H arlem Globetrotters player “Handles” Franklin.  THE HARLEM Globetrotters brought their airborne basketball exhibition tour to the Canaries for a second year last month. by James Tweedie The self-styled “ambassadors of goodwill” – now based in Arizona – entertained crowds in Gran Canaria and Tenerife. The knock-about show involves plenty of audience participation, and went down a treat with the children. The tour continued to mainland Spain and Lybia.

SHODDY defending by Club Deportivo Tenerife threw away an early 2-0 lead against Málaga to draw 2-2 at home on Saturday November 7. by James Tweedie The Canaries only top-flight team went ahead early in the first half thanks to goals from Román Martínez and Alfaro. But the home side seemed to lose all discipline in the excitement, and Málaga’s Edhino was handed a goal on a plate by Tenerife’s swiss cheese defence and butter-fingers goalkeeping by Sergio Aragoneses. Despite valiant attempts by Tenerife to mainatin their lead, Javi López equalised a quarter of an hour before time to give Málaga a much-needed point and at the bottom of the First Division table. Despite the evidence of the scoreboard, Tenerife’s Omar Ramos later said: “I believe we played better than Málaga.” The optimistic ‘canterano’ -meaning a recruit from the club’s youth training system - said:  “we started well, scoring two goals, but we were tied. We are not happy with the outcome.  “I...

The 15th Costa Isora Regatta and fifth J.P. Fulda Trophy set a new Canarian record of 147 young entrants over the Dia de Hispanidad holiday weekend. by James Tweedie The 15th Costa Isora Regatta, organized by Guia de Isora’s Municipal School of Nautical Sports and the Tenerife Sailing Federation off  the coastal village of Playa San Juan between 9 and 12 October, broke the participation record for competition in the ‘Laser’ sailing boat class set in1995 at Playa de Las Teresita near Santa Cruz de Tenerife.  J.P. Fulda trophy winner Paula Escuder of the Real Club Nautico and other champions (below) Some 147 boats entered the competition, 131 in the individual competition (Optimist A, B and C, Laser 4.7 and Laser Radial) and 16 in 29er and Snipe two-person crew classes.  The entrants came from the Radazul Sea Club, the Guía de Isora Sailing School, the Low Tide Yacht Club, Real Club Nautico de Tenerife and the Aeolus Sailing Club. The youthful sailors ranged...

Winners of the Live Arico dog show in Costa del Silencio Animal charity Live Arico’s Fun Dog Show at Coral Mar, Costa del Silencio on Sunday October 18 raised hundreds of Euros for homeless pets. by James Tweedie The charity hailed the event  as “a huge success,” with a mixture of Canarian and British competitors.  Live Arico director Sue Havenhand said: “The atmosphere was great, and the afternoon raised €430 for the poor doggies with no owners to show them off!. “Thanks to all who entered, and of course our judges, who did not have an easy job.”  The animal home is holding a launch party for its 2010 charity calendar on Saturday November 14 from 8pm at Bar 39 in Los Cristianos.

Dingo Dogs owner Phil Nelson at his since-demolished home. DOGS’ home owner Phil Nelson has vowed to take legal action following his eviction from his Dingo Dogs animal sanctuary in August. by James Tweedie Indian-born Mr Nelson, along with former girlfriend and Dingo Dogs treasurer Leigh Crouch were left homeless by the court-ordered eviction and have been sharing a small hut in the mountains near Las Chafiras with ten dogs and three cats ever since. Mr Nelson’s dispute with his former landlord began in September 2004, after he officially registered his rented hillside finca as an animal sanctuary.  It was a requirement of his registration that he keep proper financial records, including receipts for payment of rent. Mr Nelson says that despite having a rental contract and paying his rent “as regular as clockwork” for years, his landlord never gave him a receipt even after he began asking for one every month in 2004.  In May 2005, after his landlord ha...

CANARIAN ecologists Ben Magec - Ecologistas en Acción have condemned the Island´s hunters and authorities over the alleged mistreatment of hunting dogs. by James Tweedie The group claims to have received numerous calls and e-mails from concerned citizens about hounds being transported in overcrowded trailers or being left “lost and hungry” on the roads to be run down by cars. The group claims that these complainants are afraid to go to the authorities for fear of “reprisals.” The group is urging hunters, authorities and the tourists from Europe – who they say support trh hunting industry – to end what it called the “Third-World” treatment of hunting dogs. Spokeswoman Vicky Reyes point to articles 4.1 and 11.1 of the 1991 animal protection law, which oblige owners to keep their dogs in sanitary conditions, not to mistreat them and to register their animals are enforced. She called for greater regulation of the identification of dogs by means of implanted computer chips...