For the 5th year, Saint Petersburg will be hosting ECAHO affiliated (C-category) Arabian horse show: “Saint Petersburg Open”. The show will be held within most significant equestrian event in the history of modern Russia – “All-Russian Equestrian Games” and will take place on 30th April – 1st May 2008. Last year, the Games were vastly popular with the national horse community, as well numerous international guests, totaling number of visitors to over 40 000.
In the past, Saint Petersburg show always attracted best representatives of Arabian breed from major Russian state studs, as well as private breeders. The Organizing Committee and Russian breeders hope to meet their Polish colleagues and their horses on the 2008 event. Firstly, this can provide an excellent opportunity to compete, and define best horses for the titles. Secondly, this can become a meeting point for breeders of both countries to exchange ideas, find ways of possible cooperation etc. The closing date of entries is 10 April 2008.
Traveling with horses to Russia very often associates with all sorts of extremes, including complicated paperwork, bad roads and corrupt customs officers. As the Organizing Committee says, all of these is left in the past. However the organizers give travelers some advice. Following from the past experience, many foreign participants find that entering Russia via Finland is the most convenient route. This would most probably involve ferry crossing across the Baltic Sea to Helsinki. From Helsinki to the final destination – Saint Petersburg – it is approximately 360 km, which should not take longer than 5 hours.
From Helsinki to Finish-Russian border is 160 km. From the Finish side the custom office is called Vaalima, on the Russian side – Torfyanovka. In Torfyanovka, there will be a Russian customs broker constantly present, provided by the event organizers that can help in case any problems arise.
If somebody decides to travel following different route, should inform the organizers in advance, in order to provide some assistance on border-crossing.
It is important to remember that all non-Russian citizens, entering the country must receive entry visa prior the departure, in the nearest Russian Consulate. The easiest way to obtain entry visa invitation is to contact the show’s official travel agent “HELEN TOURS”.
Venue:
“Saint Petersburg Sport and Concert Complex” (SKK)
Prospekt Gagarina 8
Saint Petersburg
Customs broker
Ksenia Vorobieva – English and Russian speaker
Tel: +7 911 926 71 20
E-mail: [email protected]
“HELEN TOURS” travel company
Evgenia – English and Russian speaker
Tel: +7 812 575 77 89 (office)
+7 921 929 50 80 (mobile)
E-mail: [email protected]
Ilya – English and Russian speaker
Tel: +7 812 950 2474
Organizing committee:
Igor Bochkarev – English and Russian
Tel: +7 985 991 81 35;
Fax: + 7 985 268 59 22;
E-mail: [email protected]
