| Kiplagat leads hunt for crown
Some time around mid-afternoon today, theres likely to be another 40,000 or so people convinced of the impact of global warming. The 2007, and 27th, London Marathon promises to be the hottest on record - both meteorologically and metaphorically. The former will, of course, affect the latter, as the race organisers again attempt to assemble not only the biggest marathon field in the world, but also the best. But with the weather forecast for today promising an unseasonably hot 24 degrees, allied with 40 per cent humidity, even one of the best quality fields ever assembled may find it a little bit too steamy as they trace their way along the River Thames and attempt to add to the seven World records set in London since the race was first staged in 1981. And yet, with all that said, the womens race - which sets off in the cool of the morning at 9am local time, 45 minutes ahead of the elite men and the mass of humanity that comprises the bulk of the field - looks capable and likely to deliver one of the fastest, and most competitive, womens races seen outside an international championships.
Pa. won't reduce deer kill numbers
LANCASTER COUNTY, Pa - There will be no drop-off in the number of deer the Pennsylvania Game Commission wants killed across the state this fall and winter.
It wasn't unanimous, but the six-member board of the Pennsylvania Game Commission voted Wednesday essentially to maintain the length of buck- and doe-hunting seasons for 2007-8.
In addition, the number of antlerless deer permits to be sold statewide will increase slightly by 6,000 to 865,000.
The moves, by a series of 4-2 votes, come as many hunters and legislators clamor for the game agency to back off and not allow so many deer to be taken.
PGC president Thomas Boop warned that Wednesday's actions were "politically unwise," referring in part to the legislature's blocking of a license fee increase for the agency until changes are made in the controversial deer-management program.
Briton's money going further
And those visiting South Africa are getting the best currency deals compared with a year ago, a survey by the Post Office found. South Africa was one of 12 countries surveyed now having better currency rates for Britons than this time last year. A total of 16 countries were surveyed. A year ago, Britons could get around 10.5 South African rand to the pound. But this has now increased nearly 21% to 13.27 rand to the pound. Increase There have also been big increases in favour of British tourists in the value of the Turkish lira (now 13.45% more lira than a year ago), the United Arab Emirates dirham (up 11.51%) and the US dollar (up 10.81%). Of the countries surveyed only Poland, the Czech Republic, Thailand and Hungary offered poorer exchange rates for Britons this year than last. The dip in the value of the pound against some Eastern European countries comes at a time when more flights are being offered to these destinations.
Exclusive CV spreads its wings
CV Travel, renowned for holidays to exclusive villas and hotels in Europe and Morocco since 1972, has launched a long haul programme featuring some of the finest villas and hotels in the Caribbean, luxurious and opulent hotels in largely undiscovered Oman, and villas and boutique hotels in South Africa's western cape and in Cape Town.
The sumptuous 88 page CV Travel faraway brochure also includes exclusive safaris to distinctive private game lodges.
Managing Director Debbie Marshall said “This is a significant new departure for CV Travel in this, our 35th year of business. The introduction of our dedicated Morocco brochure in 2005 and the acquisition of Ski Verbier enabled us to offer our clientele year-round holiday choices, and we have expanded this considerably for 2007 with the launch of our new long haul programme".
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