As usual, the most anticipated autumn event - Fieracavalli Verona - took place at Verona Fiere facilities from Thursday 26th to Sunday 29th October. At its 17th consecutive year, the event once again hosted the only one Italian stage for the Longines FEI World Cup: Jumping Verona. The 119th edition of the event celebrated this special moment and also welcomed dressage competitions. Sensational - for all the fans of the breed, it was the return of the Arabian Horse in the new location at Hall 9 with the European Championship of Morphology labeled ANICA (Italian National Horse Association), without forgetting the Grand Prix Fieracavalli reserved for purebred Arabian Horses born and bred in Italy. The connoisseurs could not miss the opportunity to also encounter, after almost a decade, one of the oldest and most prestigious equine breeds, whose origin dates back several centuries before Christ: the Akhal-Teké. Music, encouragement from a large and enthusiastic audience, comments in two languages have been the ingredients of the European Championship that welcomed nearly 200 contenders for six major titles (yearling, junior and senior males and females). After a first selection made by 6 international judges on Saturday 28th, the best horses of each category disputed the Great Final on October, 29th. The Jury was composed by: EVERARS JOSY (Belgium); EBERHARDT SYLVIE (Germany); HUSEBYE TOM (Norway); SHAARAWI ALI (Egypt); PITTALUGA MARCO (Italy) and REISEL GIDEON (The Ne the r l ands ) . The Disciplinary C o m m i s s i o n could rely on the expertise of: Dott. Vet. MASCAGNA LAURA (Italy); M O H S E N M O H A M E D ( E g y p t ) ; B O N O M I MARIO (Italy) and MANERBA ALBERTO (Italy). In the arena as Ring masters, CECCARONI R O B E R T O assisted by LUDI IVO, both from Italy. Anti Doping Manager, ZAPPULLA FRANCESCO (Italy). Music Manager, LORENZI LUISA (Italy). Speakers of the show: BOSCHINI MIRJAM from Italy and ERIC BLAAK from Holland. The female categories kicked off the Final Championships as is tradition. In the Yearling Fillies Category, Gold medal champion the chestnut AJ NORAH (AJ MARDAN x INSPIRED NAJLA) bred and owned by Ajman Stud. Silver medal champion, the bay NEMESI REGALIS (SAFAZIS SIMBAD x NASHIRA BY CHAWY NA) bred and owned by Re Pietro. Bronze medal champion the chestnut DA ARIYANA (EKS ALIHANDRO x BY MISS JUSTICE) bred and owned by DIAMOND ARABIANS, CORNELIA KOLNBERGER. In the Junior Fillies category, Gold medal champion, the gray DA ALIHANDRA (EKS ALIHANDRO x BY MISS JUSTICE) bred and owned by DIAMOND ARABIANS, CORNELIA KOLNBERGER. Silver medal champion the gray OBAYANA KA (ESPRESSIVO x ODALIS DE NAUTIAC) bred by Paul Gheysens NV Zoutekreken and owned by Cristiano Vito. Bronze medal champion the bay MELODY J (EMERALD J x MAYA J) bred by CHRISTINE JAMAR BVBA and owned by Al Jassimya Farm. In the Senior Mares category, Gold medal champion the gray NESJ EL MARKHISA (MARWAN AL SHAQAB x NESJ EL KHISAYA) bred by Everars Van Der Broek and owned by AL KHAIR ARABIANS. Silver medal champion the bay PUSTYNIA KAHILA (KAHIL AL SHAQAB x PUSTYNNA MALWA) bred and owned by Stadnina Koni Michalow. Bronze medal champion the gray EKSPULSJA (GAZAL AL SHAQAB x ELANDRA) bred by Stadnina Koni Michalow and owned by Halsdon Arabians. In the Yearling Colts category, Gold medal champion the chestnut AJ RADMAN (AJ MARDAN x AJ RAHIFA) bred and owned by Ajman Stud. Silver medal champion the bay MADAGASKAR J (EXCALIBUR EA x MISSISSIPI J) bred by CHRISTINE JAMAR BVBA and owned by AL OSOOL STUD. Bronze medal champion the bay EMPEROR K.A. (QR MARC x EXPOSITA.K.A.) bred by Paul Gheysens NV Zoutekreken and owned by KNOCKE ARABIANS. In the Junior Colts category, Gold medal champion the gray WORTEX KALLISTE (SHANGHAI EA x MARWANAH KALLISTE) bred by Kalliste Arabians and owned by SHGAIR STUD. Silver medal champion the gray FUERTE (SHANGHAI EA x FRYMUSZKA) bred by JAN DOBRZYNSKI and owned by SAMI BIN MOHAMMED BEN SAAD. Bronze medal champion the bay CYCLONE OS (RFI FARID x INSPIRED NAJLA) bred and owned by GESTUT OSTERHOF. In the Senior Stallions category, Gold medal champion the unbeatable gray EXCALIBUR EA (SHANGHAI EA x ESSENCE OF MARWAN EA) bred by SORROCA ALBERT and owned by Al Saqran Stud. Silver medal champion the gray LAWRENCE EL GAZAL (GAZAL SHAQAB x LARA EL LUDJIN) bred and owned by LA MOVIDA ARABIANS of the Huemer Family. Bronze medal champion the bay MANSOUR AL JALAWIYAH (EMERALD J x GYPSY LOVE NA) bred by HH Pr. Turki Bin Fahad Bin Mashari Bin Jalawi and owned by AL SALAM STUD & HH BIN FAHAD AL SAUD. With the European Championships in Verona, the ‘Italian-Al Shaqab Tour 2017’ came to an end. Throughout the year, we have been travelling up and down the Peninsula to participate, with our staff, at the various stages always with energy and great commitment. A beautiful event that took place in the historical city of Verona, to date a UNESCO Heritage, but also the Italian city that was envisioned by famous British playwright, poet and actor William Shakespeare to implant his most heart-braking love story, that between Romeo and Juliet and that, during the two days of the European Championship, became the perfect scenario for another great Love, the One we all nurture for this wonderful creature ...