HOLLENDORFER & BAFFERT SQUARE OFF AS KANTHAKA & AX MAN HEAD SATURDAY’S GRADE II, $200,000 SAN CARLOS STAKES AT SEVEN FURLONGS  FIRST POST TIME AT 1 P.M. FOR 10-RACE CARD THAT INCLUDES FOUR GRADED STAKES  ARCADIA, Calif. (March 27, 2019)–Jerry Hollendorfer’s Kanthaka and Bob Baffert’s Ax Man head-up a field of five older horses going seven furlongs in Saturday’s Grade II, $200,000 San Carlos Stakes at Santa Anita.A romping 3 ¼ length winner of the Grade II San Vicente Stakes here 13 months ago, Kanthaka was considered a Derby hopeful and would go on to win the Grade III, seven furlong Lazaro Barrera Stakes on May 12, after which he went to the sidelines prior to resurfacing with an eighth-place finish in the Grade I Malibu Stakes on Dec. 26.  Most recently second to two-time Breeders’ Cup Sprint winner Roy H in the Grade II Palos Verdes Stakes at six furlongs Jan. 19, Kanthaka will hope to improve with a recent race under his belt.Brilliant on occasion, Hal and Patti Earnhardt’s homebred Ax Man comes off a sizzling seven furlong allowance score here Feb. 8 and he’ll be seeking his first graded stakes score in the San Carlos.KANTHAKAOwner:  West Point ThoroughbredsTrainer:  Jerry HollendorferA 4-year-old Kentucky-bred colt by Jimmy Creed, Kanthaka posted a career-best 101 Beyer Speed figure in finishing second in the Palos Verdes and could well be sitting on a big effort Saturday.  With regular rider Flavien Prat in Dubai, Rafael Bejarano, who was aboard for his maiden win seven starts back on Dec. 26, 2017, will take over on Saturday.AX MANOwner:  Hal & Patti Earnhardt IIITrainer:  Bob BaffertA winner of four out of his eight starts, seven of which he’s been favored in, Ax Man has been brilliant on occasion but has also left some of his critics feeling that he may be a horse who needs to have things his way in order to perform at the top level.  With Drayden Van Dyke back at the controls, Ax Man, a 4-year-old gelding by Misremembered, out of the Flying Chevron mare Shameful, will likely blast away from the San Carlos blocks in an attempt to shake loose around the far turn.THE GRADE II SAN CARLOS STAKES WITH JOCKEYS & WEIGHTS IN POST POSITION ORDER Race 6 of 10  Approximate post time 3:30 p.m. PTKanthaka–Rafael Bejarano–123Ax Man–Drayden Van Dyke–121Touching Rainbows–Tiago Pereira–121St. Joe Bay–Victor Espinoza–121Zatter–Geovanni Franco–121Dr. Dorr–Tyler Baze–123Solid Wager–Martin Pedroza–125First post time for a 10-race card on Saturday is at 1 p.m. For additional information, please visit santaanita.com or call (626) 574-RACE. read more

Popular in the CommunitySponsoredSponsoredOrangutan found tortured and decapitated prompts Indonesia probeEMGIES17 Jan, 2018We will never know the full extent of what this poor Orangutan went through before he died, the same must be done to this evil perpetrator(s) they don’t deserve the air that they breathe this has truly upset me and I wonder for the future for these wonderful creatures. So called ‘Mankind’ has a lot to answer for we are the only ones ruining this world I prefer animals to humans any day of the week.What makes community ecotourism succeed? In Madagascar, location, location, locationScissors1dOther countries should also learn and try to incorporateWhy you should care about the current wave of mass extinctions (commentary)Processor1 DecAfter all, there is no infinite anything in the whole galaxy!Infinite stupidity, right here on earth.The wildlife trade threatens people and animals alike (commentary)Anchor3dUnfortunately I feel The Chinese have no compassion for any living animal. They are a cruel country that as we knowneatbeverything that moves and do not humanily kill these poor animals and insects. They have no health and safety on their markets and they then contract these diseases. Maybe its karma maybe they should look at the way they live and stop using animals for all there so called remedies. DisgustingConservationists welcome China’s wildlife trade banThobolo27 JanChina has consistently been the worlds worst, “ Face of Evil “ in regards our planets flora and fauna survival. In some ways, this is nature trying to fight back. This ban is great, but the rest of the world just cannot allow it to be temporary, because history has demonstrated that once this coronavirus passes, they will in all likelihood, simply revert to been the planets worst Ecco Terrorists. Let’s simply not allow this to happen! How and why they have been able to degrade this planets iconic species, rape the planets rivers, oceans and forests, with apparent impunity, is just mind boggling! Please no more.Probing rural poachers in Africa: Why do they poach?Carrot3dOne day I feel like animals will be more scarce, and I agree with one of my friends, they said that poaching will take over the world, but I also hope notUpset about Amazon fires last year? Focus on deforestation this year (commentary)Bullhorn4dLies and more leisSponsoredSponsoredCoke is again the biggest culprit behind plastic waste in the PhilippinesGrapes7 NovOnce again the article blames companies for the actions of individuals. It is individuals that buy these products, it is individuals that dispose of them improperly. If we want to change it, we have to change, not just create bad guys to blame.Brazilian response to Bolsonaro policies and Amazon fires growsCar4 SepThank you for this excellent report. I feel overwhelmed by the ecocidal intent of the Bolsonaro government in the name of ‘developing’ their ‘God-given’ resources.U.S. allocates first of $30M in grants for forest conservation in SumatraPlanet4dcarrot hella thick ;)Melting Arctic sea ice may be altering winds, weather at equator: studyleftylarry30 JanThe Arctic sea ice seems to be recovering this winter as per the last 10-12 years, good news.Malaysia has the world’s highest deforestation rate, reveals Google forest mapBone27 Sep, 2018Who you’re trying to fool with selective data revelation?You can’t hide the truth if you show historical deforestation for all countries, especially in Europe from 1800s to this day. WorldBank has a good wholesome data on this.Mass tree planting along India’s Cauvery River has scientists worriedSurendra Nekkanti23 JanHi Mongabay. Good effort trying to be objective in this article. I would like to give a constructive feedback which could help in clearing things up.1. It is mentioned that planting trees in village common lands will have negative affects socially and ecologically. There is no need to even have to agree or disagree with it, because, you also mentioned the fact that Cauvery Calling aims to plant trees only in the private lands of the farmers. So, plantation in the common lands doesn’t come into the picture.2.I don’t see that the ecologists are totally against this project, but just they they have some concerns, mainly in terms of what species of trees will be planted. And because there was no direct communication between the ecologists and Isha Foundation, it was not possible for them to address the concerns. As you seem to have spoken with an Isha spokesperson, if you could connect the concerned parties, it would be great, because I see that the ecologists are genuinely interested in making sure things are done the right way.May we all come together and make things happen.Rare Amazon bush dogs caught on camera in BoliviaCarrot1 Feba very good iniciative to be fallowed by the ranchers all overSponsored Article published by Glenn Scherer North Samatera Hydro Energy (PT NSHE) wants to build the Batang Toru dam, a 510-megawatt project, in Indonesia. But, the discovery of a new primate species, the Tapanuli orangutan (Pongo tapanuliensis), with under 800 individuals mostly inhabiting the project site, has alarmed activists and put the dam’s funding at risk.PT NSHE is at the COP25 climate summit this month extolling the project’s contribution to curbing global warming: company reps say the dam will reduce Indonesia’s carbon emissions by 4 percent. In fact, the nation is already counting the proposed project as part of its 2015 Paris Climate Agreement carbon reduction pledge.However, while the United Nations and Paris Agreement count most new hydroelectric dams as carbon neutral, recent science shows that tropical dams can emit high levels of carbon dioxide, methane and nitrous oxide; this especially occurs when reservoirs are first filled.Dams built over the next decade will be adding their greenhouse gas emission load to the atmosphere when the world can least afford it — as the world rushes to cut emissions to prevent a 2 degree Celsius increase in global temperatures. PT NSHE argues its dam will have a small reservoir, so will not produce significant emissions. Emmy Hafild, senior advisor to the chairman of PT NSHE at the COP 25 climate conference. Image by Justin Catanoso.MADRID, Spain – COP25 isn’t only attended by delegates, NGOs, and activists; it also attracts national and transnational companies, all seeking something from the UN climate policy process.An Indonesian power company, PT North Samatera Hydro Energy (PT NSHE), is a good example. Its representatives trekked to the 25th United Nations climate summit (the firm also had a presence at COP24 in Poland) to defend its reputation and salvage a $1.6 billion dam project whose future financing is in doubt due to strong socioenvironmental opposition.“The government of Indonesia supports our project,” Emmy Hafild, senior advisor to the chairman of PT NSHE told Mongabay at COP25. “But with the bad reputation we’ve received [from environmentalists], I’m afraid banks are wary. That’s our biggest concern, and that’s why we’re here.”She added: “We care about climate change and we need this project,” a cryptic declaration, which when unpacked, largely explains the company’s COP attendance. The United Nations Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) has long classified hydroelectric dams as “Green,” producing minimal greenhouse emissions — though, that’s an assumption that has been seriously challenged by recent science, especially in regard to the greenhouse gas emissions from tropical dams especially at the beginning, but throughout their life cycle.The dam and the orangutanPT NSHE began pursuing the construction of the Batang Toru dam, a 510-megawatt hydroelectric project, in 2008. It put in place the policies and documentation required to apply for a loan with the World Bank’s International Finance Corporation (IFC) by 2017.Then, as Hafild noted, “the orangutan came into the picture.”Two years ago, primatologists announced a rare find — a new species of primate, the Tapanuli orangutan, only the eighth great ape ever described. Scientists believe just under 800 Pongo tapanuliensis remain in the wild, and they live in the dense rainforest habitat all around the proposed dam site.News stories last year heralded the orangutan discovery, while quoting environmentalists and scientists who said that PTNSHE’s hydroelectric project endangered the rare species by threatening its Batang Toru habitat through tree removal, road construction, and the flooding the dam would produce.“With only 800 individuals of this species remaining,” Erik Meijaard, director of Borneo Future and an orangutan expert, said in a news report, “the hydro-dam will significantly increase the likelihood of extinction.”The environmental controversy resulted in the Asian Development Bank and the World Bank backing away from the project. Then the Bank of China (BoC) stepped in, saying it would provide initial financing and construction through state-owned company, Sinohydro. In March, BoC publicly noted environmentalists’ concerns and said it was reevaluating involvement. Today, project funding remains unsure.PT NSHE makes environmental claimsAt the lavish Indonesian pavilion at COP25, Hafild narrated an hour-long program Friday, December 6, extolling the environmental virtues of the Batang Toru dam project. She insisted the orangutan habitat would not be disturbed, but rather in time, would be enhanced through improved protected areas.Important among her defenses: the low carbon emitting hydroelectric dam will replace a carbon-polluting diesel-fired powerplant.The dam, if built, would serve 400,000 households, the same as the old power plant, she said, but reduce Indonesia’s carbon emissions by 4 percent. In fact, Indonesia is already counting the proposed project as part of its 2015 Paris Climate Agreement carbon reduction pledge, its UN Nationally Determined Commitment (NDC) to reduce the nation’s overall emissions by 23% by 2025.“A 4 percent reduction is equivalent to 1.6 million tons of carbon annually not going up into the atmosphere,” Hafild said. She asserts that a 4 percent emissions reduction is equal to saving 12.3 million trees or 230,000 hectares (568,000 acres) of old-growth forest annually.Tapanuli Orangutans (Pongo tapanuliensis): Adult male on left, and adult female on right. Batang Toru Forest, North Sumatra, Indonesia. Image by Tim Laman under Creative Commons Attribution 4.0  license.Orangutans at riskNone of this sits well with environmentalists and ecologists who oppose the project. They don’t trust PT NSHE’s claims of environmental stewardship, nor Indonesia’s spotty record in protecting the world’s third-largest rainforest.Today, the country is among the world’s top ten emitters of greenhouse gases, with the largest portion of carbon emissions coming from land use change, especially deforestation and peatland fires related to agribusiness expansion, mostly for the oil palm industry —Indonesia is also still a heavy user of carbon-dirty coal.Stephanie Jensen-Cormier, program director for International Rivers in Costa Rica, has closely followed the Batang Toru project. She said the company is at COP25 primarily for greenwashing because construction financing is in doubt.She believes the project will gravely damage Tapanuli orangutan habitat: “The dam will fragment populations and decrease their genetic diversity to the point where they will die out,” she wrote in an email to Mongabay.Ian Redmond, a tropical field ecologist best known for his long career studying mountain gorillas, agrees, writing that: “Ensuring the survival of the most recently described member of our zoological family is a matter of global concern. The best outcome for the region and for the Tapanuli orangutans would be for Batang Toru to be proposed as a World Heritage Site” and the dam project shut down.Carbon cutting or greenwashing?Rare orangutans aside, there is the question of whether replacing a diesel-fired power plant with a hydroelectric dam will reduce greenhouse gas emissions. When comparing the sooty cloud of pollutants rising from a smokestack to the open waters of a reservoir, the assumption as to which is a cleaner source of energy seems obvious — but it isn’t.Studies of dams large and small, especially tropical dams, over the last decade have concluded that hydroelectric projects do create significant emissions beyond those generated with the initial cutting of trees to make way for reservoirs, roads and transmission lines; or the utilization of large amounts of carbon-intensive concrete in construction.When tropical land is flooded to make a reservoir, a large mass of plants gets submerged. When those plants die, they become a major source of organic carbon at the bottom of the reservoir.“Due to the lack of physical mixing, and high rate of oxygen consumption, the reservoirs contain very low levels of oxygen,” explains Stanford University’s Katy Ashe. “When anaerobic degradation of carbon occurs by bacteria… methane is produced as a byproduct… This methane is transported directly to the air by the form of bubbling or by off-gassing of the waters.” This off-gassing occurs when water emerges from the turbines under high pressure and is released into the river downstream.The vegetation biomass and carbon-rich soils flooded when the reservoir is filled produces an enormous peak of emissions in the first few years of a dam’s operation. Critically, any new dam put into operation over the next decade, will be adding its greatest emissions to the atmosphere at precisely the time when global warming must be controlled to stay within the limits set in the Paris Agreement and to avoid crossing a climatic tipping point.After the large initial peak of emission, the oxygen-poor tropical reservoirs continue producing greenhouse-gas emissions for their entire working lives, although at a lower level than during the initial peak. Decaying plants and other carbon sources at the bottom of the reservoir emit methane, a very powerful greenhouse gas.Despite scientists’ warnings that tropical dams are adding to climate change not inhibiting it, national governments in Asia, Africa and Lain America go on building them — while often making wild, sometimes unsubstantiated claims to the UN that their dams produce clean, emissions-reducing, energy.The Indonesian pavilion at COP25 in Madrid where PT NSHE made its presentation. Image by Justin Catanoso.To build or not to buildSo, the question becomes: does PT NSHE’s company claim that the Batang Toru dam will decrease Indonesia’s carbon-emission footprint by 4 percent actually hold water, or is that claim so much hot air (or methane) adding to the world’s atmospheric woes? PT NSHE points out that it plans to build a run-of-river dam, meaning the project will have a small reservoir which should reduce its emissions compared to standard large reservoir construction.But that doesn’t mean the Batang Toru dam will produce zero emissions. A global study in 2016 found that three greenhouse gases: carbon dioxide, methane and nitrous oxide were all being emitted in significant amounts from 267 reservoirs across six continents.Importantly, those researchers noted that methane “has a higher global warming potential over the shorter 20-year time horizon,” in which it is critically important that nations curb their emissions. In fact, methane’s effect is 86 times greater than that of CO2 when considered on that two-decade timescale, according to the last IPCC assessment (the AR-5).This is the timeframe within which global warming must be contained to avert disastrous consequences. Over a longer 100-year timeframe, methane’s effect on global warming is 34 times greater, and nitrous oxide’s effect is almost 300 times greater, than carbon dioxide per ton. Globally, scientists estimate reservoirs contribute 1.3% of human-made greenhouse gas emissions, comparable to global rice paddy cultivation.However, the world’s tropical dams are still not counted in United Nations emissions assessments. In fact, the world’s countries continue to be eligible under the UN’s Clean Development Mechanism (CDM) to receive carbon credits for newly built dams — a greenhouse gas emissions accounting loophole that analysts say needs to be closed.“The role of hydroelectric dams in emissions inventories and in mitigation has been systematically ignored,” and urgently needs to be addressed by the United Nations, according to Philip Fearnside, a researcher who has studied many dams in the Brazilian Amazon.But that’s a carbon accounting loophole that won’t be addressed in COP25 rulemaking, which means it is likely to remain permanently in place when the Paris Agreement goes into effect next year.Justin Catanoso, a professor of journalism at Wake Forest University in North Carolina, covers climate change and climate policy for Mongabay; this is his sixth UN climate summit. Follow him on Twitter @jcatanosoBanner image caption: A female Tapanuli orangutan (Pongo tapanuliensis). Image by Tim Laman under the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International license.FEEDBACK: Use this form to send a message to the author of this post. If you want to post a public comment, you can do that at the bottom of the page. Animals, Biodiversity, Biodiversity Crisis, Biodiversity Hotspots, carbon, Carbon Emissions, Climate, Climate Change And Conservation, Climate Change and Dams, Climate Change And Forests, Climate Change Negotiations, Climate Change Policy, climate policy, Conservation, Dams, Deforestation, Ecology, Ecosystems, Endangered Species, Environment, Extinction, Global Warming, Green, Habitat, Habitat Degradation, Habitat Destruction, Habitat Loss, Hydroelectric Power, Hydropower, Mammals, New Species, NGOs, Orangutans, Primates, Rainforests, Tropical Deforestation, United Nations, Wildlife, Wildlife Conservation read more

L’Ajax y est presque : en ballottage favorable après son succès à l’aller (1-0), le club d’Amsterdam doit confirmer à domicile en demi-finale retour mercredi (21h) pour poursuivre son incroyable épopée. Tottenham rêve, lui, de sa première finale en Ligue des champions, avec le retour de son buteur providentiel Son Heung-min.Après une traversée du désert de presque un quart de siècle dans la plus prestigieuse des compétitions européennes, le mythique club amstellodamois n’a jamais été aussi proche de revivre une finale de C1.Mais pas question de s’enflammer. L’incroyable “remontada” subie mardi par Barcelone à Liverpool, défaite 4-0 au retour après gagné 3-0 à l’aller, a une nouvelle fois démontré qu’en Ligue des champions, nul n’est à l’abri des scénarios les plus fous… Partager La génération Matthijs de Ligt, devenu à 19 ans le plus jeune capitaine de l’histoire du club, rêve en tout cas de réaliser le même exploit que la génération Patrick Kluivert : conquérir l’Europe, comme en 1995, avec une bande de gamins aussi talentueux qu’insouciants.“La vérité, c’est que nous ne nous attendions pas du tout en début de saison à nous retrouver dans cette position”, a admis Daley Blind. “Échouer (mercredi) serait une déception”, a encore souligné le fils de Danny Blind, lui-même ancien joueur de l’Ajax et vainqueur de la C1… en 1995.Après avoir commencé leur épopée en juillet par le 2e tour préliminaire, presque deux mois avant l’entrée en lice des gros bras du continent, les joueurs d’Erik ten Hag se sont offert le scalp des principaux prétendants à la victoire finale. Avec panache et sens de l’esthétique.“Déclic” Ils ont d’abord tenu tête au Bayern Munich en phase de groupes, “le déclic”, de l’aveu même de Blind, avant de balayer en huitièmes le Real Madrid, pourtant triple tenant du titre, et d’offrir en quarts une leçon de football à la Juventus Turin de Cristiano Ronaldo, l’un des grandissimes favoris.En cas de résultat positif mercredi soir, l’Ajax peut s’offrir la possibilité d’un incroyable triplé Coupe-championnat-Ligue des champions. Un exploit qui n’a plus été réalisé depuis… 1972 et l’équipe d’un certain Johan Cruyff.“Nous allons jouer comme si le score était de 0-0. Pourquoi changer de style? L’Ajax, c’est l’attaque”, a d’ores et déjà prévenu son entraîneur Erik ten Hag, qui devrait pouvoir compter sur toutes ses forces vives pour ce choc, malgré la légère incertitude autour de David Neres.De son côté, Tottenham n’aborde pas son grand rendez-vous dans les meilleurs dispositions.Défaits samedi (1-0 contre Bournemouth en championnat d’Angleterre) pour la 3e fois d’affilée, toutes compétitions confondues, les Spurs ont manqué l’occasion de se rassurer avant leur déplacement aux Pays-Bas.Le “rêve” de Pochettino Qu’importe, le “rêve” que sont en train de vivre les Spurs de Mauricio Pochettino n’est pas prêt de s’achever aussi facilement.“Il y a cinq ans, en raison de la manière dont évoluait le projet, je pense que personne n’aurait imaginé que nous jouerions la Ligue des champions chaque saison et que nous serions à ce niveau de la compétition”, a savouré le technicien argentin.“Le plus important est d’apprécier, d’essayer de donner confiance aux joueurs et de faire de notre mieux pour aller en finale”, a-t-il ajouté.Pour réussir l’exploit à la Johan Cruyff Arena, Pochettino pourra compter sur les conseils de quatre de ses joueurs : Jan Vertonghen, Toby Alderweireld, Davinson Sanchez et Christian Eriksen connaissent en effet parfaitement la maison Ajax pour y avoir fait leurs premiers pas au plus haut niveau.Mais son principal atout sera son buteur Son, de retour de suspension et qui avait beaucoup manqué à l’aller, alors que Vertonghen, victime d’un violent choc au nez à White Hart Lane, devrait également pouvoir tenir sa place.Le Sud-Coréen, qui a reçu un carton rouge contre Bournemouth, devra toutefois garder ses nerfs s’il veut refaire le même numéro que contre Manchester City au tour précédent (un but à l’aller, deux au retour).“Il était le premier déçu après ce qui s’est passé. C’est une chose qui ne doit plus se reproduire. Au haut niveau, il faut savoir rester relax. (Mercredi), nous allons avoir besoin d’une grosse performance collective”, a souligné Pochettino. Battre l’Ajax à son propre jeu, sacré défi!AFP read more

Partager L’ancien champion national qui n’a plus couru depuis son titre de champion national… de VTT marathon, effectue son retour. Par contre, il ne sait pas s’il sera au départ à Mersch le 11 janvier prochain.Une sortie de presque cinq heures. Sur le coup de 17 h, Sören Nissen était trempé de la tête aux pieds, vendredi lorsqu’il est arrivé chez lui. «Mes pieds sont bleus, il y avait de la flotte partout, la plupart des pistes cyclables que j’ai empruntées étaient inondées», racontait-il ainsi sur un ton badin.Pas question d’entendre Sören Nissen se plaindre. Pas le genre de la maison. «Je m’entraîne à raison d’une quarantaine d’heures par semaine. J’ai l’habitude mais je l’avoue, cette année ce n’est pas simple. L’automne et ce début d’hiver sont très pluvieux», poursuit-il.Le vététiste diekirchois, spécialisé en marathon, prépare activement une saison qui s’annonce, en 2020 précoce avec deux épreuves en Afrique du Sud, le Momentum Health Tankwa du 6 au 9 février puis le Cape Epic du 15 au 22 mars. «C’est la première fois que je disputerai ces épreuves qui seront très importantes pour moi. Il faut donc que je sois prêt», explique le Nordiste qui souffle ce samedi les bougies de son 35e anniversaire.Mais c’est un autre grand voyage qui s’annonce ces prochains jours pour Sören Nissen. En effet, du 20 décembre au 8 janvier, il sera en Australie pour les besoins d’un partenaire. «Je vais en profiter pour bien m’entraîner», promet-il au cas où on aurait oublié son grand professionnalisme.Du coup, qu’attend-il de ce cyclo-cross qu’il avait remporté en 2015? «Je vais courir oui, mais je sais que je vais partir en dernière position. Ce sera donc un gros handicap. Après, je pense qu’on va beaucoup plus devoir courir à pied que les autres années. Les champs risquent de se transformer en bourbier, cela me semble inévitable puisque les prés sont gorgés d’eau. On verra bien, mais je pense que Lex Reichling sera un peu au dessus», se risque-t-il.Une manière d’admettre qu’il garde un œil attentif à cette discipline qui est la sienne à l’occasion, pas plus. «Cela reste incompatible avec ma préparation pour le VTT marathon. Mais j’en profite pour faire des séances spécifiques à chaque cross», poursuit Sören. Gusty sera là le jour J!Son titre de champion national 2018 acquis à Kayl au bout d’un joli suspense lui a ouvert l’appétit mais à l’heure qu’il est, il n’est pas certain d’être au départ, le 11 janvier à Mersch. «On verra bien, je me déciderai au dernier moment», promet encore le marathonien qui a eu le temps ces derniers temps de jauger ceux qui seront ses rivaux, dimanche à Warken.«Lex (Reichling) est fort, plus fort que ces dernières saisons. Scott (Thiltges) reste sur un très bon niveau également. Je pense que Vincent (Dias dos Santos) a aussi un niveau. Le seul qui ne marche pas, c’est Gusty (Bausch) mais je suis sûr et certain que comme chaque année, il sera là pour surprendre tout le monde le jour J des championnats!», pronostique-t-il.Denis BastienLe programme13 h : juniors13 h 01 : masters14 h 15 : débutants14 h 16 : dames15 h 15 : élites et espoirsL’an passé : 1. Loïc Hennaux (Team Off Road Colnago) en 48’22”; 2. Scott Thiltges (LG Alzingen) à 13″; 3. Nicolas Kess (LC Kayl) 15″SKODA CROSS CUP (après six manches)Élites/Espoirs : 1. Scott Thiltges 514, 2. Lex Reichling 496, 3. Raphaël Kockelmann 422, 4. Vincent Dias Dos Santos 414…Dames : 1. Marie Schreiber, 2. Elise Maes 528, 3. Maïté Barthels 437Juniors : 1. Mats Wenzel 557, 2. Geoffrey Rausch 476, 3. Noé Ury 463Débutants : 1. Mathieu Kockelmann 600, 2. Noa Berton 530, 3. Mats Berns 427Débutantes : 1. Liv Wenzel, 2. Layla Barthels 496, 3. Margot Marasco 480Masters : 1. Christian Weyland 425, 2. Mario Matijevic 423, 3. Tom Flammang 411 read more

NLDS: Diamondbacks ace shines. Chicago’s Zambrano is as good until he’s taken out. By Bob Baum THE ASSOCIATED PRESS PHOENIX – Brandon Webb won the duel in the desert. Webb shut down the Chicago Cubs with his superb sinker, and the young Arizona Diamondbacks got home runs from two of their kids in a 3-1 victory Wednesday night in their NL playoff opener. Stephen Drew homered in the fourth off Chicago ace Carlos Zambrano, pulled after six innings and only 85 pitches. Right after he left, Mark Reynolds homered on the fourth pitch from reliever Carlos Marmol to break a 1-all tie in the seventh. Pinch-hitter Conor Jackson added a sacrifice fly, and the Diamondbacks got two scoreless innings from their strong bullpen. Webb, the reigning NL Cy Young Award winner, allowed four hits and struck out nine over seven outstanding innings in his postseason debut. He walked three and hit a batter. “The most exciting game so far,” Webb said. “I was able to keep them off-balance. I had pretty good stuff tonight, great off-speed. Had some great strikeouts in key situations.” The Cubs, in search of their first World Series championship in 99 years, twice got the leadoff batter to second with no outs early in the game but came away empty. Game 2 is tonight, with Ted Lilly on the mound for Chicago against Doug Davis. Zambrano gave up four hits, struck out eight and walked one before he was lifted by Manager Lou Piniella in a questionable move. “He probably could have gone another inning. We’re bringing him back Sunday on three days’ rest,” Piniella said. “I took a shot with my bullpen. It didn’t work today. They’ve done it all year.” Not this time. Planning for Game 4 might have cost the Cubs in Game 1. The showdown between 18-game winners was as advertised, with Zambrano matching Webb pitch for pitch through six innings. With Zambrano gone, the Diamondbacks went ahead in the seventh. Reynolds hit Marmol’s 2-and-1 pitch just over the left-field fence for a 2-1 lead. Chris Snyder walked and went to third on Augie Ojeda’s single before Jackson came through while batting for Webb. Marmol had allowed only two runs in 25 innings after Aug. 10 for a 0.72 ERA. “His numbers are video-game numbers with the strikeouts and so forth,” Diamondbacks manager Bob Melvin said. “Zambrano the same way.” Arizona setup man Brandon Lyon threw a perfect eighth, and closer Jose Valverde earned the save. Valverde, the NL saves leader with 47 in 54 opportunities this year, walked pinch-hitter Daryle Ward with two outs in the ninth to bring up Alfonso Soriano. He bounced into a game-ending forceout that capped an 0-for-5 night. The surprising Diamondbacks, the first team since the 1906 White Sox to have the league’s best record and worst batting average, won in a fashion typical of their 90-win regular season. They got timely hits, good defense and terrific pitching. The youngsters certainly weren’t overwhelmed by the circumstances. Drew isn’t a rookie, but is in his first full major league season. Reynolds was brought up from double-A Mobile when third baseman Chad Tracy got hurt in May. While the Diamondbacks knocked a pair out, Chicago’s RBI came on a bases-loaded infield single by Ryan Theriot to make it 1-1 with two outs in the sixth. Only three of the Diamondbacks’ starters had faced Zambrano, and Drew was not among them. His first time up he struck out looking, but he put Arizona ahead with a 432-foot drive over the pool in right-center. Sandwiched around the big hit were two defensive gems by Drew at shortstop. He made a backhand of Geovany Soto’s grounder to end the third, then he robbed Zambrano of an RBI with a leaping grab of a line drive in the fifth. After threatening twice, Chicago finally got to Webb in the sixth. Derrek Lee led off with a single, then consecutive two-out walks to Mark DeRosa and Soto – the latter on four pitches – loaded the bases. Theriot bounced one high over the head of the third baseman Reynolds. Drew fielded the ball but had no play and it was tied at 1.160Want local news?Sign up for the Localist and stay informed Something went wrong. Please try again.subscribeCongratulations! You’re all set! read more

From news services Kings coach Marc Crawford sent a strong message to forward Ladislav Nagy that his play wasn’t acceptable by scratching him from Tuesday’s win over Minnesota. Don’t expect a similar message sent to Rob Blake any time soon. Despite Blake’s league-worst minus-nine rating on the season, Crawford came to his captain’s defense. “I’m going to probably come back with J-S,” Crawford said. “I think he played well last night. Let’s see if we can get him on a roll a little bit. He’s been kind of a streaky player throughout his career.” Goalie update Back to the road The Ducks will play two away games in the next seven days. First up on Saturday are the Dallas Stars, who beat Columbus, 3-2, in a shootout on Wednesday. Dallas is 3-2-2 a year after challenging the Ducks into the season’s final week for the Pacific Division title. The St. Louis Blues then host the Ducks Tuesday at the Scottrade Center, where the Ducks won once by shootout and once in overtime last season. The Blues beat Chicago Wednesday night to improve to 3-1-0. Around the league Thrashers: Bob Hartley was fired as coach of Atlanta (0-6), the only NHL team without a victory. General Manager Don Waddell will coach the team until a replacement is found. Waddell said the Thrashers were playing as if they have not recovered from losing four straight games to the New York Rangers in the first round of the playoffs last season.160Want local news?Sign up for the Localist and stay informed Something went wrong. Please try again.subscribeCongratulations! You’re all set! AD Quality Auto 360p 720p 1080p Top articles1/5READ MOREGame Center: Chargers at Kansas City Chiefs, Sunday, 10 a.m.“That’s more of a reflection of our team’s struggle,” Crawford said. “If you really want to look at Rob’s play, he’s played quite well.” Blake is willing to take some responsibility for the team’s poor start. “Any time you’re minus, you’re not playing well,” Blake said. Jean-Sebastien Aubin is likely to get another start in the net as the Kings start a two-game road trip today at Calgary. Aubin, who signed a one-year contract in the offseason after spending last year as a backup with Toronto, was solid in his Kings debut Tuesday, allowing one questionable goal in the third period but making up for it with a pad save in the shootout. read more

A man who was given a five prison sentence after he crashed his girlfriend’s car while he was uninsured in 2016, had the sentence substituted for community service on appeal at Donegal Circuit Court.Jason Cassidy of Ardfarna, Bundoran, had pleaded guilty in the district court previously to, failing to give a sample to garaí, driving without due care and attention and driving without insurance after he crashed into a parked car at Bundoran on March 5, 2016. The Circuit court heard he initially told gardaí that there must have been something wrong with the car as it veered to his left. In the station he failed to provide a urine sample and refused to take a blood test.He has previous convictions for having no insurance, no driver’s licence, possession of drugs, possession of drugs for sale or supply, assault and road traffic matters.Barrister Peter Nolan BL, said his client had a long history of difficulty with drugs and previously used heroin but was drug free now.He said he took full responsibility for the crash and took the car to go to a friends house after a row with his girlfriend. He previously studied archaeology and the retrained as a barber but these “fell by the wayside”.He said the were only appealing the prison sentence and that all other penalties imposed in the district court, including a fine of €200 and seven year driving ban, should remain.Judge Cormac Quinn said his decision was a”close run thing” but he would substitute the two five month sentences for failing to give a sample and driving without insurance, which were to run concurrently, for two, 200 hour, community services orders.Man who crashed girlfriend’s car has jail sentence replaced by community service was last modified: March 22nd, 2017 by StephenShare this:Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window)Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window)Click to share on LinkedIn (Opens in new window)Click to share on Reddit (Opens in new window)Click to share on Pocket (Opens in new window)Click to share on Telegram (Opens in new window)Click to share on WhatsApp (Opens in new window)Click to share on Skype (Opens in new window)Click to print (Opens in new window) read more

Labour Senator Jimmy Harte is showing some small signs of improvement.Senator Jimmy HarteThe Letterkenny politician was found unconscious with serious head injuries in Dublin on Saturday week last after the Republic of Ireland versus Latvia game.It is understood Jimmy fell close to the apartment which he owns in Dublin. He was immediately put into an induced coma.In the past couple of days the father of four has shown some hopeful signs.He has moved his hand and is also making some response to people’s voices.A spokesman for the Labour party said “Jimmy Harte remains in a stable but critical condition. “There have been some small but welcome signs of progress in the past day or so.”Jimmy was initially treated at St James Hospital but was then transferred to Beaumont Hospital which specialises in head injuries.Messages of support and goodwill have been flowing in for Jimmy and his family since his accident on November 15th. SENATOR HARTE SHOWING SMALL SIGNS OF POSSIBLE RECOVERY was last modified: November 26th, 2013 by StephenShare this:Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window)Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window)Click to share on LinkedIn (Opens in new window)Click to share on Reddit (Opens in new window)Click to share on Pocket (Opens in new window)Click to share on Telegram (Opens in new window)Click to share on WhatsApp (Opens in new window)Click to share on Skype (Opens in new window)Click to print (Opens in new window) Tags:ICUImprovementSenator Jimmy Harte read more

SANTA CLARITA – An early morning fire caused more than $2.2 million damage to a restaurant in a Santa Clarita strip mall, Los Angeles County Fire Department officials said. The cause of the fire was under investigation Saturday, but it appeared to have started in the kitchen or bar area of Don Cuco Restaurant, fire officials said. The damage was estimated at $1.5 million to the building, and $750,000 to the furnishings and equipment inside, fire officials said. Firefighters were dispatched at 5:32 a.m. Saturday to the restaurant in the 27200 block of Camp Plenty Road. When they arrived, heavy flames were already coming through the roof of the single-story structure, said County Fire Inspector Ron Haralson. AD Quality Auto 360p 720p 1080p Top articles1/5READ MOREBlues bury Kings early with four first-period goals The fire was knocked down at 6:54 a.m. There were no injuries, Haralson said. 160Want local news?Sign up for the Localist and stay informed Something went wrong. Please try again.subscribeCongratulations! You’re all set! read more

AD Quality Auto 360p 720p 1080p Top articles1/5READ MORE160Want local news?Sign up for the Localist and stay informed Something went wrong. Please try again.subscribeCongratulations! You’re all set! WHITTIER – Sheriff’s Bomb Squad members went to an empty lot in the 12000 block of Shoemaker Avenue in unincorporated Whittier on Tuesday night after the lot’s owner discovered 12 empty aircraft fuel tanks, deputies said. The owner discovered the tanks as he was preparing the property for construction. They were hidden by weeds that had grown over them. The owner thought they were military weapons and notified authorities, said Los Angeles County sheriff’s Deputy Ban Nguyen. The Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department Bomb Squad responded. The tanks were 12-foot-long and 30 inches in diameter and have a pointed front, said Detective Gary Spencer. “They have a military appearance,” Spencer said. “People look at them and think they’re bombs, but they are not a hazard.” Neither Spencer nor the lot’s owner had any idea how the tanks got onto the property. Hearing for bridge fire rescheduled WHITTIER – A preliminary hearing was rescheduled Wednesday for a transient accused of starting a fire that burned down the Beverly Boulevard bridge linking Pico Rivera and Montebello. Nelson Gastelum is accused of setting a fire under the bridge that spread to engulf the structure Nov. 1. Police believe Gastelum lighted the fire to keep warm. He has been charged with a felony count of recklessly causing the fire of a structure. Gastelum was ordered to return to court Dec. 19. He remains in custody at the Twin Towers jail. Arraignment set for slaying suspects NORWALK – An arraignment hearing was rescheduled Wednesday for two men charged in the shooting deaths of three men whose bodies were left inside a Mercedes-Benz in a parking lot in La Mirada. Cimarron Bell, 31, of Whittier and Briaell Lee, 23, of Los Angeles are charged in the deaths of 23-year-old Mario Larios and 22-year-old Edgar Valles, both of West Covina, and 25-year-old Fernando Pina of Mexico. Authorities allege the three were killed in Bell’s Whittier home and their bodies were wrapped in plastic sheets and abandoned in January 2004. Their arraignment was rescheduled to Jan. 20. Bell is also charged with shooting Ineka Edmonson of La Habra on Nov. 11, 2003, and leaving her body in her car at an industrial parking lot in La Mirada. Both men additionally are charged with the special circumstances of multiple murders, lying in wait and carrying out the murders intentionally for financial gain. 4 accused of rape appear in court NORWALK – Four defendants accused of raping a 13-year-old girl in a Pico Rivera park restroom this summer appeared in Norwalk Court on Wednesday and were ordered to return Dec. 22 to set a date for their preliminary hearing. Gilbert Anthony Viera, 19, of Whittier, Ricardo Gonzalez and Nathan Edward Red, both 16 of Pico Rivera, and Ruben Marquez Jr., 17, also of Pico Rivera are charged with 21 felony counts. The three juveniles are charged as adults. Arthritis resources at activity center LA MIRADA – The Arthritis Foundation will provide information about arthritis and how it can be managed at 3:30 p.m. today at the La Mirada Activity Center, 13810 La Mirada Blvd. For more information, call (562) 902-3160. From staff reports read more