Contest #384: Sanliurfa hippodrome, Turkey

This week was more of a challenge – with only 3 getting the full 2 points by finding the Sanliurfa hippodrome prior to the hint.

The hippodrome in Sanliurfa/Urfa is one of eight hippodromes around the country owned and operated by the Jockey Club of Turkey.

Horse racing is hugely popular in Turkey, second only to soccer. Races are run in one or more of its eight hippodromes every day, adding up to 617 racing days last year, with all of them broadcast live on two dedicated television channels, radio and online.

Those who found this Turkish Delight-ful spot before the hint:

  • Lighthouse
  • Garfield
  • Phil Ower

And those that ran with the horses and the hint:

  • Eloy Cano
  • Mehmet Durmus
  • Charley Seavey
  • Luís Filipe Miguel
  • Marcel
  • hhgygy
  • krenek
  • Walter_V_R
  • steve willis

Contest #383: Whitefriar Street Carmelite Church, Dublin, Ireland

Whitefriar Street Church is home to some of the relics of St. Valentine, the Roman Catholic saint commemorated every year on February 14th.

In 1836, an Irish priest from the church named John Spratt visited Rome and gave a series of sermons there. Pope Gregory XVI was so impressed with Fr. Spratt, that when it was time for him to return home, the Pope presented him with some of the remains of St. Valentine.

dublin+carmelite+iii                      white-friar

 

Those who dug up the bones were:

  • Eloy Cano
  • Garfield
  • hhgygy
  • Lighthouse
  • Walter_V_R
  • Paul Voestermans
  • mehmet durmus
  • steve willis
  • krenek
  • Phil Ower

and those who required a little bit of divine intercession (in the form of the hint):

  • Jesus Rodriguez
  • Chris Nason
  • Charley Seavey
  • rob de wolff

Contest #382: Filton Aerodrome, Bristol, UK

Filton-Airport
(Image Credit: 36echo.co.uk)

The Filton Aerodrome has a history that dates back to the first aircraft production facility in England at the beginning of World War I, includes major participation in World War II and the development of the British airline industry.

Filton is very important in the creation, maintenance, and eventual demise of the British side of the Concorde. The first British Concorde to fly left Filton on 9 April 1969, and the last Concorde to fly landed at Filton on 26 November 2003. It is this last plane (G-BOAF) which was the “white triangular object” from the hint.

G-BOAF
(Image Credit: Bristol Aerospace Centre)

The airport closed at the end of 2012, and the runway was broken up in January of 2013. The land has been sold to a development company who wants to turn it into a housing complex and aviation museum (which will house the G-BOAF Concorde).

Those who witnessed the flyover included:

  • Garfield
  • Paul Voestermans
  • Eloy Cano
  • rob de wolff
  • krenek
  • Phil Ower
  • Walter_V_R
  • Luís Filipe Miguel
  • steve willis
  • hhgygy
  • Lighthouse

And after that pesky hint:

  • Andy McConnell