The first much-awaited edition of the European Championship was held on Saturday 26th and Sunday 27th of October 2019 at ‘Sporting Club Paradise Horse and Pony’ in the picturesque historical borough of Sommacampagna, in the province of Verona, Italy. The Italian National Association of the Arabian Horse (Anica) took the reins of the organization and succeeded in passing another event of morphology with flying colours. An almost unanimous appreciation also came from Ecaho, its main representative President Jaroslav Lacina from the Czech Republic, and Mr. Nils Ismer from Germany as Chairman of the Show Commission. Anica was almost completely represented as there came President Eng. Marco Pittaluga who did the honours; General Secretary Domenico Ciceroni; Vice President Ivo Ludi; Show Counsellor Claudio Mazza, and Counsellors Francesco Santoro and Valter Murino. The beauty competition registered as many as 120 purebred Arabian horses coming from all over Europe, implementing for the first time the new Echao rule that the show must only be entered by purebred Arabian horses, born and bred in the Old Continent, and owned by European breeders; reason for which the level of contenders proved to be incredibly outstanding. Members of the judging panel were: Mr. Hamza Ahmed (Egypt); Mr. Ismer Mark (Deutschland); Mr. Rota Pierluigi (Italy); Mrs. Schibler Renata (Switzerland); Mrs. Stojanowska Anna (Poland) and Mr. Al Husseini Sufian Taha (Palestine). Set out below the Finals Results of the two-day Championships. YEARLING FILLIES CHAMPIONSHIP @ EUROPEAN CHAMPIONSHIP 2019 Gold | M.M. Alegria (Mm Jabari x Aruba Rta) Bred and owned by Mario Matt Arabians (Austria) Silver | Zaina Os (Cyclone Os x Maida Os) Bred and owned by Stockle Gestut Osterhof (Germany) Bronze | Amirata (EKS Alihandro x Alhasa) Bred and owned by SK Janow Podlaski Sp. zo.o. (Poland); She won by class score YEARLING COLTS CHAMPIONSHIP @ EUROPEAN CHAMPIONSHIP 2019 Gold | Morgan J (Emerald J x Magnificent Lady J) Bred and owned by Christine Jamar Bvba (Belgium) Silver | Mahasin De Cartherey (R’Adjah De Cartherey x Wadi’ah De Cartherey) Bred by Chantal Rigat ; Owned by De Cartherey Arabians (France) Bronze | Star Farid (RFI Farid x EKS Star of Africa) Bred and owned by Wojciech Parczewski, Nazaret Arabians (Poland) JUNIOR FILLIES CHAMPIONSHIP @ EUROPEAN CHAMPIONSHIP 2019 Gold | Malena (Makisa Adaggio x Sa Karima) Bred and owned by Davide Bona (Italy) Silver | Paprotnia (Elgast x Paeksa) Bred and owned by Lech Blaszczyk (Poland) Bronze | Alyssa Os (Fa El Rasheem x Accra Os) Bred and owned by Stockle Gestut Osterhof (Germany) JUNIOR COLTS CHAMPIONSHIP @ EUROPEAN CHAMPIONSHIP 2019 Gold | Michelangelo Regalis (Sa Faez Simbad x Nashira by Chawy Na) Bred by Re Pietro ; Owned by Regalis Arabians Srl (Italy) Silver | Ames Jr (Psytadel x Altara by Gazal Al Shaqab) Bred and owned by Janusz Ryzkowski (Poland) Bronze | Marc’s Magic K.A. (Ajman Moniscione x Marc’s Star KA) Bred and owned by Knocke Arabians (Belgium) SENIOR MARES CHAMPIONSHIP@ EUROPEAN CHAMPIONSHIP 2019 Gold | Sadunga El Marwteyn (ZT Marwteyn x DG SunharI) Bred and owned by La Movida Arabians (Austria) Silver | Poganinka (EL Omari x Pentra) Bred and owned by Stadnina Koni Michalow Sp. Z.O.O. (Poland) Bronze | Euzona (OM El Bellissimo x Euzetia) Bred and owned by Stadnina Koni Janow Podlaski (Poland) SENIOR STALLIONS CHAMPIONSHIP@ EUROPEAN CHAMPIONSHIP 2019 Gold | Wortex Kalliste (Shanghai EA x Mirwanah Kalliste) Bred by Kalliste Arabians (France) ; Owned by Shgair Stud Silver | Invictus (Cavalli x Althea) Bred and owned by Az. Agr. Oberti Gianluca (Italy) Bronze | Feuer Jade (Ajman Moniscione x Neva Bint Volga) Bred and owned by Veieder Ivan CONCLUSION: Besides Anica and Ecaho’s main representatives, the Show was attended by world famous opera singer Cecilia Gasdia who gave a breath-taking performance to celebrate the winning horses and owners in the preliminary categories. Today Cecilia is Superintendent of the ‘Arena of Verona Foundation’ and blessed the event with some of her most famous songs. Statues of Pharaohs and Sphinxes scattered all around the competition field created a mesmerizing atmosphere and crowned another piece of rare beauty, a Bronze sculpture depicting Romeo and Juliet by master Nicola Beber that was placed in the middle of the ring. Mayor Eng. Fabrizio Bertolaso also turned up at the Final Championships; with him, some representatives of the Corps of Carabinieri who manned the premises of the Equestrian Centre and watched over the safety of both men and horses for two days. Even Mayor took part in the Award Ceremony of the winners flanked by Anica and Ecaho’s main representatives. Eng. Fabrizio Bertolaso was keen to congratulate Anica on an impeccable organization of the show as well as the owners of the beautiful Equestrian Centre. Mayor also formulated strong intentions to commit the Municipality to future Arabian Horses’ beauty competitions.