winner Brentina. His first year at stud generated fees of nearly €1.4 million. In September 2010, an embryo by Totilas sold for €32,000. His first foal, a seal brown-colored filly named Moorlands Guinevere, was foaled 23 January 2011 in Utrecht, Netherlands.
In October 2010, it was announced that sport horse breeder Paul Schockemöhle had purchased Moorlands Totilas, for an undisclosed sale price, estimated to be in the range of €9.5 million to as high as €15 million. At the World Equestrian Games, Gal strongly denied that the horse was for sale, but his owners stated that after his wins at the WEG, "we could no longer ignore the interest in the stallion." Though the official press release stated that Gal "understood" the Vissers' decision, other news sources quoted him as stating, ""I'm absolutely devastated...It's like I'm struck by lightning."
The news was a shock in the dressage community, with the Dutch national dressage team expressing disappointment that their Olympic hopes had been damaged by the horse being sold to an individual from Germany, The Netherland's closest rival. Dutch team trainer Sjef Janssen described the sale as "a huge blood-letting" for the team, expressing concerns that the horse would perform for Germany in the 2012 Olympics. The volume of online discussions led the "Eurodressage" web site to crash. Comment included criticism of Anky van Grunsven from Gal's business partner Nicole Werner for posting the news via Twitter prior to the official news release, and a resulting public exchange between the two camps on Facebook. The Vissers stated that they would continue to make promising and talented horses available to Gal.
German ownership.
In March 2011, Schockemöhle changed the horse's show name with the FEI to "Totilas". Schockemöhle and promoter Michael Mronz marketed the horse under the new name. Schockemöhle and co-owner Ann-Kathrin Linsenhoff selected Matthias Alexander Rath, a 26-year-old German rider who is Linsenhoff's stepson, to be the horse's new rider. In November 2010, Totilas and Rath made a public appearance in Mühlen, Germany, at Schockemöhle's stallion station. The pair competed with the German team for the European Dressage Championships held in Rotterdam in August 2011, failing to medal in that competition individually, although their scores assisted the Germans to win a silver team medal.
Allegations of abuse arose soon after the pair's 2011 performance in Rotterdam. A public showing where Totilas stuck out his tongue while performing, viewed as a sign of stress, caused public concern. Further controversy arose in October 2012, when the German branch of PETA filed a legal complaint against Rath, Schockemöhle and Linsenhoff, alleging that Totilas was being abused due to the use of rollkur in his training and management that kept him confined in a box stall, isolated from other horses. PETA alleged that the horse's treatment violated the free-movement requirements of the German Federal Ministry of Food, Agriculture, and Consumer Protection. As of 2012, prosecutors had not determined whether PETA's allegations were sufficient to constitute an alleged violation of German law. As the bulk of the complaint focused on the issue of rollkur training, which PETA was attempting to ban in Germany (although it was already prohibited by the German Equestrian Federation), the charge was viewed within the dressage community as a means to bring the issue to public attention via a high-profile case.
Totilas was injured during the winter of 2011/12. Rath and Totilas were expected to compete in the 2012 Olympics and placed in the top three at the 2012 German Championships. Shortly afterwards, Rath became ill with mononucleosis and withdrew from competition at CHIO Aachen in June and subsequently from the German Olympic team. Rath expressed hope that the pair would be able to compete in the 2016 Olympics, although by that time Totilas would be 16 years old. They then moved to the Netherlands to work with Sjef Janssen, coach of the Dutch team and of gold medalist Anky van Grunsven, presumably to obtain experience in the training techniques that Totilas was familiar with while in the care of Gal.
Totilas was injured in 2012 and spent two years out of competition. Rath and Totilas made their return at the May 2014 CDI Kapellen event in Belgium and competed in two test events at the 2014 CDIO Aachen event but had to withdraw from the freestyle event due to another injury. The pair returned in 2015 at a local event in Hulten and then competed at the CDIO Hagen in July. Rath and Totilas won a bronze in the team event at the 2015 European Championships in Aachen. The pair scored 75.9% in the grand prix event, with some observers believing Totilas to be lame. He was subsequently withdrawn from the special freestyle event. Aachen was Totilas' final competition; a subsequent MRI scan showed bone inflammation in his left hind hoof and he was retired in August 2015.
Totilas spent his retirement at the Gestut Schafhof in Kronberg, Germany, travelling to Mühlen for breeding purposes. He made a celebration appearance at the 2019 KWPN Stallion Licensing event. In retirement he was ridden by Rath and Linsenhoff. He died from colic on 14 December 2020.
Pedigree.
Moorlands Totilas was sired by a Trakehner stallion, Gribaldi, that was approved by KWPN, the Dutch Warmblood registry, and noted for elegance and refinement. Gribaldi had also been shown at the Grand Prix level by Gal. Toto's dam, Lominka, a KWPN-approved Dutch Warmblood, came from bloodlines that have produced both show jumping and dressage horses, many of whom were noted for good temperament.


Rec footy

Recreational Football (also known as "Rec Footy" or "Recreational Footy") is a non-contact version of the Australian rules football game sanctioned by the Australian Football League. It is a more accessible version of Australian rules football that people can pick up and play with some degree of skill and ability and it is directly aligned to the traditional game of Australian rules football.
It is a mixed competition, accessible to players of both sexes, all shapes and sizes and requires minimal equipment to play.
Comparisons with Australian rules football.
Field size, number of players and duration of play.
Rec Footy teams are much smaller than Australian Rules Football, with two teams of 8. Unlike Australian Rules Football, unlimited number of interchange players are allowed.
The field is also much smaller than an Australian Rules Football oval, consisting of a rectangular surface with a maximum length of 100 metres by 50 metres wide.
Games are much shorter and do not consist of quarters, with only two 20 minute halves.
Rule differences to encourage female participation.
The game encourages female participation, with a minimum of 3 female players per mixed side. In addition, teams are encouraged to play females in the forward line, with a goal kicked by a female worth 3 more points (9) than a goal kicked by a male player (6).
The game is played with a modified Australian rules ball, which is the same size but prevents it from being kicked long distances to reduce the kicking advantage of males over females.
Rule differences to prevent physical contact.
Unlike Australian rules football, there is no contesting for possession with the exception of removing a player's tag, which substitutes for a tackle and gives the player 3 seconds prior opportunity to dispose of the ball before the Holding the ball rule is applied. All one percenters, such as sheparding, blocking, spoiling or smothering are strictly penalised with a free kick. Marking contests are strictly enforced to avoid contact via a "drop-zone" rule. When any contact is made by an opposition player, a free kick is awarded to the opposition player that is infringed. For deliberate contact, an immediate send-off rule applies and red and yellow cards are shown as in soccer.
Other rule differences.
There is no minimum kick distance for a mark to be paid, although kicking off the ground (or "soccering") is strictly banned. A 15-metre penalty substitutes for a 50-metre penalty.
If the ball it disposed of by a player and hits the ground, it is a free kick to the nearest opposition player. Although there is no offside rule in Australian Football, Rec Footy restricts player movement to zones, similarly to netball, and players wear netball like bibs to identify their position on the ground. In order to score from a rebound, the ball must be possessed by a player from each of the three zones, otherwise a free kick is paid to the nearest defender when it reachers the forward line.
History.
The Carter Report titled “Investing in the Future of Australian Football (October 2001)”, identified segment gaps in Aussie Rules and its demographic reach. The research found that unlike codes such as rugby league with the successful touch football, Aussie Rules did not have a recreational version of the game to cater for the growing recreational participation market. In the past, the nearest recreational form of the game was the casual pastime of kick-to-kick, rather than an organised team sport. AFL "Recreational Football" ("Recreational Footy" or "Rec Footy") was developed by the Australian Football League to provide maximum involvement at all levels with a variation of the game that virtually anyone can play. It is often referred to as Auskick for adults and aims to increase participation in women.
The game was originally trialled in Western Australia by the WAFL in 2003.
By 2004, the game has grown to 592 players (Western Australia: 34 teams & 344 players; Victoria: 16 teams & 248 players).
In 2005, the game grew quickly, especially in Queensland.
In 2006 several new teams began. The sport is now played in all Australian states, with a heavy involvement at universities. A small number of Women's Footy teams in the United States also began playing informal games of Recreational Football.
Future representative games are planned.
Local competitions.
Competitions are typically held in the early summer months (October–February) so as not to clash with the main football season.
Competitions are held in various regions of every state in Australia.


2007 American Le Mans Series

The 2007 American Le Mans Series season was the 37th season for the IMSA GT Championship, with the ninth labeled as the American Le Mans Series. It was a series for Le Mans Prototypes (LMP) and Grand Touring (GT) race cars divided into 4 classes: LMP1, LMP2, GT1, and GT2. It began March 17, 2007, and ended October 20, 2007 after 12 races. It was the league's longest season since 2000.
Schedule.
Following the ten race schedule of 2006, a twelve race schedule was announced for 2007. While the Portland International Raceway was not part of the new schedule, three new temporary street circuits were added. The streets of St. Petersburg and the Long Beach circuit were added after the 12 Hours of Sebring, while the new Belle Isle circuit was added before Petit Le Mans.
Ethanol.
Announced on February 8, 2007, the American Le Mans Series signed an agreement with the Ethanol Promotion and Information Council (EPIC) to run E10 ethanol-enriched fuel in all gasoline-powered entries. The fuel was 10% ethanol and 90% gasoline. EPIC also sponsored Rahal Letterman Racing's Porsche entry as part of the deal. This was similar to Rahal Letterman's deal in the Indy Racing League.
Season results.
Overall winner in bold.
Teams championship.
For most races, points are awarded to the top 10 finishers in the following order:
For the four-hour Road America 500 and Monterey Sports Car Championships are scored in the following order:
And for the 12 Hours of Sebring and Petit Le Mans which award the top 10 finishers in the following order:
Cars failing to complete 70% of the winner's distance are not awarded points. Teams only score the points of their highest finishing entry in each race.
Drivers championship.
For most races, points are awarded to the top 10 finishers in the following order:
For the four hour Road America 500 and Monterey Sports Car Championships are scored in the following order:
And for the 12 Hours of Sebring and Petit Le Mans which award the top 10 finishers in the following order:
Cars failing to complete 70% of the winner's distance are not awarded points. Drivers failing to drive for at least 45 minutes in the race are not awarded points, with the exception of the Long Beach round where drivers need only 30 minutes minimum.


Marcus Dinwiddie

Marcus William Dinwiddie (August 27, 1906 – March 20, 1951) was an American sport shooter who competed in the 1924 Summer Olympics. In 1924 he won the silver medal 50 metre rifle, prone in the team free rifle competition. He was born in Washington, D. C. and died in Oak Ridge, Tennessee.


Julia Glushko

Julia Glushko (Hebrew: יוליה גלושקו; born 1 January 1990) is an Israeli retired tennis player.
She won 11 singles and 14 doubles titles on the ITF Circuit. Her best results at a Grand Slam tournament were reaching the third round of the US Open in 2013, and the French Open in 2014 in singles. In September 2015, she reached the final of the WTA Challenger event in Dalian, where she was defeated by Zheng Saisai.
On 23 June 2014, Glushko reached her best singles ranking of world No. 79. On 4 November 2013, she peaked at No. 109 in the doubles rankings. She won the 2011 Israeli National Women's Singles Championship. Playing for Israel in the Fed Cup, she had a win/loss record of 29-29.
Early and personal life.
Glushko was born in Donetsk, Ukrainian SSR, USSR, and is of Jewish descent. She started playing tennis at the age of four. Her parents, Sergio and Olga, are tennis instructors. Glushko and her family moved to Israel from Ukraine when she was nine years old, initially living in the Katamon neighborhood in Jerusalem for three years, and then in Ramat HaSharon. She then trained at the Wingate Institute. She served in the Israel Defense Forces for over two years. She lives in Modi'in, Israel, halfway between Jerusalem and Tel Aviv.
Tennis career.
Junior years.
Glushko won four junior titles. The first three were the 2006 Saadia Rees (Grade 4), the 2007 Argentina Cup (Grade 2), and the 2007 Uruguay Bowl (Grade 2).
In March 2007, she won the Grade-1 Asunción Bowl junior girls tournament in Paraguay. It was the first Grade-1 title of Glushko's career. At 17 years of age she was ranked 10th in the world junior tennis rankings.
At the US Open in September 2007, Glushko won her first two junior singles matches, and her first-round junior doubles match with Tyra Calderwood.
Professional career.
Glushko won 11 singles and 14 doubles titles on the ITF Women's Circuit. Her best results at a Grand Slam tournament was reaching the third round of the US Open in 2013, and the French Open in 2014 in singles.
Glushko made her professional debut in March 2004 at an ITF event in Ramat HaSharon. She beat Diana Voskoboynik (Israel) in the first round of qualifying, before losing to Yakaterina Burduli.
Her best result on the professional level to that point was a semifinal appearance at an ITF event in Antalya in May 2006, where Glushko lost to Çağla Büyükakçay.
In November 2007, Glushko won her first ITF title an event in Mallorca, beating Diana Enache in the final.
In 2008, she won three ITF titles in doubles competitions with different partners. Glushko celebrated her maiden title at Albufeira, Portugal, alongside Marina Melnikova in February, beating Martina Babáková and Elena Chalova in the final, followed by the victory at Porto Rafti, Greece, with Dominice Ripoll in March, and a third tournament win in May at Ra'anana, where Glushko teamed up with Manana Shapakidze.
In November 2010, she defeated top-seeded world No. 42, Jarmila Wolfe, at the $25k event in Traralgon, Australia, which she won.
In December 2010, Glushko lost the final of the Israeli championships to Shahar Pe'er, in three sets.
In January 2011, she played her first Grand Slam qualifying match, for the Australian Open , reaching the second round after losing to Nuria Llagostera Vives.
Glushko beat Shahar Pe'er in the women's final of the 2011 Israel National Championships.
In 2012, Glushko made her Grand Slam main-draw debut at the US Open, after she defeated Zheng Saisai in the qualifying competition. She lost in the first round to Yanina Wickmayer in straight sets.
In May 2013, Glushko played her second Grand Slam event, the French Open, after she defeated Anastasia Rodionova from Australia in the qualifying competition. Again, she lost in the first round, this time to María Teresa Torró Flor.
In August 2013, Glushko played in Rogers Cup qualifying and defeated Christina McHale in the first round. In the second round of qualifying, she defeated Gabriela Dabrowski in straight sets and entered her first Premier tournament. She played at the 2013 US Open and, after qualifying to the main draw, beat 20th-seeded world No. 23, Nadia Petrova. In the second round, she defeated Sachia Vickery, but lost to Daniela Hantuchová in a third-set tiebreaker in round three.
In September 2013, Glushko won her first WTA Tour main-draw match defeating Tetyana Arefyeva. In the second round, she lost to Galina Voskoboeva.
In May 2014, she lost in the first round of Nürnberger Versicherungscup to Caroline Garcia, after qualifying to the main draw. Glushko played at the French Open and beat Donna Vekić in the first round. In the second round, she defeated world No. 22, Kirsten Flipkens, in three sets. However, her run came to an end when she was beaten by Sara Errani, winning only one game.
In June 2014, Glushko lost in the first round of Wimbledon to Sabine Lisicki, 2–6, 1–6 on the Centre Court. In September 2015, she reached the final of the 2015 WTA 125K series event in Dalian, where she was defeated by Zheng Saisai.
In August 2014, she defeated world No. 32, Bojana Jovanovski, at the Western & Southern Open in Cincinnati.
In 2017, the Women’s Tennis Association deleted reference to Glushko's nationality and Israel's flag from her profile on their website ahead of her scheduled participation at the Malaysian Open in Kuala Lumpur, when event organizers requested all references to her being Israeli be removed from the WTA website in order for her to be allowed to take part in the event. The WTA subsequently reinstated them.
On 29 July 2018, she won the $60k singles title at the ITF tournament in Granby, Canada, defeating top-seeded Arina Rodionova of Australia in the final.
At the 2018 US Open, Glushko hurt her left knee during play, but had it taped and won her match against Monica Niculescu. She then lost to Naomi Osaka as she played taped calf to quad and hobbled, and learned, however, that she had a fracture in her left knee, and once it healed she had surgery to clean the meniscus.
She played her final professional tournament in Israel in September 2019, when she lost in the first round singles, and quarterfinals with doubles partner, sister Lina Glushko. On 24 December 2019, she retired from competitive tennis at 29 years of age.
Fed Cup.
Playing for Israel in the Fed Cup, Glushko's record was 29-29.
Glushko made her debut with the Israel Fed Cup team on 22 April 2007, in Kamloops, Canada. She lost in straight sets to Marie-Ève Pelletier, after Israel had already clinched the match 3–2. In July, she played Melanie Klaffner in another dead rubber, with Israel defeating Austria 4–1.
At the 2011 Fed Cup held in Eilat, Glushko won three out of her four singles rubbers – against Anne Kremer of Luxembourg, Magda Linette of Poland, and Elitsa Kostova of Bulgaria; she lost to Monica Niculescu of Romania. Glushko also won two out of three doubles matches together with Shahar Pe'er – against Luxembourg and Romania. Israel lost to Poland.
At the 2012 Fed Cup, she won one out of her three singles rubbers, and she won one out of her two doubles games with Shahar Pe'er. She defeated Maria João Koehler and lost to Bibiane Schoofs and Anne Keothavong. In doubles, she and Pe'er lost to Koehler and Michelle Larcher de Brito from Portugal, but defeated Schoofs and Michaëlla Krajicek from the Netherlands.
At the 2013 Fed Cup, Glushko won all four of her singles rubbers, but won neither of her two doubles games with Pe'er.
Maccabiah Games.
Competing at the 2005 Maccabiah Games, Glushko lost to Sharon Fichman of Canada in the semifinals.


List of All Stars Awards winners (hurling)

This is a list of all the past winners of the official GAA GPA All Stars Awards in hurling since the first awards in 1971. As an insight to the prominent players of the 1960s, it also includes the unofficial "Cuchulainn" awards presented from 1963 to 1967 under the auspices of "Gaelic Weekly" magazine.
Since 1971, the All Ordinaries Awards in hurling have been presented annually to a set of fifteen hurlers from that year's All-Ireland Senior Hurling Championship, who are seen to be deserving of being named in a "Team of the Year". The shortlist is compiled by a selection committee steering group, while the overall winners are chosen by inter-county players themselves. The All Star is regarded by players as the highest individual award available to them, due to it being picked by their peers.
All Star awards listed by year.
1997.
List of nominees
1998.
List of nominees
1999.
List of nominees
2000.
List of nominees
2001.
List of nominees
2002.
List of nominees
2003.
List of nominees
2004.
List of nominees
2005.
List of nominees
2006.
List of nominees
2007.
Details
List of nominees
2008.
Details
List of nominees
2009.
Details
List of nominees
2010.
Details
List of nominees
2011.
Details
List of nominees
2012.
Details
List of nominees
2013.
List of nominees
2014.
List of nominees
2015.
List of nominees
2016.
List of nominees
2017.
List of nominees
2018.
List of nominees
2020.
List of nominees


Independent Basketball Association

The Independent Basketball Association (IBA) was a semi-professional men's basketball league that began play in the fall of 2011. The six charter members were Battle Creek Knights, Chicago Redline, Gary Splash, Kankakee County Soldiers, Lake County Stars and Rockford Riverdawgs.
The IBA played two separate seasons each calendar year: a Spring season (March–June) and a Fall season (September–January). Teams competed in one or both league competitions.
The last commissioner of the IBA was Barry Bradford, president of the Kankakee County Soldiers.
History.
The first league championship (2011–12) was won by the Kankakee County Soldiers, who also won the 2012 Spring season championship.
In the Spring of 2012 the league expanded beyond its midwest footprint, adding a total of seven teams: Albany Legends, Kenosha Ballers, Lansing Capitals, Los Angeles Lightning, Malibu Pirates, Springfield Xpress and St. Louis Trotters.
The Holland Dream were added to the IBA for its third season in 2012-13, bringing the league total to 14 teams.
IBA and PBL joined forces in 2013, but the merger was short-lived. Travel issues, questions of league rules and other issues were too much to overcome and the two parted ways before the end of the Spring season.
2013-14 began with the addition of the Windy City Blazers, who played previously as the Windy City Monsters in the ABA. Grand Rapids Fusion and Markham City Racers entered league play for the 2014 Spring season.
In the Fall season of 2014-15 four teams (Binghamton Pioneers, Jersey G-Force, Kansas City Kryptonite, and Toronto 3D) played a partial schedule in anticipation of full league membership in 2015. CyFair Cobras, Houston Xperience and Louisiana Soul also were to compete as "branding teams" in the Fall season. None played an IBA game.
In December 2014 Schenectady Legends captured their first IBA championship, defeating Kenosha 154-137. Albany High School graduate Lloyd "Pooh" Johnson score an IBA championship game record 61 points and was named the game MVP.
Kankakee County won their league-best sixth championship in the Fall of 2015 by avenging their finals loss to St. Louis for the Spring title.
Teams.
Former teams.
^ = affiliate members (did not compete for championship)


Jill Matthews

Jill Matthews (born February 3, 1964) is an American former professional boxer who competed from 1995 to 1999. She held the IWBF light flyweight title in 1998 and challenged for the WIBF light flyweight title in 1999.
Biography.
Jill Matthews didn't take up boxing until she was 31 and then won the NY Golden Gloves. A year later Matthews became a world champion.


Beauly Shinty Club

Beauly Shinty Club is a shinty club from Beauly, Scotland. The club was founded in 1892. The club has two sides, the first team competing in Marine Harvest National Division One and the second team in North Division One.
History.
Beauly was founded in 1892, and has won the Camanachd Cup on three occasions, in 1897, 1898 and 1913. After the 1898 triumph against Inveraray, Beauly competed against a London Camanachd side and was granted the title "Champions of the World".
In 2005, the club won North Division One but due to league reconstruction remained in this division along with sides from the disbanded National League One. In 2006, they were again denied promotion to the top-flight but this time by losing 1–0 to South Division One runners up, Kyles Athletic in a play-off. The second team won North Division Three in 2009 but were relegated in 2010.
The club has an historic rivalry with near neighbours, Lovat and this is marked every year with the annual New Year Fixture, the Lovat Cup. In 2005 the fixture attracted nationwide attention due to a Northern Constabulary crackdown on public alcohol consumption and again in 2007 by Beauly's decision to charge admission. The club once amalgamated with Lovat for a short period which is when the club won the Camanachd cup in 1913 with 5 Beauly players and 7 Lovat players.
Beauly also has a strong youth development system, and has teams competing at Under 12-, Under 14- and Under 17-levels. The Under 17-teams have been very successful in recent years winning the WJ Cameron Cup in 2008, and have hopes to retain that cup in 2009. The youngsters also reached another two finals in the last two years, but fell short in both, succumbing to a 5–1 and 2–1 defeat to Kilmallie and Fort William, respectively.
The club received funding from LEADER in November 2009 in order to redevelop Braeview Park, switching the orientation of the park and installing crowd barriers, thus allowing it to host larger finals, having successfully staged Balliemore Cup finals and Camanachd Cup semi-finals in recent years.
In the season of 2012 Conor Cormack and David Maclean were selected for Scotland at under 21 level to compete against Ireland at Ennis County Clare, both players produced excellent performances for their country with Conor being described as a Colossus in the heart of the Scotland defence.
Also in the season of 2012 Beaulys reserves were led to win both League Division 3 and the Strathdearn Cup by manager Ian Petrie who also received Division 3 manager of the year from the Camanachd Association. They were unbeaten in Division 3 until they met Boleskine Camanachd who narrowly beat them with a 3–2 victory at Farr. The reserves goal tally in Division 3 was 102 for and 21 against this was helped by ex-first team goalkeeper Martin Davidson who had opted to play outfield in season 2012 scoring some 36 goals in his first season in the forward line, and the experienced veteran Roger Cormack controlling everything around him and everything that was thrown at him during the successful league season. The Strathdearn Cup 2012 was won against a strong Fort William Reserve side from North Division 2 winning 3–1 with goals from Sean Stewart (2) and Conor Ross this was a massive step for the club to achieve a cup win but also against a side in the league they have now been promoted too.
The first team finished second in North Division One in 2013 which will see them compete in the 2014 National Division One.
The club has a strong backroom staff with club president David Calder in charge. In 2015, the club renamed its pavilion as the Paterson Pavilion in tribute to two brothers, Alastair and Donald Paterson, who were part of the Camanachd Cup winning team in 1913 but were killed at the Battle of Festubert in 1915.
2017 will see former Lovat manager Alan MacRae take over the reins at the Braeview side.


Thomas Equestrian Center

The Thomas Equestrian Center is a program area on the Boy Scout Camp, "Camp Cedars," in Saunders County, Nebraska. The program was started by Walter Thomas in 1998 with only four horses. Today, the Thomas Equestrian Center is no longer run by Walter Thomas due to differences among the council leadership but previously was Home to a miniature horse, two miniature donkeys, two ponies, and twenty-two other horses.
Location.
The Thomas Equestrian Center is located next to the COPE tower before the main entrance to Camp Cedars and has three individual areas for horses including an 85 ft diameter arena used for basic riding, along with a 175 ft long arena that is used for jumping, advanced riding, and feeding, and lastly the horses at the Thomas Equestrian Center have the paddock where the horses can get their water, eat their hay and cool off.
Outside Camps.
The Thomas Equestrian Center, unlike most program areas at Camp Cedars, hosts a variety of different camps outside of the Boy Scouts over the course of the summer. Such camps include:
A group of 15-20 Presbyterian children take part in Camp Calvin Crest's Ranch Camp every week where they drive to the Thomas Equestrian Center mornings from 9:30am to 11:30am Mondays through Fridays to learn, ride, and get to know horses at the Thomas Equestrian Center.
Children and adults with physical or mental disabilities come from neighboring Camp Eagle to the Thomas Equestrian Center twice a week at 8:15am to not only groom Melvin the miniature horse and two donkeys, but they get a chance to ride in either a western or side saddle.
Children from Methodist Camp Fontanelle come and spend most of the day at the Thomas Equestrian Center where they get to learn about, ride, groom, and get to know the many horses and donkeys of the Thomas Equestrian Center. As of 2018 this program is no longer.
Camps of visually impaired or blind children and adults come to the Thomas Equestrian Center to get to know horses and enjoy themselves through Equine therapyas of 2018 this camp is no longer.
Classes.
The Thomas Equestrian Center has many classes it provides for scouters attending Camp Cedars. As of 2019, these classes are:
Due to the lack of riding time in the Horsemanship Merit Badge, the Advanced Horsemanship class was create to give scouts, especially older scouts, a week full of learning the finer details of riding from riding in an english saddle, to riding bareback, and playing exciting games such as horse soccer or wild, wild west on horseback. To take this class, you must have the Horsemanship Merit Badge.
Advanced roping is a great class for scouts who want to work even more with their roping skills. Scouts learn to desensitize a horse to a flying rope and by the end of the week have learned to rope off horseback at both stationary targets and moving cattle-like targets. Scouts must take both Horsemanship Merit Badge as well as Basic Roping before they can take Advanced Roping.
Most scouts who come to the Thomas Equestrian Center have only heard or read about roping but never actually roped. The Basic Roping class teaches scouts about the history of roping from Spain in the 1800s to modern day roping events. Scouts learn to tie a honda knot and parts of the lasso. Scouts enjoy learning to rope and their targets gradually increase in difficulty. Although this class only teaches stationary ground roping, scouts can later take Advanced Roping and take their roping skills to a whole new level.
Although the class is intended for adults, scouts and adults alike may enroll in Basic Riding Skills. In this class, wranglers judge the experience the rider has on horseback whether it be first time or more advanced, and progress the rider through new levels of riding from bareback riding to english saddles, or even riding in faster gaits.
One of two Merit Badges the Thomas Equestrian Center offers, the Horsemanship Merit Badge is requirement based. Although this gives scouts a great amount of book knowledge on horses, requirements only allow for less than two minutes of riding time on horseback. However scouts do learn about horse safety, parts of a horse, breeds of horses, five horse diseases, conformation, lameness and unsoundness, hoof care, grooming, feeding, parts of a saddle and bridle, mounting and dismounting, how to ride, how to lead a horse, storing equipment, and how to saddle and bridle a horse. To take the Horsemanship Merit Badge at the Thomas Equestrian Center, you must be at least 13 years of age.
Another class to give riders more horseback time, Medieval Jousting was created to give scouts a once in a lifetime experience cantering down a list towards a wooden target with reins in one hand and a lance in the other. Scouts learn the medieval history of jousting, as well as the modern sport of jousting. Scouts also learn about the history of chainmail. Scouts have a chance to create and bring home their own chainmail creations.
Scouts under 13 are not technically allowed to enroll in the Horsemanship Merit Badge until they are 13 years old, however the class Jr. Equestrian was created to provide younger scouts with an opportunity to ride for a week as well as building up skills that will greatly prep and benefit them for when they do take the Horsemanship Merit Badge. Scouts learn to ride as well as playing exciting games on horseback including horse soccer.
Unique Activities.
Scouts attending Camp Cedars can choose to enjoy unique equestrian activities.
WITH THE EXCEPTION OF TRAIL RIDES ALL PROGRAMS ARE NO LONGER TAUGHT.
Travois.
Scouts enrolled in the Indian Lore Merit Badge will receive the opportunity to assemble and ride a horse-pulled travois. Although a travois was originally used by Native Americans for mainly transportation of the elderly or injured, scouts [since 2014] receive the chance to ride and learn about the importance of the travois in Native American culture and tradition.
Painting.
Scouts in the Art Merit Badge previously painted pictures of trees to meet requirements. In 2014, the Thomas Equestrian Center proposed that scouts paint a picture of a standing horse. As of 2015, scouts now paint their own pictures and names on the side of the horse. This activity is also available to other visiting camps such as Camp Calvin Crest Ranch Camp.
Overnight.
Monday nights, scouts who have completed the Horsemanship Merit Badge are eligible to take a 7 mile total trail ride (with wranglers walking along the whole way) to Camp Eagle's lake as the sun sets. Scouts dismount their horse and set up tarps and sleeping bags where they will sleep under the stars all night long. In the morning, scouts get back up on horses and return to the Thomas Equestrian Center where they are served breakfast and sent to their first class.
Trail Rides.
Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday are open trail rides. After signing up in the administration office, scouts, adults, and family alike can go on a 2-3 mile trail ride (with wranglers walking along the whole way) through the woods next to the Thomas Equestrian Center. These trail rides take place at 7:00pm, 7:45pm, and 8:15pm. The maximum number of riders depends on the number of available horses.
Open Roping.
As of 2014, the Thomas Equestrian Center, in effort to give all scouts a chance to rope, provides open roping Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday nights at 7:45pm. Attendees will be given ropes and targets and will be taught the necessary roping skills.
Horses.
List subject to change based on year.
References.
1. http://www.mac-bsa.org/camp_info.aspx?ID=2
2. http://www.equestriancrew250.org/


Brooke Makler

Adrian Brooke Makler (March 16, 1951 – August 29, 2010) was an American Olympic fencer.
Early and personal life.
Makler was born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, and was Jewish. He was the son of Paul Makler, Sr., and the brother of Paul Makler, Jr., both of whom fenced for the United States at the Olympics.
Fencing career.
He competed for Salle Csiszar.
Makler fenced at the University of Pennsylvania (graduating in 1973) for the University of Pennsylvania Quakers, won the NCAA Championship in Foil in 1973, and was a Second Team All American in Foil in 1972 and a First Team All American in Foil in 1973. He was co-captain of the team in 1973, and was All-Ivy League First Team in 1971 and 1972.
He won gold medals for the US in team epee at the 1975 Pan American Games and the 1979 Pan American Games, and a silver medal in team foil at the 1975 Games.
Makler competed in the team foil and individual and team épée events at the 1976 Summer Olympics, at the age of 25.
He was National Amateur Fencers League of America Epee Champion in 1978.


Royal Montserrat Police Force FC

Royal Montserrat Police Force FC are a team who competed in the Montserrat Championship. They have won the championship a record five times.


Garrett McNamara

Garrett ‘GMAC’ McNamara (born August 10, 1967) is an American professional big wave surfer and extreme waterman known for breaking the world record for largest wave ever surfed at Nazaré, Portugal, surviving a monstrous wave at Jaws, and riding tsunami from calving glaciers in Alaska.
Biography.
Early life.
McNamara was born on August 10, 1967 in Pittsfield, Massachusetts and spent much of his childhood in Berkeley, California. In Berkeley, McNamara, and his younger brother Liam McNamara, were both known by friends to be rather fearless and to shrug off the pains of rough childhood play, foreshadowing his later ability to face danger while surfing. During his early childhood, his mother took the family to Central America, where she was a victim of domestic abuse and occasionally abandoned him and his brother; at one point, a Guatemalan farmer sought to adopt him, but his mother returned and brought the family back to America. He then returned to Berkeley, where his mother left him with his birth father; McNamara lived with him for several years until his mother returned with a new domestic partner, who moved the family to the North Shore of Hawaii in 1978. At eleven years old, McNamara followed his younger brother's footsteps and began surfing at Sunset, Waimea and the outer reefs in search of giant swells. He entered and placed in the prestigious Hawaiian Triple Crown Series at seventeen and began to gain major sponsors from major Japanese brands. For the next ten years, both brothers joined the competition circuit, traveling and becoming fluent in Japanese.
Tow surfing caught on among the surfing community in the early 1990s and McNamara was one of the first to join the movement. Boats and personal water craft enabled surfers to chase down and catch giant waves that were thought impossible, beyond the bounds of surfers paddling with their bare hands. McNamara welcomed and craved the challenge to find the biggest waves in the world, which would instantly become his dream and mission in life.
Career.
After training for a year, McNamara and tow-in partner Rodrigo Resende won the $70,000 purse at the Tow Surfing World Cup in Maui at Jaws in 2002. Later that year, he posed for the cover of major surf magazines around the world after being photographed in a dramatic barrel shot off of the coast of Teahupo'o in Tahiti. In 2003 he rode one of his most well known waves. McNamara was once again at Jaws and caught a wave with a barrel where onlookers believed he had been crushed by the lip of the wave. The wave spit and, escaping death, he emerged to the surprise and amazement of everyone watching, including himself.
The boundaries of big-wave surfing were pushed once again in the summer of 2007 by McNamara and partner Keali’i Mamala, seeking tsunami formed by calving glaciers in South-Central Alaska. A feature film was made documenting their experience.
In January 2016, McNamara suffered a severe wipeout on a 50-foot wave at Mavericks in California that caused him to skip off the water three times before being swallowed by the monster-size wave. Rescuers on jet skis eventually pulled McNamara to safety, and he suffered a dislocated shoulder and a broken upper arm that required surgery. Video of McNamara's wipeout went viral, and local surfers have said it was one of the worst wipeouts caught on video.
World record.
In November 2011, chasing storms and tracking swells paid off for McNamara as he entered the Guinness World Records. He caught a wave in Praia do Norte, Nazaré, Portugal, after being towed into the wave from a jet ski riding a 6’0 Dick Brewer Tow Board. His record beat the prior world record by over a foot, but the premature announcement (by others, not by McNamara) proved a source of controversy in the surf world. Meanwhile, McNamara continued to search for an even larger wave.
In January 2013, McNamara broke his own world record by surfing an estimated wave. He also did this off the coast of Nazaré.
Beyond surfing.
McNamara became interested in Stand Up Paddle (SUP) and gave it his own twist by designing and creating SUP boards for a more extreme experience, venturing into big wave venues like Waimea, Puerto Escondido, and Mavericks. He was invited to compete in the World Stand Up Paddle Surfing Championship in June 2009 by the International Surfing Association, where only 32 elite surfers were invited to attend.
Personal life.
McNamara is married to Nicole McNamara (née Macias), an environmental sciences teacher. The couple wed at Praia do Norte, Nazaré, Portugal, in November 2012. They have two children, Barrel (2015) and Theia Love Nazaré Celeste Rose (2018).
Activity.
Continuous exploration of Nazaré, Portugal
Entered into Guinness World Records for Largest Wave Ever Surfed of 78 feet - Nazaré, Portugal
Billabong XXL Awards – Biggest Wave Award
Billabong XXL Awards – Wipeout of the Year Award
Billabong XXL Awards – Ride of the Year Nominee
Surfed 78 foot wave in Nazaré, Portugal that will later be entered into Guinness World Records
Exploration of Praia do Norte (Nazaré) - Portugal
Billabong XXL Awards – Monster Tube Nominee
Billabong XXL Awards – Ride of the Year Nominee def
2nd Place Puerto Escondido, Mexico SUP Contest
Billabong XXL Awards – Performance of the Year Award
Billabong XXL Awards – Golden Donut Nominee
2nd Place Free Wave Challenge Tube of the Year
Billabong XXL Awards – Performance of the Year
Billabong XXL Awards – Biggest Wave Award
1st Place Nell Scott Tow Surfing Championships
Billabong XXL Awards – Golden Donut Award
1st Place North Shore Tow Surfing Championships
Surfer Poll – Best Tube Award
1st Place Jaws World Cup Expression Session
1st Place Jaws World Cup Tow in Surfing
Filmography.
The following is based on Internet Movie Database data:


Norman MacArthur

Norman "Brick" MacArthur (born 20 May 1960) is a retired shinty player and current president of Newtonmore Camanachd Club.
Biography.
MacArthur was a player with Newtonmore since the mid-70s and won several Camanachd Cups. He was the Albert Smith Medal winner in 1985.
He has been manager of the club since 2006 and has been instrumental in the club's attempts to emerge from the shadows of their great rivals, Kingussie. Under MacArthur's management, Newtonmore reached the MacAulay Cup final in 2008, won the MacTavish Cup in 2009 (the club's first trophy in 7 years) and were only pipped by goal difference to the Premier Division by Kingussie in 2009. "Brick" finally led Newtonmore to league glory in 2010 as a goal from Danny MacRae in the final game of the season against Fort William ensured that Newtonmore won the league by 3 points from the Fort. He has since led the team in 2011 to an eagerly awaited Scottish Cup Final against old foes Kingussie, as well as overhauling Kyles Athletic on the last day of the season to retain the League title.
In the aftermath of the league victory he confirmed that he would be staying on for 2011. This was despite a pledge to his wife that he would retire after the age of 50. He will continue into 2012.
His son, Paul MacArthur, plays in the first team, as does his son-in-law, John MacKenzie, who is married to MacArthur's daughter Gayle.


Sally Clark (equestrian)

Sally Dorothy Ann Clark (née Dalrymple, born 11 April 1958) is a New Zealand equestrian who won a silver medal at the Olympic Games. She was born in Palmerston North.
Clark's international eventing career began in 1987 as part of the New Zealand Trans-Tasman Trophy team. She was short-listed for the 1988 Summer Olympics in Seoul but her horse Sky Command died. Clark had to wait 8 years to attend the Olympic Games and finished second to team-mate Blyth Tait in the individual Three Day Event. She won Gold with the New Zealand team the following year at the World Equestrian Games in Rome.
In 1999 she appeared on a postage stamp issued in Senegal.


Joel Stransky

Joel Theodore Stransky (born 16 July 1967) is a South African former rugby union player. A fly-half, he is known for scoring all of South Africa's points, including the winning drop goal, against New Zealand in the 1995 Rugby World Cup final.
Early life.
Stransky was born in Pietermaritzburg, South Africa. He is of English and Czech descent and Jewish on his father's side. He was educated at Maritzburg College where he was coached by Skonk Nicholson, a well-known figure in schoolboy rugby. After his military conscription in Pretoria, he returned to Natal to study at the University of Natal.
Playing career.
In 1990 he was part of the team that beat Northern Transvaal to win the Currie Cup for the first time. He then moved to Italy where he played for L'Aquila during the 1991–1992 season, and for San Donà in 1992–93. Between 1993 and 1996, he won 22 caps for his South Africa.
In 1995 he was part of the first South Africa team to play in a Rugby World Cup - the country had been banned from the previous World Cups because of the Apartheid regime. He played an integral part in the tournament and scored all the points for his team in the final against New Zealand, including a winning drop goal in the second period of extra time. This was the first Rugby World Cup final that went into extra time.
In 1997, he moved to Leicester Tigers, where he played for two seasons, winning the 1996–97 Pilkington Cup and the 1998–99 Allied Dunbar Premiership, and then became backs coach.
In the buildup to the 1999 Rugby World Cup, it was suggested that Stransky could play for England, but he discovered that he was not qualified to do so.
In 2002, he was engaged by Bristol Rugby as a coach, but the offer was subsequently withdrawn. Stransky took legal action and was compensated.
Test history.
 World Cup Final
Later career.
He later returned to South Africa, and is a part-time rugby union television commentator.
In January 2007, Stransky joined Altech Netstar (Pty) Ltd. as Sales & Marketing director. In January 2008, he was appointed managing director, but subsequently resigned. He was then employed by the Steinhoff Group in a marketing and promotional capacity. He founded Pivotal Capital in 2012.
In film.
In the 2009 movie "Invictus," he is portrayed by Scott Eastwood.


Boaz Ellis

Boaz Ellis (born October 15, 1981) is an Israeli foil fencer. He is a 5-time Israeli national champion, and a 3-time NCAA champion.
Biography.
Ellis was born in Tzippori, a moshav in Israel, and is Jewish. He attended Chaklai Nahalal High School, where he competed in association football (soccer), and in track as a sprinter.
Fencing career.
Ellis is a 5-time Israeli national champion. He joined the Israeli national fencing team at the age of 16. Ellis won the silver medal at the World Cup in 2000 and 2001.
In 2003 Ellis enrolled at the Ohio State University, where he majored in finance. He began competing under head coach Vladimir Nazlymov. Ellis won his first 34 bouts, and finished with a 37–1 record.
Ellis won the NCAA 2004 championship by defeating Yale sophomore Cory Werk. Ellis' performance also helped Ohio State win the team NCAA title that year. He repeated as NCAA champion in foil in 2005, after an 18–4 season. Ellis repeated again in 2006, his junior year, after a 20–1 season. He and teammate Adam Crompton (sabre) became the first Ohio State athletes since diver Lou Vitucci to win three individual NCAA championships. He was the first NCAA foil fencer to win three individual NCAA titles since 1963. He was a three-time All-American, two-time Academic All-Big Ten, and three-time Ohio State University Scholar-Athlete.
He was inducted into the Ohio State Athletics Hall of Fame in 2014.


Pietra Alta

The Pietra Alta (in piedmontese: "Pera Aota" or "Peraota", meaning "High Stone") is a glacial erratic in the comune of Caselette (TO, Italy), relevant for its size and its isolated location.
Features.
The erratic is a massive boulder with a pyramidal shape, emerging some 10 metres from the ground level and with a circumference of about 50 metres. Its elevation is 368 MSL. It stands in a woody and almost plain spot close to the border between Caselette and Alpignano, not faraway from the small Lake of Caselette. The place is still of a good environmental quality, although almost encircled by industrial and residential areas.
Geology.
The Pietra Alta belongs to the "Morainic amphitheater of Rivoli-Avigliana", and in particular to the moraine left by the Riss glaciation. It was transported to its present location by the hudge glacier which ocupied the Susa Valley.
Its height on the ground level, remarkable if compared to other glacial erratics of Piedmont, can be explained because the Pietra Alta, unlikely other boulders mostly covered by the gound, is almost fully exposed. It consists in an huge block of serpentinite with a volume of 2.600 cubic metres.
On its surface can be detected rinds similar to the so-called "desert varnishes", considered by geologist an indicator of a .
Uses.
On the boulder there are a lot of climbing routes, and its sides are equipped with bolts and pitons in order to protect the climbers. Many of these routes, some of them very engaging, were described at the beninnig of the 1980s by the alpinist Gian Carlo Grassi in his book "Sassismo spazio per la fantasia: arrampicate sui massi erratici della Valle di Susa". The environment surrounding the Pietra Alta is cosidered very suggestive; the boulder can be easily reached on foot from Caselette following "Via Pietra Alta", a small asphalted lane which continues with a pedestrian dirt road.


Impact Knockouts Tag Team Championship

The Impact Knockouts Tag Team Championship is a women's professional wrestling tag team championship owned by the professional wrestling promotion Impact Wrestling. It is contested for mainly by teams consisting of two female wrestlers in Impact Wrestling, known as the Impact Knockouts, in Impact's women's division; however, the championship was once held by a male. The current champions are Fire N Flava (Kiera Hogan and Tasha Steelz), who are in their record second reign.
The creation of the championship was announced on August 20, 2009 during a backstage segment on Total Nonstop Action Wrestling's (TNA, now Impact Wrestling) primary television program "TNA Impact!". Like most professional wrestling championships, the title is won via the result of a scripted match. Sarita and Taylor Wilde were the inaugural champions. They won a four-week tournament to crown the first champions. The final champions were ODB and Eric Young, who held the titles for a record 478 days.
On the June 20, 2013 episode of "Impact Wrestling", Knockouts Division Executive Brooke Hogan stripped ODB and Young of the title because Young is a male, despite the fact that they had been allowed to hold the title for the prior 478 days. This ultimately resulted in the titles being deactivated.
In October 2020 at Bound for Glory, Madison Rayne announced the return of the Impact Knockouts Tag Team Championships.
History.
TNA Knockout.
TNA Knockout, or just Knockout for short, was the term used by Total Nonstop Action Wrestling (TNA, now Impact Wrestling) to refer to its onscreen female employees; this is similar to World Wrestling Entertainment and the Divas pseudonym they then used. TNA's first women's accomplishment was announced at TNA's first weekly pay-per-view event on June 19, 2002. It was called the "Miss TNA" crown. The holder of the crown was determined in a lingerie battle royal on June 19, 2002, which aired on June 26, 2002. The participants in the match were Alexis Laree, Elektra, Erin Bray, Francine, Miss Joni, Sasha, Shannon, Taylor Vaughn, and Teresa Tyler. Vaughn last eliminated Elektra to win the crown. The TNA Knockout of the Year is another award in TNA given to the knockout who achieved the most or had the best run that year. The most recent Knockout of the Year was Gail Kim in 2007; no award was given out in 2008. In October 2007 at TNA's Bound for Glory PPV event, TNA established their first women's championship, with Gail Kim winning a 10 knockout gauntlet match to become the first TNA Women's Knockout Champion. Ms. Brooks, Christy Hemme, Awesome Kong, Roxxi Laveaux, Talia Madison, Shelly Martinez, Jackie Moore, ODB, and Angel Williams were also involved in the match. Two DVDs on the topic of the TNA Knockouts have been released by TNA. The first was named "Knockouts: The Ladies of TNA Wrestling Vol.1" and was released on August 29, 2006. "Knocked Out: The Women of TNA Wrestling" was the second, being released on October 7, 2008.
Championship Tournament.
2009 Inaugural.
On the August 20, 2009 episode of "Impact!", backstage interviewer Lauren, who was standing with and about to interview Christy Hemme, Tara, Taylor Wilde, and Sarita, announced that TNA were planning to host an eight-team single elimination tag team tournament to crown the first-ever TNA Knockouts Tag Team Champions. After a four-way match consisting of Hemme, Traci Brooks, Sarita, and Awesome Kong, TNA commentators Mike Tenay and Taz announced that the first round match of the tournament would take place on the August 27 episode of "Impact!" with Kong and Raisha Saeed facing Brooks and Sharmell. Kong and Saeed wound up winning the match, and moving to the next round of the tournament. On the September 3 episode of "Impact!", the team of Hemme and Tara defeated the team of Hamada and Sojournor Bolt to move onto round two of the tournament. The next week on "Impact!", the team of Sarita and Taylor Wilde defeated Alissa Flash and Daffney to also advance to round two. Later in that same episode, Angelina Love and Velvet Sky (collectively known as The Beautiful People) defeated the team of Madison Rayne and Roxxi. Round two began on the September 17 episode of "Impact!", with the encounters of Kong and Saeed versus Sarita and Wilde and The Beautiful People versus Hemme and Tara. The first bout pitted Hemme and Tara against The Beautiful People, with the latter being victorious. Sarita and Wilde won the second encounter over Kong and Saeed. The finals for the tournament were then set for TNA's No Surrender PPV event, with The Beautiful People versus Sarita and Wilde. Sarita and Wilde defeated Madison Rayne, a substitute for Angelina Love who had been released from her contract prior to the event, and Velvet Sky (also collectively known as The Beautiful People) on September 20 at No Surrender to become the first official TNA Knockouts Tag Team Champions.
2020 Revival tournament.
Over the course of 2020, Impact Wrestling (which had been renamed from TNA in 2017) signed several female talents such as Nevaeh, Tasha Steelz, Deonna Purrazzo, and Kimber Lee, all of which were paired with already established names on the roster. After months of competition between the tag teams in the Knockouts division, on October 24 at the Bound for Glory pay-per-view, Madison Rayne announced that after nearly eight years of inactivity, Impact Wrestling is reviving the Knockouts Tag Team Championship. It was also announced that an eight-team tournament would take place over the next two months to determine the next champions. The brackets were announced in November, with the final taking place at the Hard To Kill pay-per-view in January 2021. At Hard To Kill, Fire N Flava (Kiera Hogan and Tasha Steelz) defeated Havok and Nevaeh in the tournament final to win the revived titles.
Belt designs.
The original physical title belts were first shown at No Surrender. The belts introduced have a red strap with two small gold plates and one large gold plate. In the center of each plate stands a figure resembling a globe made out of gold. On the outer edge of the plate are red gems, which circle the entire plate. The center golden plate of the belt has TNA's official logo engraved in the very center with the words "Knockouts Tag Team" above it and the words "Wrestling Champion" below.
Reigns.
As of , , there have been 12 reigns shared between 19 wrestlers and 11 teams. The inaugural champions were Sarita and Wilde, who defeated The Beautiful People (Rayne and Sky) in the finals of an eight-team tournament to crown the first TNA Knockouts Tag Team Champions. At 478 days, Eric Young and ODB hold the record for the longest reign in the title's history. Jordynne Grace's and Rachael Ellering's reign holds the record for the shortest reign in the title's history at 20 days. Young is the first and only male wrestler to have held the title.
Fire N Flava (Kiera Hogan and Tasha Steelz) are the current champions in their second reign, both as a team and individually. They won the titles by defeating Jordynne Grace and Rachael Ellering on May 15, 2021 at Under Siege in Nashville, Tennessee.
Combined reigns.
As of , .


2008 World Jiu-Jitsu Championship

The 2008 World Jiu-Jitsu Championship was held at California State University in Long Beach, California, United States.