The best thing about a man is his dog." French Proverb

NEWSLETTER 02.03.2012

The FISTC Board has instructed a Disciplinary Commission to enquire about the facts shown on the video involving the musher n° 43 during the race in Gryon. Everything necessary must be done to secure the animal welfare in our sled dog sport, but in a legal way, and the rights of defence must be respected like in all our democracies.

FISTC EUROPEAN CHAMPIONSHIP MD/LT 2012
GRYON (CH)
24 - 26 February 2012

Pictures by Nathalie Racheter

Click on the name of the musher to see the picture (many thanks to Nathalie Racheter)

Sunday 26 Febryary 2012
3rd Manche

Sunday we have had the third and final heat of this really splendid FISTC European Championship Middle Distance and Long Trail.
In the morning the weather was cloudy and really foggy on the stake-out and at the start and finish line. From time to time the visibility did not exceed 30m and it was also snowing, but it was excellent for dogs and mushers.
All trails had been prepared once again in a perfect way and as they were a little bit icy, they were much faster than the first two days.
Yesterday evening the musher dinner was very well organised and all mushers and their friends enjoyed it.
All longtrailers left from the normal starting place at 10:00 every two minutes. Once again all longtrailers were so happy with this beautifull race that has been an excellent publicity also for the other race the "TRANSALP VAUDOISE", a six days race organised by the FISTC Swiss club every year in early February that also finishes here in Gryon.
The leader in LTO, Eric Martinez (F) has won the title of European Champion, while Beate Jaehnig (D) is second and vice-European Champion with a total time difference of 12'. Third and Bronze medal is the Swiss Eric Chateau.
Another German musher, Wolfgang Speer, is the winner in LT2.
The European Champion in LT1 class is Muriel Dufros (F) and vice Champion is Frantisek Sadilek (CZ).

In Middle distance we have had once again a spectacular race.
In SJ2, Zdenka Duskova (CZ) gets the title of European Champion and the vice-champion is Walter Geringer (A).
Roman Reistetter in SkJ 1dog class is European Champion (I cannot remember how many titles he has wonduring all these years in the FISTC with his beautiful Siberian Husky female) and Gerald Buet (F) is the vice-champion.
In O class Jean Combazard (F), European Champion did not leave any chance to win to Baltasar Gallardo from Spain who is the vice Champion.
The Swiss Donato Egli, one of the really best mushers I have met in recent years is European Champion in A class followed by Andrea Marcenaro (I), vice-European Champion.
In B1 class the French musher, Elodie Darras, wins the title, and the vice champion is the Italian Claudio De Ferrari. In B2 Alain Diffort (F) is the European Champion and Florian Thevoz (CH) who was also one of the organisers of the race is vice-champion.
In C1 class, Christophe Sudan (CH), wins the title as Filippo Piccinini (I), second and vice champion who was faster on the third day could not recover all the time lost on the first day.
In C2, Three French mushers got the three medals with Anthony Coffre (Junior) becoming European Champion with his three Greenland dogs (the ones that fighted between themselves in Travisio) and Laurent Blot is vice Champion (4 Greenland dogs) while Sebastien Parent gets the Bronze medal.
Another French junior, Jason Fournier wins the title of European Champion in D1 class but the Italian Rinaldo Marioli gets the silver medal and title of vice champion, while the French Marc Joguet finished at the third place with the bronze medal.
In D2 Jean Michel Hoog is European Champion with a difference of only 31 seconds on the second and vice Champion Lionel Eich (F), both with 2 Malamutes. What a race, 31 seconds difference after three days and 4 hours and 45 minutes of race !!!

What a beautiful championship ! All mushers were happy and they all expresed their thanks to the organisers and also to the excellent FISTC Vet on this race, an Italian young vet Alessandro Martini who will be on the next FISTC Championships Cart and sprint.
And once again many thanks to the Swiss club CSCPT and the city and community of Gryon for such a perfect organisation and the FISTC and many mushers said while leaving, see you soon again in Gryon !

Click here to see the final result list (page 1) >>>>>>

Click here to see the final result list (page 2) >>>>>>

Saturday 25 Febryary 2012
2nd Manche

To day, Saturday we have had an almost perffect race.
The weather was cloudy from time to time and not hot, so almost perfect for dogs and mushers. All trails had been prepared in a perfect way and were much faster than yesterday.
Should there be a perfect race in mid and long distance, Gryon is close to be that one.
All longtrailers left the bivouac this morning at 8:00, every two minutes after a really nice evening with "raclette", music and drinks and night spent at about 7km from the stake-out. Despite the difficulty of the trail, that is really tough to run with heavy sleds, all longtrailers were so happy !! This is the right mentality for mushers.
The leader in LTO is Eric Martinez (F), closely followed by Beate Jaehnig (D). Another excellent German misher, Wolfgang Speer, is first in LT2 with 8 Siberian Huskies. The LT1 class is leaded by Muriel Dufros (F) followed by Frantisek Sadilek (CZ). We should note how good these women are in long trail.
In Middle distance we have had once again a spectacular race. In SJ2, Zdenka Duskova CZ)increased slightly her advance on Walter Gehringer (A) second. Roman Reistetter in SkJ 1dog class also increased his advantage on the second, Gerald Buet (F).
The O class is leaded by Jean Combazard (F) closely followed by Baltasar Gallardo (E).The Swiss Donato Egli, leads the A class followed by Andrea Marcenaro (I).
The B1 and B2 classes continue to be leaded by French mushers, respectively Elodie Darras and Alain Diffort, who both increased the gap with their direct competitors, Claudio De Ferrari (I) and Florian Thevoz (CH).
In C1 class, Christophe Sudan (CH), continues to lead this class in front of Filippo Piccinini (I). In C2, Three French mushers are leading the class with Anthony Coffre (Junior) being to day again the fastest with his three Greenland dogs.
Another French junior, Jason Fournier leads the D1 class but he is now folowed by another French musher, Marc Joguet who passed Rinaldo Marioli (I) but the time difference is now of only 1 minute.
In D2 Lionel Eich (F) has passed the other French Jean Michel Hoog, both with Malamutes.
Tomorrow, the finals will be quite exciting as, with such tough trails, nothing is done yet.
But what a beautiful championship, with all mushers being happy (or too tired to complain, lol).
And once again many thanks to the Swiss club CSCPT and the city and community of Gryon for such a perfect organisation and warm welcome.

Friday 24 Febryary 2012
1st Manche

Today, Friday we have had a fantastic sunny day. The place is really beautiful and all musher agreed that they have been racing on some of the most beautiful trails in Europe.
The weather was sunny but a little bit hot, with a max temperature of 8°C, but that cause no injury or problem to any dog.
Due to the splendid alpine environment, all trails were quite tough but also extremely attractive and all mushers enjoyed them.
However it was a real tough and selective championships with the level difference of 900 m for small teams and up to 1900 m for long teams and longtrailers.
In Middle distance we have had a really spectacular race. In SJ2, the nice Czech lady Zdenka Duskova wins the first heat, while our Slovak Champion, Roman Reistetter leads the Skj 1dog class.
IThe O class is leaded by Jean Combazard (F) closely followed by an excellent Spanish musher, Baltasar Gallardo.The Swiss Egli, an astonishing musher, leads the A class, while the B1 and B2 classes are leaded by French mushers, respectively Elodie Darras and Alain Diffort.
In C1 class, another Swiss musher was flying over the snow, Christophe Sudan, leading t
his class in front of Filippo Piccinini the 2011 European Champion. In C2, Three French mushers are leading the class with Anthony Coffre (Junior) being the fastest.
Another French junior, Jason Fournier leads the D1 class, while in D2 another French Jean Michel Hoog with his Malamutes is first.
Tomorrow will be another beautifull day and we expect a lot of remarkable races in all classes.
Finally for the longtrailers, trails were quite hard but the bivouc place was really nice with fire, wine and "Raclette" (a Swiss specialty), offered by the city of Gryon with anice athmosphere and music.
Tomorrow the continuation of the race and the pictures of the race...
But what a beautiful race and a perfetc Swiss organisation.

NEWSLETTER 21.02.2012

The EC MD/LT in Gryon is confirmed

We have received the confirmation of the race from the organisers of the EC MD/LT in Gyron: everything is ready for the FISTC Championship. At the moment there are more than 70 teams that will run on the Switzerland fantastic trails.

NEWSLETTER 14.02.2012

About EC MD/LT Gryon, CH

We would like to invite all countries that did not yet send their participants lists for the MD/LD European Championships in Gryon (CH) to do it as soon as possible in sending them to Franco Mannato, Walter, Treichl, Marco Visconti and Nicole Lebet.

Thank you very much.

Your Board

Click here to see the EC MD & LT programm >>>>>

Click here to see the maps of the trails on CSCPT site >>>>>>

FISTC EUROPEAN CHAMPIONSHIP SPRINT 2012
TARVISIO - FUSINE (ITALIA)
10 - 12 February 2012

DAY 3
Sunday 12 february

Tarvisio, Fusine (I)
This third day of the European Championships sprint was again cold, windy and snowy.
However, with more snow and a very good trail we could see a beautiful race.
Due to the snow all trails were slower than in previous days.
In Pulka Roman Reistetter (Slk) gets a new European Champion title, while Klaus Baümel (A) ended his very last sled dog race at the second place.
In Skijoring two dogs, Matjaz Ovsenek (Slo) gets his first title in this category, and the first title for Slovenia in FISTC history. Second is a nice Italian lady, Alessandra Lupezza and third the unlucky Slovak Marcel Matanin, who lost his dogs on the first day but then was the fastest on days 2 and 3.
Skijoring 1dog/1 was dominated by Slovak skiers with Igor Stefan becoming European Champion, Jan Mlynar second and Patrik Lucansky third.
Skijoring 1dog/2 was an Austrian story Manuel Haslacher becoming European Champion, with Romuald Schönfeld second and Sepp Brugger third.
Skijoring 1dog Women was dominated by German ladies and her Alaskan Malamutes, with Vicki Würfl becoming European Champion followed by Simone Nolte and Marina Gröschl.
In O class, Jean Combazard (F), just back from the "Grande Odissée" is European Champion and second we have Matteo Bartolini (I).
In A classs, Jurgen Stolz (D) is not only European Champion but also the fastest team on the trail ! Vice European Champion is Karl Rachbauer (A) very close to the first.
In B1 class the title of European Champion went to Massimo Martini (I) closely followed by Carel Van de Mortel (NL).
In B2, Giorgio Pirini (I) wins the title closely followed by Bernd Sauerhöfer (D) who, despite his best performance in days 2 and 3, could not catch the time lost on the first day.
In C1, Alexander Serdjukov (A) wins the title as he has been the fastest on each of the three days. Second and vice European Champion is Roberto Mattasoglio (I).
In C2, the French Laurent Blot is European Champion and vice European Champion we find Martin Zapletal (CZ) bith teams with Greenland dogs. Third place goes to Harry Braeckmans with four Malamutes. We should note in this category the problems encountered by the French Anthony Coffre whose dogs started fighting between themselves and the perfect behaviour of Ron de Ruiter who could stop and help him, he is a musher with great fair play.
Rhe D1 class was dominated by Christoph Rotter (A) European Champion, followed by Graziella Beltrame (I) and the third place was won by a very young junior, Marc Wiatowski (D). As such Marc Wiatowski is the 2012 FISTC European Champion junior, second junior and vice European Champion is the young and excellent musher coming from Russia, Alexey Tarazanov, third junion is Valentina Bottega (I), followed by another four junior mushers.
Finally, in the D2 class the title was won by Bernd Kirstein (D) and his two Greenland dogs and second is Sepp Brugger (A) with his Malamutes.

This is the end of the Championships sprint 2012, now we move to Gryon in Switzerland for the Championships MD/LT.

Next year the sprint championships will again take place in Italy, but on the other side of the country, close to the French border, and organised by the other Italian club CIS (the club that organised Auronzo).

Final result list of race >>>>>

DAY 2
Saturday 11 february

Tarvisio, Fusine (I)
After a very windy and snowy night the second heat took place today. Trails have been well prepared during the night and the trail marking - that has been redone - was perfect.
The vet. team, with three very experienced and specialised vets (including a Norvegian just arrived from the Femundlopet in Sweden) has impressed all participants. We had five vets in total on the Site!
All trails were in better conditions than yesterday but a lit bit slower because of the new snow.
In most categories it is impossible to figure out who will win tomorrow.
For the moment, after the second day, here are the first:

Result list of the second day of race >>>>>

DAY1
Friday 10 february

Tarvisio, Fusine (I)

After the nice opening ceremony yesterday evening in the center of the city of Tarvisio, the serious things began this morning on the famous trail designed by Ararad Katchikian in Piana di Fusine.
The quite cold (-10° C) but nice weather was good for the dogs.
A special trail had been designed for the skiers, pulka, ski joring 2 and 1 dog and all trails were in good conditions thanks to the work of the organisers. The first team started at 10.00 am.
In Pulka class Roman Reistetter (SLK) is first followed by Klaus Bäumel (A). In Sj 2 dogs, Matjaz Ovsenek (SLO) benefied from the problems encountered by Marcel Matanin (SLK). Three slovaks are also leading the Ski joring 1 dog class with siberian huskies while three Austrians lead SJ1 class 2 with malamutes or Greenlanddogs. In SJ women class the lead is in the hands of three very nice German athletes with alaskan malamutes.
In O class, Jean Combazard (F) returned from the Grande Odissee race is first.
In A1, Jurgen Stolz (D) is leading the class closely followed by Karl Rachbauer (A).
in A2, Nathalie Mannato is first.
The B1 class is lead by Carel Van de Mortel (NL) closely followed by Massimo Martini and Luca Castelletta - both from Italy.
Giorgio Pirini (I) in B2 is faster than Bernd Sauerhofer (A), second.
Alexandr Serdjukov (A) is first in the C1 class. The C2 class is lead by two French teams with greenlanddogs, Laurent Blot preceding Anthony Coffre. Christoph Rotter (A) is first in D1 class followed by a junior - Marc Wiatowsky (D). Another German musher, Bernd Kirstein and his two Greenlanddogs are leading the D2 class.
After a good Work on the trails the the race will restart at 10.00 am tomorrow morning on these fast trails.

Result list of the first day of race >>>>>

NEWSLETTER 06.02.2012

We received some important information from the local organizator in Tarvisio:

- winter tires or snow chains ARE MANDATORY IN ITALY

- at the stake-out will be available electrical power: please to bring adequate extension cords

- for safety reasons and maintenance of electronic equipment, power energy will not be available during the race, all the rest of the day or night it will be

- will be available every day 1000 liters of fresh drinking water: given the low temperatures, the pick-up with the tanker will be available in a range of time that will be communicated to the delegates

- at the stake-out will be available a typical food service, in a few minutes walking there is a restaurant

- chemical toilets will be available inside a tent covered

VERY IMPORTANT: we kindly ask to all mushers the participation at the opening event in the central square of Tarvisio

NEWSLETTER 31.01.2012

Dear Members,

as we now are close to the Sprint European Championships in Tarvisio, would you please be so kind to send your list of participants to the president and copy to Walter Treichl, Massimo Bassan and Marco Visconti ?
Here are the mail adresses :
franco.mannato@orange.fr ;
walter.treichl@sbg.at ;
president@fimss.com ;
linda.bv@libero.it .

Thank you very much.

NEWSLETTER 24.01.2012

About EC Sprint Tarvisio, Italy

Dear Friends,

We have just received good news from the organisers of our Sprint EC in Tarvisio.
Everything is under control and, while the organisers continue to work on the preparation of the race on the usual place where they are waiting for the snow, we have been informed that the backup trails (just about 6 km from the normal place) are in perfect conditions and therefore would allow us to organise our Championships on trails that go up to 18km.

Snowfalls are expected soon on the "master" location, but already the race may take place on the backup site.

More news are expected by the end of the week

NEWSLETTER 18.01.2012

About EC Sprint Tarvisio, Italy

As you may know -- the countries on the northern side of the Alps have got a lot of snow, but unfortunately the Italian side is suffering from lack of snow.
The board has received questions and criticism for not informing about the situation and we take that very serious but are depending on the info we get from the organizers.
We can inform you that the organizers of the Championship are constantly working to keep up front in this issue and have informed us that the weather forecast is promising snow from Saturday next week.
A possible site for trails of 18/20 km in higher altitude is an alternative in the very neighbourhood of Tarvisio!

While the website dedicated to the FISTC EC in Tarvisio should be ready as from tomorrow at the following address www.tarvisio2012.fimss.com , we can already now provide all members with the following information about the location and hotels.

The Tarvisio Tourism Office can be contacted and there are people speaking Italian, English, German and Slovenian. The responsable person is Mrs Cristiana TEOT, she can be reached either by mail: consorzio@tarvisiano.org or by phone: +39 0428 2392

Special prices have been arranged for competitors:

Hotel ***:
Stay of 2/3 nights B&B at 32.00 _ /person per day on the basis of a 2 persons room.
For half pension there is a supplement of 15,00 _ per person
Supplement for a single room 10.00 _ / day per person.

Hotel **:
Stay of 2/3 nights B&B at 27,00 _ / day per person in a 2 persons room.
Half pension with a supplement of 15,00 _ / person;
Supplement for a single room 10,00 _ /day per person.

These really low prices (for Italy) are the result of the efforts made by the FIMSS together with the Mayor of Tarvisio and the President of the Region Friuli/Venice/Giulia who are sponsoring this event.

More information will be available soon.

Hoping for further positive news we remain

Your Board

NEWSLETTER 11.01.2012

We received from the local organizer the programm for the EC MD & LT in Gyron, there are also further information about the place and accomodation in that area.

Click here to see the EC MD & LT programm >>>>>

NEWSLETTER 19.12.2011

Now it is Christmas, and the Board wants to express our very good wishes for a merry X-mas for all our members in our common Federation ISTC, and do hope for all of us to have a happy and prosperous New Year where peace and good mood will drive us all to improve common goals.

Happy New Year from
Your Board

NEWSLETTER 03.12.2011

The FISTC Middle Distance and Long Trail Championships will be organised on 24-26 February 2012 in GRYON (VD) Switzerland. The race will take place in a very beautiful place in the Alps. More details will soon be added on the website and communicated to all National Delegates.

FISTC EUROPEAN CHAMPIONSHIP CART 2011
SMLEDNIK (SLOVENIA)
17 - 20 november 2011

DAY 3
Sunday 20 november

Here we are, the third heat came to an and. Once again the weather was perfect for the dogs - cold (-3C) and cloudy. Trails remained in perfect conditions and this race gave 100% satisfaction to all participants and their dogs.
Of course Austria is the big winner with 5 gold medals and a total of 17 medals.
France takes the second place with also 5 gold medals but only 10 medals as a whole and final the excellent surprise is the third place taken by Belgium with 4 gold medals.
This race will remain in all our memories because not only it was perfectly organized and a total success but also for the friendship and great hospitality we received from our Slovenian friends.
So, goodbye Slovenia and thank you.
We will come back for sure!

Clck here for final result list >>>>>>>>>>

DAY 2
Saturday 19 november

Cold (-3) and cloudy weather, perfect for the race and the dogs. This second day of race was at least as good as yesterday and probably even better. All dogs and their mushers enjoyed once again the beautiful trails.
We were also very impressed by the media coverage of this event with several national and local televisions and the organizer Matjaž Ovsenek on the front page of the biggest national newspaper.
In most categories this second day confirmed and often reinforced the result from the first day. In Middle distance, Gerald Schinzel (A), Roman Habasko (CZ), Alexandre Rullier (F) and Harry Braeckmans (B) are still leading their respective categories, as do Jan Pederson (DK), Pascal Gerard (F), Alexander Serdjukov (A), Laurent Blot (F), Andrej Drabik (SK) and Bernd Kirstein (D) in Cart.
The same situation takes place for the bike men classes while in bike women the Austrian Eva Pfannhauser took the first place from the Belgian Virginie Brice and we can expect an exciting third day with less than 5 s difference.
In category Scooter class 2/1 dog, Sepp Brugger (A) with 1 Greenland dog won two places and is now leader .
Tomorrow the canicross classes will no more have a mass start but instead a 'chasing' start as they will start at the real time difference.
So more exciting!
This FISTC Cart Championship is really an almost perfect race.

Result list of the second day >>>>>>>

Click here for the web site of Smlednik where you can find some pictures >>>>>>>>

DAY 1
Friday 18 november

Smlednik a small and very nice community close to Ljubljana is succeeding in organizing and almost perfect European Championship Cart with the FISTC. Yesterday, Thursday, an excellent team of 3 vets have been checking most of the 114 teams that reached the place with a cold and foggy but dry weather.
Today, they had to send back home a team whose dogs vaccinations were not up to date.
Then the race started at 9.30 am still with a cold and foggy weather with the middle distance classes.
All trails for MD and Sprint are perfectly prepared. In MD A, Gerald Schinzel (A) is leading the category after the first day. In MD B the leader is Roman Habasko (CZ). MD C1 and C2 are leaded respectively by Alexandre Rullier (F) and Harry Braeckmans (B2 - Malamutes).
In sprint Jan Pedersen (DK) is first but closely followed by Karl Rachbauer (A). In B1 the French Pascal Gerard is followed by Lajos Koffer (H). In C1 Alexander Serdjukov (A) is first closely followed by three Italian teams. The C2 class is leaded by Laurent Blot (F) and his 4 Greenland dogs. The first place in D1 belongs to Andrej Drabik (SK) and in D2 to Bernd Kirstein (D).
Many concurrents are starting in the bike and scooter classes as well as in canicross. We just want to underline the outstanding performance in canicross junior of the young French girl Maylis Gerard, first in junior A ( 13 years old ) as she would also be first in the senior woman canicross.
Here are the first today in these classes:

Bike 1 men - 2 dogs: Ludovic Brasseur (B)
Bike 1 women - 1 dog: Roman Reistetter (SK)
Bike 1 women - 1 dog: Virginie Brice ( B)
Bike 2 men - 1 dog: Jean Michel Hoog (F)
Scooter 1 / 2 dogs: Sebastian Astelbauer (A)
Scooter 1 dog: Klaus Baumel (A)
Scooter 2 / 1 dog: Manuel Haslacher (A)
Canicross 2 dogs: Diego Buranello (ITA)
Canicross 1 dog: Michal Ivanco (SK)
Canicross 1 dog: Zdenka Duškova (CZ)
Canicross junior : Maylis Gerard (F)

Result list of the first day of race >>>>>

NEWSLETTER 08.11.2011

Dear members,
the next EC Cart in Smlednik is approching and the local organizer inviate some further informations and the rules that all teams partecipating has to follow in the stake out area.
On the web site of Smlednik you can find additional information in the pages of FISTC EC Cart (www.smlednik.sl)

Here attached the musher info (click here >>>>)

Regards
Your Board

NEWSLETTER 30.10.2011

Dear members,
we receive the program and the timetable of the next EC Cart in Smlednik:

17.11.2011:
10.00 to 16.00 : arriving and checking equipment and dogs;
18.00: opening ceremony;
19.00: musher meeting;
18-19-20.11. 2011 every day start at 9.30.
On friday and saturday at 18.00 musher meeting
Saturday at 19.00 musher evening.
Sunday at 15.30 awards cerimony

Regards
Your Board

NEWSLETTER 25.10.2011

Dear Members.
the local organizers of the EC Cart send us the map of the trails.
This the lenght of the trails:
MD O, A, B, C = 15km, flat trail
class A sprint = 10km, flat trail
class B sprint = 8km, Flat trail
class C sprint, D, Bikejoring (1 and 2 dogs), scooter all classes,canicros all classes = 4,7km, flat trail.

Regards
Your Board

NEWSLETTER 19.10.2011

Dear Members.
the local organizers and the TD of cart race decided to reduce the distance for A class to 10 km.
This the distance of the trails:
MD O, B, C = 15km, flat trail
class A sprint = 10km, flat trail
class B sprint = 8km, Flat trail
class C sprint, D, Bikejoring (1 and 2 dogs), scooter all classes,canicros all classes = 4,7km, flat trail.

Regards
Your board

NEWSLETTER 17.10.2011

Dear members,

we received some information about the trails of the Cart EC 2011 in Smlednik, Slovenia.
The trails will be almost the same distance like in Raingers.
MD O, B, C = 15km, flat trail
A1 sprint = 12km, flat trail
B1, B2 sprint = 8km, Flat trail
sprint C1, C2, D1, D2, Bikejoring (1 and 2 dogs), scooter all classes,and canicros all classes = 4,7km, flat trail.
We attached some pictures of the trail (click here >>>>).

Greetings from
Your board

NEWSLETTER 10.10.2011

Dear Members.
Here you get a link to an map showing you how to come to the Campsite when participating in the EC Cart 2011.
As soon as further info arrives we will keep you informed here.

Regards
Your board

Click here to see the map >>>>>>

NEWSLETTER 09.10.2011

Now we can inform you that the EC Cart has been confirmed by our Slovenian friends and organizers.

The final meeting with the community and press has taken place and we can invite you to participate in a three days event with arrival on the 17.11.2011 and then three days of racing on the 18., 19., and 20th. - as scheduled.

Please send your application for the race to the delegate in your country who will forward it to the Director of Cart races - Guust Zagers, to the treasurer Walter Treichl, and to the President Franco Mannato on the 10.11.2012 the latest.

The Championship will take place in Smlednik only 5 Km from the Motorway not far south from the Austrian border, and stake out, Start and finish will take place in a Camping Place, http://www.dm-campsmlednik.si where you will also find electricity, water etc.

- Other lodging options

5km from Smlednik: http://www.naklancu.com/index.php?id=1

7km from Smlednik: http://www.agoda.si/europe/slovenia/medvode/hotel_medno.html

7km from Smlednik: http://www.sobe-rooms-petra.com/slo/sobe-in-cenik/

9km from Smlednik: http://www.booking.com/hotel/si/penzion-jagodic.sl.html?label=gog235jc;sid=e96c66b0ebdc6142c2a59676e476af9c;checkin=2011-11-17;checkout=2011-11-20;srfid=caf5f9f9b3053f683fbf76c39b8f1054X11 9km from Smlednik

10 km from Smlednik:http://www.booking.com/hotel/si/turizem-loka.sl.html?label=gog235jc;sid=e96c66b0ebdc6142c2a59676e476af9c;checkin=2011-11-17;checkout=2011-11-20;srfid=caf5f9f9b3053f683fbf76c39b8f1054X12

As soon as we have further info we shall keep you updated.

Kind regards

Your Board

NEWSLETTER 28.09.2011

In the minutes from latest General Assembly in Slovakia some errors occured in the form showing the anticipated number of teams for the Championships in 2011/2012.
We regret this very much and apoligize for it and at the same time we thank Mushing Holland for bringing this to our attention.
You will find the new figures in the minutes.

Regards from
your board

NEWSLETTER 03.09.2011

After the GA in Marianska, Check Republic there are several things to correct in various race rules and things to inform more broadly - so we will insert new updated race rules and in the very beginning of these inform what has been corrected to make it more easy. These corrections can also be found in the minutes from the GA.

In "Documents" we take out what was written about travelling rules and will bring a link to the latest EU rules, (http://ec.europa.eu/food/animal/liveanimals/pets/qanda_en.htm)

The issue "Doping" will be taken out as well and instead we refer to the WADA rules.

During the GA it was announced that WADA is in a position to check our dogs anywhere and when they want - even on private trainings. Please also notice that WADA will check not only the dogs but also the mushers, so keep clean.

A further very important thing is that the obligatory blood test for enough resistance towards rabies when going to Sweden, Norway and United Kingdom expires by 2012. There are different demands for treatment for worms that has to be taken into consideration as well so please look up for this as well as time limits for vaccinations. It is not the same in every country.

The manual for releasing dog passes has been extended by a new form ensuring that dogs in type, weight and height but not able to go to a show (maybe castrated, missing teeth or other things) can have an accept also.

GENERAL ASSEMBLY 2011
Marianska, Czech Republic
18th-19th JUNE 2011

Minutes of GA 2011

Report from the Presidente, Mr. Franco Mannato:

Ladies and Gentlemen, dear Delegates,

I am very happy to welcome you here in the Czech Republic for this General Assembly and I take this opportunity to thank Mr. Roman HABASKO and the Czech Club for the excellent organisation of this event. We, the FISTC were already several times in this area, in the beautiful Karlovy Vary and two times also in Bozi Dar, beautiful places where we twice had the FISTC European Championships MD/LT.
This year my report will be mixed as we had some positive aspects and several negative ones during the past year.
We started the FISTC international season with the fourth European Cart Championship in Reingers, Austria....... Click here to read all text>>>>

Click here to read all the reports

Click here to read the minute of GA >>>>

The race calendar 2011/2012

18th -20nd November 2011
European Championship Cart- Slovenia - SMLEDNIK

10th -12th February 2012
World championhip Sprint - Italy - TARVISIO

European Championship MD/LT, Not determined

New information about Dog Passes

In the Board of FISTC we hear a lot about uncertainty among mushers regarding the new Rules of getting Dog Passes. They understand this new Rule as a restriction of the dogs to be used at Races, but the contrary is the fact!.

This new rule creates ONE POSSILITY MORE to get a Dog Pass.

The fundamental Rule and one of the key reasons for the existence of the FISTC is, that the dogs MUST be pure-bred AND within the standard. Only then the dog can get a Dog Pass.

After the GA in Chiomonte a dog can get a Dog Pass in three ways:

1. The original old way--- just as before the latest General Assembly: -- by getting a new FISTC Dog Pass in own Country verified by the Domestic Club, and preferrably by a Judge. A Responsible Person in the Club must send Data (Pass Port Number, name of the dogs with Chipnumbers) to the President, the Secretary and Walter Treichl in due time before the Championship.

Then the dog will be controlled during the pre-racing check by a FCI judge (please remember that we decided, that such a judge should be available at the Racing Site during the GA in 1995.), and as Franco Mannato is a FCI judge, he can do this, but only in case no other judges are available.

2. The possibility to use the EU/EC Dog Passport was lately accepted too. One of the last pages may be used as above, but it is necessary to stress, that also here a photo is mandatory.

and 3. (This is the new Rule, which was decided at the latest GA): when a NEW dog (whose microchip is not yet in the FISTC database) is judged by an FCI judge prior to the race and has been rewarded with a GOOD, and this is verified and follows each of the two possibilities mentioned above, it is immediately accepted by the FISTC.

So there is no need for additional costs (as is one of the complaints) because you DO NOT HAVE to to have the dog judged at a dog show.You MAY, in order to know in advance, that the dog will be accepted for Racing in FISTC Championships.

Also remember, these rules only apply to NEW dogs, that have not run before at our Championships, because all other dogs already have a dog pass

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