Post 1.425 on Wednesday May 31,
last day of a pretty wet spring here and start of the meteorological SUMMER.

It’s a TOO busy time to follow all comps as there are just TOO MANY!!!
BUT,…no worries when you are interested you can find them all on www.soaringspot.com . They show the daily and overall scores and when you are lucky they have a link under news, to FB, so you see pictures and a story as well.
I concentrate on the above Nationals.
But…..please check also the German junior NATIONALS [ 27 May 2023 – 10 June 2023 at Aalen-Heidenheim/Elchingen ] with 68 “future WGC pilots.”

—–Some flights are just fun to follow and there is an extra place here for them as well.
Here is one from Peter Millenaar, who got to know Martti, borrowed his glider [JS1c TJ/21m.] and flew over 1000 km from Rayskala. Most interesting was that he was just on duty and had a day left to relax;
“First of all: Martti Koivula, thank you so much for letting me fly your amazing weapon of mass enjoyment! What a beast!
I had the privilege of flying to Turku for a weekend stop with my airline (ASL Airlines Belgium – FedEx feeder). Very lucky with the weather on this day as well. The first 100km or so was a bit tricky now and then. The second and third leg were absolutely amazing. Stunning conditions with thermal strengths of 4-6,5m/s. Declared task of 824km completed at 121,3km/h .
I believe 1100+ would have easily been possible by taking off 15-30 minutes earlier and continuing till 8pm.What a day… I love Finland. Martti, thanks again!”
https://www.weglide.org/flight/266176

UK NATIONALS 2023 in STANDARD , 15m and OPEN at LASHAM.
27 May 2023 – 4 June 2023

Dutch glider pilot Mark Wering flew the Nationals at Terlet, but before he left for the UK again I gave him my best wishes for my Lasham mates, specially, Roy and Alix, Patrick, David and Sandra.
There are 3 classes and they started on
May 27 with TASK 1;
Standard; 198.78 km….NOBODY finished but 7 pilots flew over 174 km after a late start after 3PM.
Daily best; Tom Arscott in LS 8.
21 Pilots in this class including Jane, Fran and Alison.
15 m; 203.55 km….Also in this class NO finishers but 2 over 175 km.
Daily best; Owen McCormack in Ventus 2a
22 pilots on this class among them Ayala and Liz and former WGC champion Leigh Wells.
open/18m; 200 km....31 started and 13 finished.
Daily best ; “good old” Russell Cheetham; 83.87 km./h. in JS 1C. More well known pilots in this class; Andy Davis, Steve Jones and Pete Harvey .

Day 28 with task 2;
Standard; 3 hour AAT…. with 320 km and a speed of 105.35 km./h. Jez Hood was the daily best.
10 finished, some were penalized and some flew nearly 300 k but could not finish.
15 m; 3 hour AAT.….Chris Starkey “got” the 1000 points for a distance of 326.68 km. in time 3.10, speed 103.05 km./h.
20 Started and 18 were “in”.
Open/18m; 3 hour AAT….Russell was the winner AGAIN. 348.91 km in time 3.04. speed 113.50 km./h. for 993 points.
Andy was runner up .
31 started and 28 finished quite a lot were penalized ;Exceeding maximum start height, mostly  in the 2 minutes prior to starting .

May 29; Task 3;
Standard; 205.04 km...changed to 170.13/153.06 km.….and for most that was still too much. Tom was over 170.13 km., 5k faster than the runner up; 71.43 km./h.
19 started and only 7 finished. The distance on the scoring was 170.13 km and Howard was the first to be “out” ; he flew 170.04 km and missed out on 29 points!!!!
15m; 209.75 km...changed in 157.77/ 173.67 km; Chris was nearly 10 k faster than the runner up; with a start at 15.16 he flew the 173.67 km task with 81.05 km./h. 2d Successive win.
20 started and 12 were “in”.
open/18m; 279.72 km....changed in 179.49/ 192.57 km.; Tim Jenkinson [JS 1c] was already on spot 3 and 2 now on 1. He flew the 192.57 km with a speed of 86.93 km./h.
30 Started and only 7 were in. “Poor” Russell was out after 140 km and Pete after 179.42 km.

May 30; task 4. NO finishers….66 pilots “out”.
Standard ; 181.91 km..…B task 151.35 km...NO FINISHERS!!!! So all 19 pilots in this class…OUT. One…., Jez, flew over 100 km. for 188 points.
15 m; 201.91 km…B task 150.22 km...Also in 15 m ONE pilot over 100 km; Gary Stingemore in As 33ES, for 31 points. 19 started and nobody finished.
open/18m; 238,33 km. …B task ..175.19 km…28 started and zero finished. 4 Pilots flew over 100 km. Best was Kenneth Barker in the JS-MD 1C;116 km. for 53 points.

May 31; task 5…TODAY. Still not “flashing” weather!
Standard; 153.78 km...15m; 152.56 km...open/18m; 181.67 km...

After 4 tasks the overall scores look like this;
Standard; 1. Jez Hood in LS 8 with 2,374 points. 2. Tim Fletcher in LS 7 WL with 2,231 p.
15 m; 1. Leigh Wells in JS 3 AND Tim Scott in ASG 29 both 2,121 points.3. Philip Jones; 2,116 p.
open/18m; 1. Andrew Davis in JS MD 1C with 2,423 points. 2. Tim Jenkinson in JS1c with 2,417 p.

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The French Nationals [general and women] in STANDARD and 15 m class 2 seaters
Bailleau Armenonville …. 27 May 2023 – 3 June 2023

As the UK Nationals , the French Nationals are important because both countries have big delegations of pilots at ECG’s and WCG’s. Let’s see what they do?
After 1 practice day they started on
May 28; task 1.
Standard/15 m…181.29 km...with 38 pilots and the daily best was Max Seiss in Discus 2A [handicap 111] with 84.37 km./h. Christophe Abadie in his JS 3 was a tad faster but his handicap is 115….so runner up.
5 Pilots went “aux vaches” !
2-seaters; 180.70 km....16 teams, 3HC ; 2 from Belgium and 1 from Germany . Only 2 pilots flew the task and ALL started after 4 PM. Francis Svobodny in the ARCUS M won the day; 74 km./h.
4 flew over 170 km.

May 29; task 2
Standard/15m;163.11 km..…CANCELLED.
2-Seaters; 159.56 km….CANCELLED.

May 30; task 3
Standard/15 m; 140.79 km….33 pilots started and NOBODY finished. Best was Jean-Denis Barrois in LS 8 with 136.70 km. CLOSE!!!! Only 89 points for this daily winner. Not a lot points lost or won.
14 pilots flew over 100 km.
2-seaters; 156.09 km…..Pieraerts & Stouffs [ARCUS T] FINISHED!!! Daily winners for 51 points. BUT, they fly as Belgian pilots HC. So Eric Napoléon was the number 1;45 daily points, also in ARCUS T.

For today May 31 they have 177.21 and 174.82 km on the menu.

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Belgian Nationals 2023
Kiewit Hasselt 27 May 2023 – 4 June 2023

May 27 task 1.
Club class ;152.84 km.….10 pilots started and 7 finished. Daily best; Robin Selfslagh in LS1f; 62.79 km./h.
Sport class; 191.11 km.…8 started and 7 finished, Daily winner; Daan Spruyt in Ventus 2ax, Daan is a WGC pilot so 81 km./h is slow for him but for sure the best on that day.
Open/18 m; 230km.…Lot’s of my Keiheuvel friends fly in this class and they were with 4 in the top each in a VENTUS 3. Tijl and Bert Schmelzer jr, Wim Akkermans and Dennis Huybreckx started together at 14.41 and finished within 5 minutes from each other.
Tijl won the day; 76.47 km./h Brother Bert had 76.10 km./h
From 12 , 2 pilots were out.

May 28; task 2.
Club; 164.52 km.…Ward Gysemans also from the Keiheuvel in his DG 400 was the daily best; 90.62 km./h which was 5 k faster than the runner up in LS 4.
from 10, 7 finished.
Sport class; 206.41 km....Daily winner Jef Kell in LS 8 ; 90.92 km./h.
9 started and finished. Starts just after 2PM.
Open/18m; 253.44 km….Wim started 13 minutes behind the Schmelzer brothers and won the day; 108.72 km./h.
12 started and finished. Dad Schmelzer was last for the day but finished!!!![94.37 km./h]

May 29 ; task 3.
Club; 1.45 AAT....10 started…10 finished, always good to see. 2d daily win for Robin; 111.84 km speed 61.98 km./h. over Third successive runner-up-spot for Thomas de Bruyn in LS 4.
Sport; 2 hour AAT.…2d successive win for Daan;170.54 km ,speed 79.16 km./h.
8 started and finished.
open/18m; 2 hour AAT...12 started and 1 was out. Bert and Tijl started together again at 15.03. Bert jr.won with 1 km/h. difference; 85.64 km./h/84.90 km./h.

May 30; task 4.
club; 193.56 km….HE DID IT!!!!! After 3 2d places he was number 1 today!!!!! Thomas in his LS 4;64.79 km./h was his speed for 550 points.
10 started and 6 finished. Troublesome day for Robin who was out after 12 km. A pity after 2 daily wins.
Sport; 255.23 km.…3d winning day for Daan!!76.43 km./h.
10 started and 8 finished.
open/18m; 304.14 km.…Koen Vanderputten in the Ventus 2CT was the daily best; 87.41 km./h.
12 started and 11 finished.

May 31; task 5. TODAY!!!!
Club; 261.27 km…..combi; 324.07 km….open/18m;367.29 km…

More on Sunday after they finished the comps.
After 4 days the OVERALL scores are:
Club; 1. Thomas De Bruyn in LS 4 with 1,876 points. 2.  Ward Gysemans in DG 400 1,790 p.
sport; 1. Daan Spruyt in Ventus 2ax with 2,337 p. 2. Bart Leysen in Ventus 2a 2,202 p.
open/18m; 1. Bert Schmelzer in Ventus 3 with 2,139 p. 2. Tijl Schmelzer in Ventus 3 with 2,128 p and 3.Wim Akkermans in Ventus 3 with 2,123 p.
Close scores…exciting…..Still 4 days to go!!!!

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LAST BUT FOR SURE NOT LEAST:
Suzanne Moffatt wife from George passed away. Met her a long ago in Angers. What a lovely lady she was !!!!! Great pilot herself as well. But later she liked crewing for George even better;
“Suzanne Moffat (a Gold C glider pilot herself gave up her soaring career): 50 years of crewing (mostly for her husband George) in 5 World Championships, 2 Smirnoff Transcontinental Races, numerous national and regional contests.” from Aug. 2002 newsletter, the WSPA (Women’s Soaring Pilot Association)“
R.I.P. Suzy

CU soon again somewhere this weekend, with the final results from these comps.
I guess Sunday evening.
P/S; Mind you from June 9 till 17 we will be on our annual high school holiday. There will be NO BLOG!!!!

AND…in that great Nordic Gliding Magazine from Jens Trabolt , you can read all about the Danish Nationals with pictures;
Nordic Gliding & aviation magazine

Post 1.423 on Sunday evening May 28 2023

Dutch Nationals
16 May 2023 – 27 May 2023

Wednesday; May 24.Task 7 on competition day 6/7 with a busy morning; Briefing at 10.15, box at 11.30 and first launches at 12.
Club; 182.16 km...changed in 114.09 km….And with the reduced distance all 9 pilots finished. Like task 1 Thies Bruins was the daily winner ;73.82 km./h. for 307 points. Robin was runner up in his LS 4 neoX.
Combi; 199.03 km...137.16 was the reduced task and all 14 started and finished though Robbie {Seton} missed his TP and was out after 72 km. The ARCUS T from Rien and Marco won the day and Erik and Joos were runner up; 99.83 km./h and 93.55 km./h.
One of the ZES pilots Willem Dortu, son of Willem sr.[R.I.P.] who flew with me with the ZES in 1967, was 3d in the ARCUS T.
open/18 m; 232.30 km.….After first a B task, a C task was set for the day; 159.26 km. Not only the big ones, the EB from Menno Sappe and the Nimbus 4 from Ronald Termaat had a good speed 86 km./h. ,but also the ASG 29es from Steven [Raimond] , was fast with 89 km./h…… but he was 1 of the 5 finishers with just too low finish height.
Only 12 finished and 10 were out or “motored home”.

Thursday May 25; task 8 looking at great tasks and blue skies with white fluffy clouds. NOT in the SE ,we have overcast.
Club; 4 hour AAT..pfff...a busy/long day in the office for the 9 pilots. BUT most of them are still young!! During briefing there was an item about the Dutch Juniors and in the evening there was a get-together with the juniors.
AND ,…THEY FLEW. Robin was the daily best with 383.28 km with a speed of 88 km./h. and 1000 points in the pocket. Jeroen was runner up with 984 points.
All 9 started and finished!!!
Combi; 3.30 AAT....332.54 km for Erik and Joost [ARCUS T] with 95 km./h and compliments again to Annemiek and Sikko for their runner up spot in the Duo Discus; 325 km speed 90.53 km./h.
14 started and 3 were out.
18m.open; 3.30 AAT...A real good day for Jeroen with 395 km in time 3.47. Speed was 104 km./h. Also young Nick [Hanenberg WORLD champion in 13.5 m in 2022 in Lithuania in Pocuinai. ] flew over 100 km./h and was runner up in his ASG 29E.
All 22 started ,1 was out and those who finished all flew over 300 km.

Friday; May 26…. penultimate day….
Task 9;
Club; 3 hour AAT….a pretty good day with 9 starters but still 2 “out”. Roelof Corporaal from the Gelderse, so a local pilot, won the day with 271 km. and 90.22 km./h.
Wiek [Schoenmakers] in his LS 3 was runner up and he is the one and only “rookie”, first time ever Dutch Nationals.
Combi; 2.30 AAT….Another good performance from Sikko and Annemiek in the Duo Discus winning the day with 241 km with 91.31 km./h. They are runner up behind Eric and Joost , so podium candidates.
11 From 14 finished
open/18m; 2.30 AAT….Victor Wetzinga in his JS 3 won the day. A local pilot as well. Hadriaan and Jeroen were in the top 5 so still on course to the podium.

Task 10; Final day and 8/9 tasks during this National Championship, so a great result…pretty good soaring weather. Small tasks as it started late,…and …..I WAS THERE!!!!
Launches started at 1.30; WARM day, over 25 at places.
club; 154.75 km. it was “all” between Thies, Jeroen and Robin….nailbiting for some! Lars van Breemen won the day. Thies was runner up and got enough points [396] to pass Jeroen to be the new club class CHAMPION.
Jeroen was last for the day and only “got” 193 points, BUT he still had enough points to be runner up. Robin was 5th but stayed on spot 3 overall.
PURE ENJOYMENT and tension on the very last day!!!
The Dutch CLUB CLASS HEROES!!!!!
1. Thies Bruins in ASW 20 with 5,610 points and CHAMPION!!!
2. Jeroen van Dijk in LS 3WL with 5.555 p.
3. Robin Smit in LS 4 neoX with 5,374 p, just enough for spot 3 as
4. Wiek Schoenmakers the “rookie” in his LS 3 had 5,362 p. [He was 4th with 377 p. on the last day.
Good on ALL OF THEM!!!!

THE CLUB CLASS WINNERS by Willemijn;

Combi; 169.76 km….14 started and 2 “motored home”. Daily winner Niels van Nieuwland in the LS 8. But the “fight for the topspot” was between, Erik and Joost, Sikko and Annemiek and Robbie.
How was their last day.
Well,…Erik and Joost were runner up and SURE OF THE TITLE. Sikko and Annemiek were 4th , so good to stay on 2. Then there was Robbie, one of my Husbos juniors in 2005.
He was LAST!!! But in for 257 points.
2 were out.
No secret that Erik and Joost won with quite a big margin.
1. Borgmann & Wolff in ARCUS T with 5,575 points.
2. Vermeer & Koers in Duo Discus with 5,135 p.
3. Robbie Seton in LS 8 with 4,633 p. He hold on!!!!
Great performance as well from Belgian guest Tom Conings in LS 8 on spot 4 with 4. 574 p., ,just ahead of my ZES mate Willem Dortu; 4,562 p. in Arcus T.
The combi winners;

Open/18 m; 182.03 km….all 22 started and 20 finished. Daily best Sjoerd van Empelen with 89.69 km./h. The top 3 overall was; Hadriaan, Jeroen and Jelmer and it stayed like that. They were 2,5 and 9!!
1. Hadriaan van Nes in JS 1btj with 5,754 points.
2. Jeroen Verkuijl in MD JS3 with 5,541 p.
3. Jelmer Vis in Ventus 3T with 5,295 p.

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Danish Nationals
18 May 2023 – 28 May 2023

They continued on Wednesday May 24; with a cool ,crisp morning after 2 non-flying days.
Task 5;
Club; 2.30 AAT.….228.12 km was flown by Rasmus in time 2.53; speed 78.87 km./h the daily BEST. 7 From 13 starters finished. Like in Holland , a tough day.
Standard; 2.30 AAT.…Filip Bojanowski, I missed his name till now in the top 3, was the daily winner in his Discus 2B. Speed 76.74 km./h over 219.88 km. Lasse in the LS 8 was runner up;212.66 km with 75.37 km./h.
8 Started and 7 were in.
15 m; 2.30 AAT...10 started and only 3 were in AND,...Henrik won; 222.58 km with 72.76 km./h.
I got to know Henrik at many comps and he is one of those pilots you just follow. Same with Jan Andersen.[ASW 20]Very kind guy’s.
18 m; 3 hour AAT….16 started and 9 were IN. Arne was the daily best; 302.54 km with 83.95 km./h. Except for 1 they all flew over 100 km./h. Stig and Peter both were out after 216.71 km and 105 km.
2 seaters; 3 hour AAT….9 started and just 3 finished .The Duo Discus XLT with call sign HD was the best with 261.93 km; speed 71.38 km./h
Runner up was the ARCUS T with call sign BA; 261.78 km ;speed 67.93 km./h.

Thursday May 25; Task 6….180 people have applied for the final-party- evening. GOOD!!!!!
Club; 146.46 km.... cancelled.
Standard; 156.59 km.…8 started and 3 finished best result for Lasse; 53.54 km./h for 189 points.
15m; 156.59 km...9 started and 3 finished .Henrik was one of them. Runner up for 159 points. Daily winner Poul Kim Larsen; 54.38 km./h. for 168 points.
18m/open; 163.31 km…15 started and 11 finished, that’s more like it. Jens [Pedersen] won the day in the Ventus 3;64.78 km./h Arne was runner up; 61.72 km./h and Stig was in [6th] with 58.32 km./h.
2-seaters; 163.31 km..8 started and 4 finished. 62.23 km./ h was the fastest time for Jørgensen & Andersen in the ARCUS T. They moved from 5 to 3 overall.

FRIDAY could be a BOOMING DAY!!! Briefing was mentioned for 9.30 and gridding before!!!!!! I had that once in Rayskala at the Europeans and MANY flew a 1000 that day. Scandinavia has such days!!!
Club; 460.84 km….quite a few kilometers for the “little birds”. Rasmus won the day; 82.70 km. And Jan was runner up, loosing 99 daily points.
14 started, 19 finished!!! Starts before 12.
Standard; 490.77 km…8 started and 5 finished and Lasse was the best!!!1000 points….consolidating his first spot overall.
15 m; 490.77 km.…Poul Kim Larsen” got ” the 1000 points for a speed of 81.82 km./h. .Henrik was runner up
10 started and 7 finished.
18m/open; 523.99 km.…Arne and his mates had to “work” for their titles. Arne won…AGAIN…
16 started and 10 finished. Jan and Jan, Jan Jørgensen and Jan Hald are on 2 and 3 overall with 2 days to go.
2-seaters; 523.99 km…and a group of mixed pilots flew the Duo Discus to a daily top 1 position .

Saturday had a task for club 183 km. but it was not flown and NO TASK for the rest, so a “day off before the last day.

Sunday May 28 VERY LAST DAY!!!!
Club; 304.15 km ….Jan was the Man. He won ,….. such a pity he was out on task 5. All other days he was in the top 5. Rasmus was 5th but NO WORRIES for his top spot.
NATIONAL CHAMPION after 8 out of 11 days;
1.Rasmus Ørskov in ASW 20F with 5,196 points.
2. Steen Elmgaard in ASW 20WL with 4.922 p.
3. Felipe Cvitanich in Discus CS with 4,830 p.
Jan was 5th.

Standard; 334.64 km…Thorsten Mauritsen won the last day; 95.86 km./h. Filip and Lasse both had 92 km./h. 7 Pilots started and finished.
Final result in this class after 8 out of 11 days;
1.Lasse Edslev in LS 8 with 5,457 points.
2. Thorsten Mauritsen in Discus 2T with 5,288 p.
3. Mathias Valentin in LS 8 with 5,153 p.

15 m; 334.64 km….Good on Henrik in his JS 3 ,he won the day; 95.92 km./h. Paul Kim was runner up which meant that is the new CHAMPION.
10 started only 1 out.
Overall result and the new CHAMPION;
1. Poul Kim Larsen in Ventus 2CT with 5,498 points.
2. Henrik Breidahl in JS 3 with 5,477 p.
3. Morten Hugo Bennick in Ventus 2CT with 4,837 p.

CONGRATULATIONS to ALL winners, runner ups and ALL other pilots for flying so well and so many days.

18m/open; 325.45 km....Peter Eriksen, till now not so lucky with his flights, won the last day in the AS 33es. Jan Hald was runner up and Stig was spot 4 with Arne on 5. No 1000 points in this class;102 km/h was the best speed by Erik. Only 1 out.
OVERALL champion in 18m.
1. Arne Boye Møller in JS 3jet with 5,245 points a CLEAR WINNER.
2. Jan Hald in Ventus 3T with 4,812 p.
3. Jan Jørgensen in ASG 29es with 4,773 p.

2-seaters; 325.45 km....best speed 99 km./h for 1000 points. Overall winners;
1. Jørgensen & Andersen in ARCUS T with 5,426 points. CLEAR winners and CHAMPIONS!!!!
2. Døssing & Knudsen in ARCUS T with 4,693 p.
3. Sørensen & Sørensen in ARCUS T with 4,594 p.

A lot of days in Denmark, great results and I am sure a fine competition.

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On Friday morning I left early for Amsterdam and with Inge and her daughter Indya we drove on Saturday to Terlet. More in the other blog ;a 1-day-diary on Terlet.

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The UK Nationals [27 May 2023 – 4 June 2023] have started yesterday in Standard, 15m and Open Class ! 75+ gliders entered! They fly from Lasham.
More on Wednesday.

More on Wednesday.
Cheers Ritz

EXTRA post; 1.424 on Sunday May 28 2023.

It’s wonderful to have been at a gliding field again and even more WONDERFUL to catch up with so many “old” and new friends.
On Saturday morning at a decent time 11 AM, Inge, my daughter and Indya,my grand daughter left for Terlet. The launches were set for 1 o’clock and we could easily make that. Indya had to be there as it was her afternoon to be on the winch.
A long ,long time Mate Houtje[ Erik Houtman] was with her and they had a good afternoon I heard later.
Before, we had time to visit the pilots at the field as the launches were delayed to 1.30.
Granddad George , the oldest participating pilot,..in the past he always was in EVERYTHING, the youngest… with Indya.

Time to check in with several friends, a lot of them have been in my team , there where I was allowed to help/support them as their TC.
Steven and his faithful crew for all his life, were one of the first to hug. Both retired a few weeks ago as stewardess/purser and captain by KLM and have time to do whatever they want to do now and love it.
This picture is specially for Art Grant, as he likes both of them very much.

Inge caught up with her Transavia mates; Bart, I believe in operations and Max another captain at Transavia.

Longtime friends as Erik and Joyce and Joost and Marlous were in good mood as they ALWAYS are. Joyce and Erik once organized a fabulous surprise party at their farm for my 50thiest birthday. A real surprise and a lot of the party friends there are still at the field now.

It turned out to be a good day with specially in club class stress to find out who would be the National Champion.[see other blog]
In between the organization was preparing for the prize giving and crews and pilots were cleaning gliders and putting them back in the trailers ,we were having drinks with a full terrace, great sunshine and lot’s of kisses and hugs.
We had a meal with friends and then there was the prize giving at 8 PM.

They were VERY GRATEFUL for all the organizers. Rik and his team did a sterling job ,which we could hear by the long applause. Some nice little facts;
1. NOBODY, not ONE pilot, got a penalty for an airspace infringement and that is TOP!!!!
2. 99.110 km total flown kilometers.
3. 8/9 days out of 10
4. more than 1000 TP’s have been rounded
5. 607 PEV’s.

With so many days, 9 for club and 8 for the combi and open/18m class more points were given than many other national competition.
All in all a TOP day, with and exciting finish as 8 police cars arrived on the parking spot and a police helicopter low above our terrace. As far as I heard,…..The police chased a car, [drove 180 km] stopped it but the “guy” ran away close to the Thermiekbel.
A bit of wild west but the police did a great job.

All in all a lovely weekend with my family and friends.
AND a fabulous NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP.
The next blog is the regular one with all the news and updates from the Danish and Dutch Nationals.
Till next year, and next stop KEIHEUVEL.
Cheers Ritz

Post 1.422 on Wednesday May 24 2023.

Last Sunday I published an extra blog…… otherwise they really get TOO long.
{When you scroll down you find the last news on the final days of the HAHNWEIDE.}
That day only 2 classes flew in the Dutch Nationals, due to forecasted heavy local thunderstorms with huge rain, lightning and thunder, hail and gusting wind. Code yellow! A too short window to launch all classes.

Dutch Nationals at TERLET
16 May 2023 – 27 May 2023

May 21 : task 4 on day 4.
Club class; 129.06 km…..In the end it turned out to be a VALID day in this class with a winner , Wiek Schoenmakers, in his LS 3; 56.13 km./h!!!!!
4 from 9 finished. Robin was out, but Jeroen was in and overall on spot 1 now. Robin dropped to 5.
Combi class; 143.13 km.…2 from 14 finished. Good on them, but not enough to make it a valid day. Daily toppers/finishers with a speed from 49 and 48 km./h ; The Arcus T with Rien Bastiaanse and Marco Vermeer and the Duo Discus from Annemiek Koers and Sikko Vermeer [no family from Marco]
In the end there were storms , very locally, but we were lucky here…nothing happened.
Open/18m; NO TASK.

May 22; no flying. Still some thunderstorms “hanging around”!

May 23; Task 6 on competition day 5/4. Still not a real flash day, but for sure better in the afternoon.
Club; 182.59 km....with 93 km./h Jeroen in his LS3WL was the best for the day. All 9 started and 1 was out after 171 km. A pity.
combi; 199.26 km…96.86 km is pretty slow for that beautiful ARCUS, but they got the best out of the task and weather…..They?? Yes Erik and Joost. They won on every VALID day.
open/18m;258.42 km....Jelmer Vis won the day; 113.73 km./h in his Ventus 3T. Jelmer is a former junior, STILL VERY YOUNG and talented. He had a rather late start at 14.50
The for a longer time successful pilots in comps, Jeroen and Hadriaan ,were on 2 and 3 [112.30 and 109.09 km./h]
“Bugger day “for Sjoerd, after 189 km. he was out, dropping from 2 to 10 overall….Indeed “bugger”!!!
21 from 22 finished.

May 24; Task 7 on competition day 6/7 with a busy morning; Briefing at 10.15, box at 11.30 and first launches at 12.
Club; 182.16 km...
Combi; 199.03 km...
open/18 m; 232.30 km.….

More when I am back from Terlet.

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Danish Nationals 2023 at ARNBORG.
18 May 2023 – 28 May 2023

They started already last Thursday and in 5 classes they had straight away 4 tasks !!!! In wet and rainy Europe …pretty good. But a bit more N the weather is better.
A few well known pilots in the several classes.

Club class; 14 participants and the 4 tasks were between 182 km and 283 km and former club-WGC-champion in Poland [2018 Ostrow] Rasmus Orskov won 3 of them in his ASW 20F. Jan Walther Andersen won day 1 and was 2x runner up.
Standard class; with 15 pilots and on the first 4 days tasks between 176 and 372 km .
Thorsten Mauritsen won task 1 and 4 but Lasse Edslev is overall after 4 days 39 points above him.
15 m class; with 10 pilots among them Henrik Breidahl [JS 3] had 4 tasks between 176 km and 372 like standard class. Henrik won task 1 was runner up on task 2 ,1 day later number 3 and on day 4 7th.After 4 days he is 2d behind Poul Kim Larsen who won task 3 and 4.
18m class; with 16 participants among them Arne Boye Moeller, Stig Oye and Peter Eriksen..Their 4 tasks were a bit bigger; between 174.80 and 379.44 km. Arne won 3 days in a row but on task 4 he was 10th, BUT the last from 16 to finish. He still leads with 101 points after those 4 tasks.
2-seater class; 9 teams fly and their tasks were about the same as 18m. Their last day had only 2 finishers a Duo Discus and an ARCUS T . Must have been a difficult day for for all classes.

On May 22 last Monday, they had no task.
Same, same on May 23.
BUT,….

On May 24, today, they fly on a crisp cool morning with “hope”
“The last two days’ battle between fronts has moved a good distance to the east – so rumor has it that a little flying can be done today – maybe a little more.” the organizers.
Club; 2.30 AAT.….
Standard; 2.30 AAT.…
15 m; 2.30 AAT...
18m; 3 hour AAT….
2 seaters; 3 hour AAT….
More when I am back from Terlet.

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—–Got a news Flash from Jonker Sailplanes about the great results from their gliders during the Hahnweide Competition.
“The 55th international Hahnweide competition is just done and dusted. Dusted is maybe not the correct word to use as there was a lot of moisture funneled in by low-pressure systems from Italy dominating the European weather conditions.
The task setters did an amazing job with the given weather situation and squeezed out the maximum possible tasks and really challenged the pilots every day. 
This was the first big competition where the JS3 RES participated and did so with great success. Despite the very, very weak conditions experienced throughout every task it seemed that Peter Millenaar (Netherland) and his JS3 RES had no problems dealing with the problems at hand. Peter flew most of the days with 2 batteries installed (50 kg of batteries on board) but also selected to fly in the sustainer configuration (only 1 battery 25 kg), when the forecast predicted very poor climb rates.
Winning 3 of the 4 days at the end Peter secured the gold medal in front of Jürg Haas (CH) and Andrew Davis (GB). The first 6 places in 18-meter class were taken by five JS3 and one JS1 glider. “

—–Interesting tows are always SUPER to see. Like this one. I know you can “hang” more gliders behind a tug but in the past in our SPORTAVIA time with Eddie and Don, “we towed” 3 Blaniks behind the Scout. Somewhere I must have pictures too, but where????

Talking about “tows”!!! What about this one, the ETA with Keith and Uli at the Hahnweide on the 2d and for them last flying day.

Cu soon again ,not sure when ,as I will travel to Amsterdam on Friday and spend Saturday at Terlet . Sunday back home!
Cheers Ritz.

Post 1.421 on Sunday May 21 2023.

High season for comps, so I will write and publish a few more posts to make them not too long and for that reason “boring”.

55TH INTERNATIONAL HAHNWEIDE COMPETITION
13 May 2023 – 20 May 2023

I told you already that the weather was improving and yes it did. The F1 in Italy was cancelled due to heavy rain , land slides and flooding ,with already 14 casualties, TOO SAD for words.
This part of Europe was better and our soaring mates had a good day.
Good is maybe a bit over done, but they FLEW and in all 5 classes!!!!
Big tasks but not flown by all. Here is the story about Wednesday May 17:
Task 2 on competition day 5.
Standard class; Task 2 4.30 AAT..…As more and more happens during comps, team mates fly together for a better result…together we are strong… NOTHING WRONG WITH THAT. But,…when something goes wrong, it can go wrong for all.
The UK pilots and the French pilots in this class fly as teams. Result ;The UK pilots were on spot 1-2 and 5 and the French 3-4 and 6.
Tom [Arscott] had another daily win , on task 1 for 86 points, now the full 1000. He flew in his LS 8 393.24 km. in time 5.02; speed 77.97 km./h. that meant “fighting”.
From 20 ,10 finished the other 10 were “out”.
Adam was one of them ,[18th] his story is on Adam Woolley’s Gliding Adventures. He started well “Was having a cracking day too, 120kph to here.”, but had to land out .
15 m class; Task 2 4.30 AAT….Same procedure as in St Class. This time Tim [Scott] won his 2d day and team mate Derren [Francis] was on 3. To the 96 points from task1, now 1000 were added for Tim. He flew, to get them, a distance of 377 km with a speed of 82 km./h.
Christophe [Abadie } in JS 3, was runner up. From 4 to 7 it was all red white and blue; Kevin Faur in JS 3, Max Seiss in Ventus 2A, Julien Duboc in Ventus 2 and Guillaume Ottolini [he is from Angers where we spend many summers to fly the Huit Jours d’ Angers]
16 Started 10 were “in”.
18m class; Task 2…. 4.30 AAT...Jurg Haas from Switzerland who flew in the past in Tocumwal in the glider from “Swiss Chris” ,was the daily winner with 437 km. Speed 91 km./h. He started in his JS 3 relatively late at 13.32. Many flew over 5 hours.
From 30 only 13 were “in”.
open class; Task 1 , 4 hour, later reduced to 3.5 hour AAT….due to  delays in the start procedures .
Several EB’s and ETA’s in this class, so great performing gliders. Still from 12, 6 were “out”.
386 km for Dutch pilot Francois Jeremiasse in time 349, speed 101 km./h. From ALL classes he was the ONLY ONE over 100 km./h.
Keith Gately from Down Under flew in the ETA not with Uli this day, but with Joachim Schwenk :“I will discover if he laughs the same as Uli Schwenk today.” They were 5th. Enjoyed however some great ridge soaring to climb up to final glide .[about 20 km. to the finish]
Open only could grid after the 20m was, launched as they had to test how soft the runway really was.
Dosi class; Task 1…..4 hour AAT…..UK Pilot Steve Jones in the ARCUS M, flew 392 km in time 4.16; speed 91.74 km./h. Well known Austrian pilot Andreas Lutz was runner up .
6 from 12 finished; 5 from them ARCUS M or T and on 6 a DUO DISCUS XLT.

Resume from Tilo Holighaus in WeGlide:
“Very exciting first day of the Hahnweide competition.
A lot of humidity, many showers but also a lot of fun 🙂
After the take-off deep dark clouds, but they even lined up. Then again longer shaded glide paths until a really great cloud sausage built up past the Klippeneck, which partly rose with more than 3 m/s and one could cruise along underneath it. Towards the south, the base dropped sharply, but the climb was still great.
Unfortunately, we couldn’t get to the second turning sector directly – it simply rained down. But even with turbo help, it was quite a challenge to get home fully. Either showers or airspace got in the way…”

MAY 18; Competition day 6 task 3 for standard ,15 and 18 m and task 2 for open and dosi’s;
“For today, meteorologist Jupp predicts partly good thermal conditions, however, humid air will enter our competition area from the southeast in the afternoon. This is expected to lead to spreading and a significant increase in humidity, which may affect the thermals. Base altitudes of up to 2000m above sea level are expected.”
First launches at 11.30. 18 M is first at the grid. All classes have a racing task!
By the way ,in Germany it was FATHERSDAY! and they were not forgotten.
Standard class; Task 3 ;300 km…..3 LS 8 gliders in the top 3 one from Germany, France and the UK.
Daily winner German pilot Felix Herold; speed 107.80 km./h. Tom had 106.34 and young French pilot Philippe Lata 106.23km./h.
Adam was 14th but finished!!“I saw an opportunity to start early in the weaker conditions with a strong tailwind, then when the day cooked up, I’d be flying home in the stronger part of the day. Easy…I had a fabulous first leg, 153kph I think was the best I saw, epic streeting. I climbed as high as I could in the downwind turn, then pushed into wind. It was at this point that the weather transitioned from 4kts & easy, to terrible & broken. The gaggle caught me here..”
Full story , so you hear straight away from a participating pilot; on Adam Woolley’s Gliding Adventures
19 Started and 4 were out.

15m class; Task 3 ;317.20 km….Another sole-flying-pilot Lars from the Netherlands won the day. Good on him. A very enthusiastic, young, eager pilot who will fly his first WGC in Narromine Down Under, end of this year. Speed 111 km./h which was quite a bit faster than 2 French top pilots, flying already WGC’s for a longer time ; Maximillian Seiss and Christophe Abadie;101 .56 km./h
16 started and 3 were out, among them UK topper, Philip Jones.
The UK and French pilots started at 12.53, Lars a bit earlier at 12.49.
Tim Scott proudly on the overall-top-1-spot lost 249 points by being 12th. A pity for him!
I decided to write to Lars to check what he did different to the others:
Here is his story;
“I expected a lot of spread-out, around 4 PM , so I decided to go early.
I hoped that the gaggle would “play their waiting-game” , so I would have a good lead and time enough before they could get me.
My first leg was SUPER, 154 km./h. and on the 2d and 3d leg, I found great lift whilst the gaggle was “fighting” for a meter. THEN I WAS GONE!!!!
2 Days ago I had to start my engine , I was too busy with the action from other pilots than with my own decisions. I was sick and tired of that. That’s why I wanted to do it all by myself to get my self-esteem back.
I wanted to know that I could still DO IT!!!And I could!!!!” INDEED HE COULD!!!!
Thanks Lars!!!
18 m class; Task 3;344.08 km….A great day for the Dutch pilots and for the JS3 pilots; 5x a JS 3 in the top 5. Best for the day Peter Millenaar with his 2d win!
30 started and 9 were “out”. One of them Tilo who got a father-day-rose before start.
Open class; Task 2; 386.32 km….I told you, A GOOD DAY FOR THE DUTCH PILOTS; Francois Jeremiasse, won the day in his EB 29R;113 km./h Dutch daily winner number 3. Real Dutch weather!!!And,…sorry for my Dutch enthusiasm.
3 Daily winners…… GOOD!!!!!!
13 Pilots started for their Task 2 but only 4 finished, among them Pierre de Broqueville on 4.
Francois was quite a bit faster than Marcus Frank and his German mate Max Kolmarr; 97 and 94 km./h.
Dosi’s; task 2 ;317.13 km…..4 From 12 finished. All Arcus types [M or T] and 2 from Germany 1 from Austria [I noticed that Andreas flies together with former WGC champion Wolfgang Janowitsch] and 1 from the UK; Matthew Cook. Best speed 99.96 km./h meaning another very challenging day!

MAY 19; Early morning news;
“Due to the humid air masses moving in from the south-east and the high degree of overcast, meteorologist Jupp sees very little chance of a competition day today. As the 2-seater and Open classes have only 2 valid scoring days so far, they remain on hold. The other 3 classes have been neutralised for today.
The 2-seater and Open Class will receive another briefing at 12 noon.
Adam started early with clening up ;”Glider X, freshly polished for my syndicate members, tidying up small things. Standard, 15m & 18m classes cancelled for the day, 20m & Open is on standby for an afternoon flight“
Open and dosi’s were in the end cancelled as well.
BUT “For tomorrow, the chances are good that there will be a nice last competition day.”

May 20; LAST DAY!!!!

To be honest, it does n’t look TOO great at this picture, to launch a big bunch of gliders. But they try hard. First on the grid is 15 m. then standard and 18m, dosi’s and open; last but not least.
First launches at 12, but……”We continue to struggle with humid air mass from the south, which will slowly move into our competition area. The west is forecast to have a lower cloud base and worse thermal conditions than the east. However, the various temps in the east for the afternoon show an increasing unstable air mass that may lead to isolated showers and thunderstorms.” from the organizers.

Standard class;
task 4 is 282.12 km….It turned out to be a good day for 6 of the 20 pilots as they finished.UK pilot Howard Jones was the -last-days-best; 91.53 km./h. Another challenging day, BUT A DAY!!!! 6 Did not start at all.
Adam was launched but did not start, his story is on  Adam Woolley’s Gliding Adventures
A great competition for the Lasham guy’s as they were 1-2 and 3 overall.
Overall scores after 4 tasks in standard class;
1.  Paul Fritche [UK] in LS 8 with 2.603 points.
2. Howard Jones [UK] in Discus 2A with 2.593 p.
3. Tom Arscott [UK] in LS 8 with 2.579 p.

15 m.class;
task 4 is 306.56 km.…15 started and only 6 were in. The last one to finish was former JWGC pilot Christoph Nacke who won in Husbos. I saw then how happy he was after he won his title.
He was on 6 and Lars on 7 but out. Also out and on 8 Christophe Abadie, who lost his first overall spot to Max Seiss ,who was one of the finishers with young Kevin Faur..
Julien Duboc was the last daily winner and another tough race as the speed was 73.72 km./h.
Overall scores in 15 m class after 4 tasks;
1. Maximilian Seis from France in Ventus 2 with 2.358 points.
2. Derren Francis from the UK in Ventus 3T/15m with 2.346 p.
3. Kevin Faur from France in JS3/15m with 2.326 p.
4. Julien Duboc from France in Ventus 2/15 m only 2 points less than Kevin

18m class;
task 4 is 331.59 km....13 started and only 8 finished. Best for the day; PETER [Millenaar] in his JS3;95.02 km./h. Peter won 3 days!!!!!TOP!!!!
Runner up Yves Gerster from Switzerland had; 92.03 km./h .
Other “toppers” in this group of finishers were, Andy Davis, Tilo, Thomas Gostner and Stefano Ghiorzo.
The overall scores were thoroughly shuffled.
Overall scores in 18 m class after 4 tasks;
1. Peter Millenaar from The Netherlands in JS3/18m with 2.536 points. He moved up from spot 8!!
2.  Jürg Haas from Switzerland in JS 3/18 m with 2.446 p. Moved from 1 to 2.
3. Andrew Davis from the UK in JS 1C/18m. with 2.388 p.

open class;
task 3 is 336.31 km..…Only 10 started and 8 finished. Sylvain Gerbaud in the EB 28 was the daily best; speed 100 km./h!!!! 2 German pilots Max Kolmarr [Nimbus 4T] and “good old” Uli Knauss [ EB28] followed.
Francois was 4th.
Overall scores on open class after 3 tasks;
1. Francois Jeremiasse from The Netherlands in EB 29R with 2,807 points.
2. Max Kollmar from Germany in Nimbus 4T with 2,626 p.
3. Pierre De broqueville from Belgium in EB 29DR with 2,398 p.

dosi’s / 2-seaters;
task 3 is 285.73 km….with 100 km./h Norbert Sommer won the day in his ARCUS M.
Andy and Wolfgang were 10 k slower on spot 8…would/could they stay on spot 1?????
11 Teams started and 9 finished.
Overall scores after 3 tasks in the 2-seater class;
1. Andreas Lutz from Austria in Arcus M with 2,485 points.
2. Eva Senne from Germany in Arcus T with 2,381 p. She and Ben Fuglsang-Pedersen moved from 3 to 1.
2. Steffen Clement from Germany in Arcus T with 2,359 p. His team moved from 2 to 3.

The prizegiving was on Saturday evening at 8.30.
A pity from the weather but “it is what it is”.
ALWAYS A GREAT COMPETITION not only to participate, but also to follow.
A picture from ALL PARTICIPANTS organizers, pilots and crew ;

See you next year! Your webmaster Kathrin [and photographer!]

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DUTCH SOARING NATIONALS 2023
16 May 2023 – 27 May 2023

After a less and a pretty good practice day [ 400 km in open class ], the comps started on Thursday May 18 ,with good tasks in all 3 classes; Club with 9 pilots, combi class with 14 and open/18 m. with 22 participants. So the pilots had to get straight away in the correct competition rhythm.
task 1 on May 18.
Club; 261 km…Thies Bruins in ASW 20 won , not for the first time in the Dutch Nationals, the first day; 82 km./h. 9 Started and 6 were in.
Combi class; 303.59 km...former runner up at the Borlange WGC in Sweden Erik Borgmann flew together with his long time mate Joost Wolff in the ARCUS T; 80.49 km./h. Runner up Tom Conings from Belgium flew around in his LS8 with 70.43 km./h.
14 Started 9 were “in” also in The Netherlands challenging weather, whilst the skies here looked fabulous!
Open class ;355.26 km…3 Dutch toppers in the top 3. WGC pilots Jeroen Verkuijl and Hadriaan van Nes and former JWGC champion Sjoerd van Empelen.
21 Started only 2 were “out”.

Task 2 on May 19;
Club; 308.45 km…..Former JWGC pilot and runner up in Narromine behind Matthew Scutter, Robin Smit , won the day but only just; 107.45 km./h.
Jeroen van Dijk in his LS3 ;107. 48 km./h.
All 9 started and finished.
Combi class; 346.57km…..All 14 started AND finished!!!! GOOD!!! Erik and Joost had their 2 successive win. Tom from Belgium his 2 successive runner up spot.
open/18m; 369.32 km….good day for Max Leenders who moved from open to 18m[JS-MD 3J] ;speed 128.87 km./h. Just a tad faster than Sjoerd who had 128.49. Steven Huiskes had 128. 33 and Hadriaan 128. 16, very close!
21 started and finished “together at home together”.

Task 3 on May 20;already 3 out of 3 days!!!
Club; 238.22 km….they swapped places Robin and Jeroen. Speed Jeroen; 106.95 km./h and Robin 99.50 km./h!
All 9 started and finished!
Combi; 276.73 km….there is no measure on Erik and Joost. 3d time daily winner.
14 started and finished!
open/18m; 313.51 km....22 started and finished; LIKE….
Hadriaan won the day with 114.55 km./h . In the daily top 5, younger as Jelmer Vis and Sjoerd van Empelen mix very good with a bit older ,very experienced pilots as Hadriaan, Sjaak[Selen] and Steven[Raimond].

Task 4 on May 21, day 4 and task 4 BUT with code yellow in the East [Terlet] and South East [me] for heavy local thunderstorms with gusting wind and HAIL forecasted in the early evening.25 to 27 dgr. C.
Club; 129.06 km....
Combi; 143.13 km..…
open/18m; due to the short good-weather-window. NO TASK.
More on Wednesday!

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The 48th Polish Open class championship combined with the Leszno Cup, [11 May 2023 – 21 May 2023] struggled after a great start also with the weather. They could not fly for 3 days but on on
Thursday May 18 a 3.30 AAT was set; Task 4.
Won by Zdislaw Bednarczuk in a JS 3 /18m ; he flew 469 km with a good speed of 128.64 km./h. .
Karol Staryszak was runner up;449 km speed 127.91 km./h in ASG 29E/18m.
Task 5 was small but a task!!! 1.30 AAT.….BUT,…not flown.
No task yet for today so I guess it’s over in Leszno, with 4 days out of 10. If not I let you know on Wednesday.
Preliminary final score for the Leszno Cup; in 15 m. Maciej Adamski in LAK 19 with 2.011 points.
In standard B after 4 tasks out of 10; Kinga Tchorz in BRAWO with 3,276 points .
Preliminary final score for Open ;Karol Staryszak in ASG 29 E/18m with 3,630 points.

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The Rayskala CUP 2023 [ 13 May 2023 – 19 May 2023] was after 3 pretty good days also hit by less weather; result 3 non flying days. But on the penultimate day they got a 4th flying day [out of 7] a racing task from 298 km and for open 375.75 km.
8 pilots flew for the Cup and 4 finished. Daily winner Mikko Ylihärsilä in LS 7.[74.83 km./h]
In open Tourula Kankare in Ventus F was the best.[91.87 km./h]
And YES they had a final day yesterday; Task 5 [out of 8] 3 hour AAT’s for both classes to define the “winners”.
Sara Salonen in LS 4 won the day and Mikko Ylihärsilä the CUP in this class; 4,787 points
Open; Tourula Kankare was the daily winner in Ventus 3F as well as the champion in open class; 4,526 points.

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From Frauke Elber from the USA I got the sad news that her friend for over 50 years died on May 18.
“America’s highest decorated woman gliderpilot, Bertha Ryan, passed away this morning. She was two weeks shy of 96 years old. By a strange coincident we ended up in the same retirement community. Bertha was the first American who got the Majewska medal and the first woman who was awarded the Paul Schweizer Lifetime Service Award (beside  many other awards). She was a member of the Soaring Hall of Fame.“
Paul Remde added;
“Martha was an brilliant engineer. Some of her accomplishments related to lifting body aircraft are documented in the book, “Soaring Beyond the Clouds”. She was a very impressive person.”
https://www.cumulus-soaring.com/

More posts whenever I have time, as it is VERY BUSY in the air!!!!
Cheers Ritz.
P/S Hope to be next Saturday at Terlet to be part of the last day of the Dutch Nationals,

Post 1.420 on Mai 17-2023

48th POLISH OPEN CLASS NATIONALS/LESZNO CUP!

With 30 pilots battling for the CUP and 25 for the Open class, they started on Mai 11 with NO TASK, but the next day they flew;

racing TASK 1; 301 for 15 m and 306 km. for Standard class B and 423.96 for OPEN.
So pretty good tasks to start with.
15 m;
Task 1…..301 km.… 7 starters and 5 finishers [straight after start they were penalized] and the daily best flew in a LAK 19T ;Maciej Adamski. GOOD speed; 132.79 km. a whopping 25 km/h faster than the runner up.
TASK 2, had racing tasks as well now with 311.26 km. weird day, it looks they had to wait for passing showers or better lift. One pilot started at 2, another one at 3 PM. Anyhow,…nobody finished, but Pawel Frackowiak in Lak 17B fes. flew 277 km and 2 others reached 270 km, the rest “only” between 13 and 62 km. Maciej flew 62 km.
This time 6 starters as 1 did not fly.
Task 3 had a 2 hour AAT and 7 started and ONLY ONE PILOT , MACIEJ, finished after 255 km with a slow speed BUT he was BACK: 66 km./h.
NO flying on Mai 15 and 16, but it looks they will fly today.
After 3 tasks Maciej leads the overall scores with 1.118 points.

Standard B; On task 1, 306 km..…Artur Łończuk flew around in his BRAWO, with 116 km./h.
22 started and 18 were in. Lot’s got a warning.
Task 2 ;311.26 km….had only 7 finishers and less punished pilots. Over 311 km Grzegorz Głąb was the best ; 115 km./h.
That was 17 km./h faster than the runner up.
Task 3; with a 2.15 AAT had 3 finishers from 21 . Best performance by Grzegorz Głąb; 277 km in time 2.47. Speed 99.50 km./h. The runner up had 77.77 km./h.
NO TASK 4 or 5..
Niestety już drugi dzień z…….no task today
After 3 flying days Kinga Tchorz in the BRAWO leads overall; 2.276 points.

In open class also 3 flying days till now;
Task 1 with 424 km ….was won by Karol Staryszak in ASG 29 E; 132 km./h.
Task 2; 413 km …..was won by another well known pilot Lukasz Wojcik; 121 km./h. Karol was 5th now and from 25 ONLY 6 were in.
Task 3; 2.15 AAT.….Tomasz Dul won the day in a JS3;294 km. speed 110 km./h. Only 3 flew over 100 km./h, meaning a tough day and from 25, 9 pilots were out.
Task 4 on day 6; today they have a grid order so it looks they will fly after 2 non flying days.
After 3 flying days the best overall score is for Karol Staryszak with 2.640 points.

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HAHNWEIDE 2023……. 55th International Competition
Mai 13-20 2023

This well-known competition at the FAMOUS HAHNWEIDE is visited by pilots from 16 countries, so a REAL INTERNATIONAL event.
99 In total; 21 in Standard class, 17 in 15 m, 32 in 18 m, 13 in open and 16 teams in the double seater class “dosies” in German. All ARCUS M or T and 2 Duo Discus types XL and XLT.
With the worst rain in the last 10 year in spring, not only here but also in the us surrounding countries it is WET, real wet.
Reason for the organizers to cancel the practice days as they could not mow the wet grass. It will be pretty marshy!
“the intense rainfalls of the last weeks are causing us big problems. Currently we cannot mow the area where the trailers are to be parked. In the deep, wet ground of the runway we are currently unable to perform aerotows. Therefore we have to cancel the training days.“

NO flying the days after, as the field remained wet and they still had more rain.
On Sunday morning the news was;
“After it has rained until the morning hours, I would like to spare you the sad sight of the current weather situation.”
“Due to weather situation, today has been cancelled for all classes. Sport director Rainer Rauch sees no chance for a fair competition day.”
BUT, a few bit’s of sun gave vintage planes a chance to shine. The spectators could marvel two real old-timer rarities in the sky. 

The vintage planes “belong” to the museum AT the airfield.
For more  “Fliegenden Museeum Hahnweide“

On Saturday the weather in Spain was good. Dutch pilot Walter Frijters flew a 1000 in a QUINTUS M from Beas De Segura ;117 km./h. 1 Day later he flew 875 km.
So no bad weather everywhere in Europe. Though Italy is TOUGH, with flooding’s in the Nord.
Sweden was good as well; 829 in a Discus 2 by Jan-Ola Nordh.
On Sunday the weather here in comparison with Hahnweide ,was pretty good , with 500 km flights, so hopefully that weather would move to Kirchheim Teck.
It did!!!!!

Monday Mai 15 the pilots got there TASK 1.
2.30 AAT’s to start with. Launches started at 12 AM.
“2-seaters and Open class will have another rest day today.”
It turned out a task between rain showers.

All pilots were airborne just before 3.
BUT,…..NOBODY finished, yes some flew further than others .
In St. class ,20 started among them the top from the French ladies but ,…. UK pilot Tom [Arscott] was the best in his LS 8 with 138 km. for 86 points. Runner up his UK mate Howard [Jones], in a Discus 2A, they are used to this ” typical English weather.”[79 points]
Adam is flying in this class as well [spot 9] and a long update on this day is on;
Adam Woolley’s Gliding Adventures
In 15 m. class ,15 started, and the best daily result was 152 km for another UK pilot Tim Scott [ASG 29] for 96 points. And a total of 86 points for Dutch pilot Lars [Groot] with 136 km.[ASG 29]
In 18 m. class 30 pilots started among them a few “toppers” but, there was another Dutch winner ….like the UK pilots “we”,…..our Dutch pilots….. are used to rain; Tim [Millenaar] in his JS 3 with 186 km. for 52 points. Quite a bit further than Tilo [Holighaus] ;155 km. for 43 points flying his own Ventus 3 T.

And after 1 day of soaring the organizers mentioned on Tuesday;
‘Due to a very slow moving cold front overhead, which is responsible for the humid and unstable air mass in our competition area, meteorologist Jupp does not see sufficient conditions for a flyable day.”
But they had a nice Schempp-Hirth- evening with the ANNUAL home-cooked Chili Concarne at 7. Tilo, his family and the Schempp-Hirth- employees gave a hand,[ “served”] , to make it a SUPER event.
A vegetarian Chili was available as well.

It’s Wednesday now, the better weather is definitely on it’s way, I hope for them in time.
No tasks yet, briefing is at 10.
“A wonderful sunny good morning to you!”
“Currently, three classes are lined up on runway 31. The two-seater class will be added after the briefing. Only the pilots of the open class can continue to have a quiet breakfast.“
Still 3 days to go!
More next week.
LATEST; 4.30 AAT’s for standard, 15 and 18 m [first to be launched] AND a 4 hour AAT for the 13 open class pilots [they have a task!!!!]and the 12 teams in a 2-seaters.
That looks more like it!!!!!!!!!!!

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RAYSKALA OPEN 2023
13 May 2023 – 19 May 2023

Luckily the Finish organization had better weather and could start straight away.
The mixed class started with task 1 a 335 km race won by Kim Toppari in an LS 7; speed 119 km./h. Another LS 7 [Mikko Ylihärsilä] was runner up; 118 km./h.
8 In this class and 7 finished!
Task 2 a 3 hour AAT….and both Kim and Mikko were on spot 1 for the day. They started together but Tim flew 286 km in 3.03 [94 km./h. ]and Mikko 297 km in time 3.11 [93 km./h]
Both were “rewarded” with 1000 points.
Task 3 another 3 hour AAT and 6 starters went on track. The best were ,,yes,..Kim [373 km speed 120 km./h] for 1000 points and Mikko [329 km , speed 104 km./h.

Open has 6 pilots.
task 1 on May 13 ;422.85 km.…showed HUGE speed by Hannu Halonen in the VENTUS 3T; 143 km./h!!!!All pilots were in and the “slowest” speed was 118.85 km./h for Marty Sucksdorff in the DUO DISCUS XL. His son Petri was in the AS 33es/18 m 3d.
Task 2; 3 hour AAT, this time Martti Koivula [JS1C] was the best with 388 km in time 3.05; speed 125 km./h. All 7 started and finished.
Task 3; 3 hour AAT…417.88 km for young Petri Sucksdorff in his AS 33es; 136.56 km./h!!!AND, 955 points. Day-winner Martti was winner again after a late start and a penalty for ground speed; 443 km speed 144.38 km./h.

NO FLYING YESTERDAY!
For today; nothing right now.

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Tomorrow the DUTCH NATIONALS start at TERLET with 45 participants in 3 classes; Mai 16-27. The weather seems to improve which is what they need. It looks they can fly straight away.
Will keep you informed.
I even try to go there.

CU next week.
Cheers Ritz

Post 1.419 on Wednesday Mai 10-2023

48th Polish Open Class Gliding Championship
11 May 2023 – 21 May 2023

From Leszno 31 pilots start tomorrow the open class championship /LesznoCup 2023.
Polish pilots belong to the top of the world, so it is always interesting to see how they fly.
A mix from “old toppers” with respect and new “guns” are ready to go for it.
Kawa…I did not see him on the list.
One UK pilot in AS 33es;Rory Ellis .
Will keep you informed.

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SLOVENIAN NATIONALS
6 May 2023 – 14 May 2023

From the , what I heard beautiful airfield of Murska Sobota ,[I have never been there, but I do believe that] the Slovenian Nationals have started on Mai 6 in 2 classes; Club [16 pilots] and Open.[17]

They could start straight away with task 1 ;a 2 hour AAT in both classes.
ALL pilots started AND finished,…so a pleasant day.
Task 2 was more difficult with in Club only 6 finishers and in open 9.
Then a NO_ TASK_DAY.
Yesterday 2 more 2 hour AAT’s.
In Club only 1 pilot flew over 100 km./h in a Mini LAK fes.
In open Boris Zorz clearly won in JS 3 with 117.39 km./h. over 245 km. Runner up also in JS 3 226 km with 110.21 km./h.
The only names I know from this competition are Boštjan Pristavec [EB 28] and Boris Žorž [JS3 jet] in open class and nobody from Club.
Today might be difficult; 2x a 1.30 AAT.

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The weather still is pretty unreliable, but at some places they have a great-soaring-day in between !!!!
Fayence in France is such a place. Baptiste Innocent flew a 1000 last Saturday in the ASH 31 and at the same day, Belgium pilot Dennis Huybreckx flew also from Fayence, in the Ventus 3T 935 km. [700 FAI triangle]
Also on Saturday a nearly 900 km in Finland [Selanpaa] in a Ventus B/16.6 m and 726 k. in LS 7 from Rayskala. They were busy at Rayskala with at least 14 flights on the OLC.
One day earlier on Friday , Sweden had top conditions in which Jan-Ola Nordh flew a 1000 from Lidkoping in a DISCUS 2.
At Lasham they had “Some brief spring sunshine yesterday on the golden fields [ full of yellow canola] With a brand new glider on the airfield too! The JS3 Rapture certainly is striking in its design.

On Mai 8 MINDEN was top again ; 2.066 km. by kilometer-eater Gordon Boettger in the ARCUS M.
His comment; “Fun flight with Brad. Conditions were not feeling like a 2000 km flight at all but just kept plugging away.” With great pictures from snowy mountains and Lake Tahoe, towns like Reno, full of light with their arrival in the dark…….to be seen at
https://www.onlinecontest.org/olc-3.0/gliding/flightinfo.html?dsId=9374990#map=
Though they flew fast,…175 km./h, they needed 11 hours and 46 minutes.
The wave went up to 7289 m lift MSL [5530 AGL]
YESTERDAY, Moriarty was good for wave flights; Keith Essex had travelled from New Zealand to the USA again and flew already a 1000 from Minden and now from Moriarty. Both in ASG 32MI.
Daniel Mockler was the other pilot with a 1000 but in JS 1.

Looking at pictures from the Lake, straight always memories on our 1990 trip to Minden in Nevada pop up. The Pre Worlds were there, but ended due to circumstances, 1 year later in Uvalde Texas.
With the Albatross, an amphibian, we landed with a few glider -“addicts” at the Lake. UNFORGETTABLE. For nostalgic reasons once more the picture from the picnic at the wings of the Albatross “in” the Lake Tahoe.

NOT too much news after my Sunday blog so,…now I have time and space for a schedule of upcoming BIG FAI events in CAT 1;
June 6-17 2023; Postponed 4th FAI Pan-American Gliding Championship in Hutchinson In Kansas USA
July 1-15 2023 ; 12th WWGC in Garray in Spain
July 29-August 12; 21th FAI EGC in Leszno in Poland
July 30-August 12; 6th FAI JUNIOR EGC in Arnborg in Denmark
August 26-September 2; 11th FAI World Sailplane Grand Prix in Pavullo in Italy
December 2-16; 37th FAI WGC in Narromine Australia

And a few CAT 2 comps;
June 4-13 202; US NATIONALS from Cordele [GA]
June 24-July 4 2023 ; Austrian Multi class Nationals from Mariazell

For more comps you can look at
https://www.fai.org/sport/gliding?upcoming=1&f%5B0%5D=fai_event_year%3A2023&display=list

CU next week with MORE!!!!!
Cheers Ritz

Post 1.418 on Mai 7 2023.

KLIX
28 April 2023 – 6 May 2023

The weather in Europe is pretty unreliable at the moment, so organizers suffer a bit with their comps.
Also Klix . And,…their pilots; one day they win the other they are out, but THAT ‘S SOARING too.
That happened as well to Jacek [Flis] from Poland in Club class. He won task 3 on flying-day 1 , was out on task 4 and on task 6, after a cancelled day, [only their class] he won again ; a set 364.18 km. task , speed 107.35 km./h.
Then another cancelled day and on Mai 5 they had a small task 8, flying day 4 from 171 km.
Another Polish pilot did well; Tomasz[ Krok] in a St Jantar; speed 105.23 km./h. He was just ahead of 2 Italian pilots.
They did not know that this was their last flying day. So after 9 days they had 4 competition days.
Result from only 4 days; meaning some scores are pretty close.
S0 the final overall scores for CLUB CLASS.
1. Rawecki Szymon from Poland in SZD 55 with 2.829 points.
2. Tomasz Krok from Poland in St Jantar with 2.778 p
3. Nicola Fergnani from Italy in a DISCUS with 2.671 p.
Followed by 3 other Italian pilots ;Alessandro Bassalti ,2.667….Elena Fergnani, 2.660 both in a Discus and Giacomo Dallolio,2.652points in ASW 20.

In Standard Class they have one more day as they flew their task 7 on Mai 4 ; 178.90 km.
Pawel Wojciechowski from Poland won the day in his LS8 with 105.77 km./h . 2 Dutch pilots followed. Jeroen [Verkuijl] is his JS 3/15 m. with 110.49 km./h and Sjaak [Selen] in his Discus 2a; 98.19 km./h
Just a tad faster than Sabrina [Vogt] ;98.10 km./h also in Discus 2a.
18 Started and 1 was out
On Mai 5 racing task 8, from 202.06 was set. AND,…pretty weird the same top 3!!! Pawel, [90.46 km./h ]Jeroen [91.46 km./h] and Sjaak [83.85 km./h]
They had 5 days out of 9;
1. Pawel Wojciechowski from Poland in LS8T with 3.403 points. He won 2 days.
2. Sjaak Selen from The Netherlands with 3.267 p. and won 1 day.
3. Jeroen Verkuijl from The Netherlands in JS 3 /15m with 3.245 p. won 1 day.

2-seaters; On Mai 4 they started their task 7 [flying day 4] with 199.35 km and the Back family in the DG 1000/20m.were the best; speed 99.10 km./h for 498 points.
24 started and only 1 was out.
On Mai 5 a 2.15 AAT was set and flown by 22 of the 23 starters. The Duo Discus XLT from Dutch team Van Nes & De Boer won the day; 116.25 km./h.
Also 5 days from 9 in this class;
Final results very close again;
1. Huttel & Franke from Germany in ARCUS T with 2.652 points.
2. Dinger & Zoller from Germany in DG 1000 with 2.646 p.
3. Gliese & Chlan from Germany in DUO DISCUS T with 2.600 p.

open/18m. class; Their Mai 4 showed a small task [7] as well; 189 25 km. and Christoph [Matkowski] was the fastest in his AS 33es, with 90.38 km./h the only one OVER 90 km./h. Steven [Raimond] was runner up
29 Started and only 2 were out.
Mai 5 showed a 2.45 AAT; The ASH 25 from Helge Liebertz was the fastest with 113.39 km./h. over 327 km .Not fast enough as on handicap the Discus 2C from Steven Staudte was faster over 297 km.
Steven on spot 1 overall was “only” 14th and JUST lost his 2d spot; 3 points.
1. Andreas Kuhl from Germany in JS 3/18m with 3.210 points.
2. Steven Raimond from The Netherlands in ASG 29E with 3.207 p.
3. Helge Liebertz from Germany in ASH 25/25m. from Germany with 3.184 p.

As said Mai 5 was the last day as the forecast for Mai 6 was not good. They straight away held a prize giving party that day after flying at 8 PM and they look forward to the next KLIX 2024 ; edition 30!!!

Compilated pictures by Frouwke who had a good time ; she mentioned as well that it was cozy, with cold nights with frost but also 20 dgr. C plus, Hexenbrennen ,challenging weather,a big bunch of nice Dutch pilots [indeed atmosphere helps] and she has 5 more flights in her logbook.
The Dutch did well with 2x silver and 1x bronze!!!

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GAUTENG REGIONALS from ORIENT
29 April 2023 – 6 May 2023

On Mai 3 and 4 they did not fly. Small tasks were set but not flown.
So on Mai 5 the penultimate day a 2.30 AAT was set in both classes.
Task 5 on flying day 3 UNFORTUNATELY was NOT FLOWN.
In open it was all about Laurence [Hardman] and Oscar [Goudriaans] the JS 1 against the JS 3 TJ.
In sports class they start task 5 with a total of ONLY 948 points for John [Coutts] in the Libelle 301, 863 for Mark [Holliday] in the ASW 27 and 814 points for Dicky [Daly jr] in the Cirrus.
But, with no flying, no changed results.
So after 2 out of 8 days the winner in sports class was John , before Mark and Dicky.
In open Laurence , 1.612 points , before Oscar with 1.576 p.

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CCV City of Varese Cup from Calcinate Del Pesce
30 April 2023 – 6 May 2023

https://youtu.be/dgiRYo3tLRk

Their weather improved after 2 non flying days. I concentrate on the COPPA flights as the open class flies for that as well and fill you in on the open class final scores on the last day.
Mai 3 was [after the 3 hour AAT the day before], a day with a 366 km. racing task. Alberto[ Sironi] won in the ARCUS T with vlogger Andrea [Venturini ] in the back. Speed 109.38 km./h.
A bad day for Stefano [Ghiorzo], who was out due to an airspace violation. ZERO points.
Mai 4 a 2.20 AAT [task3] was won by Peter Hartmann in the JS 1c/18m….;101 km./h.
Stefano in VENTUS 3T/18m ;243.km with 97.28 km./h. was runner up. Jon [Garfield] was out.
Mai 5; 260.53 km…..with a speed of 98 km./h Peter won again, just ahead of fellow Austrian Christian Hynek in the EB 29 DR. Alberto was 3d.
Mai 6; 2.20 AAT. Peter won and was the only one over 100 km./h. over 233 km. This time fellow Austrian Jan Jagiello was runner up.
In the end they had 5 days in a row out of 7.
The best 3 for the COPPA were;
1. Mauro Brunazzo in AS 33es with 3.869 points.
2.  Sironi & Venturini in ARCUS T with 3.661 p.
3. Christian Hynek in EB 29 DR with 3.618 p.

Best 3 for the OPEN CLASS NATIONALS;
1. Mauro Brunazzo with 3.388 points.
2. Sironi & Venturini with 3.156 p
3. Ugo Pavesi in ASG 29E with 2.864 p.
Congratulations!!!
The video from the Varese City Cup is from Well known Andrea Venturini[ Gliding].

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In the Netherlands 51 pilots flew the Gelderse One Day Competition. The weather in the morning was pretty good in the afternoon they had showers some really heavy.

The task for the 4 classes and the results;
Club 138 km. ….won by Robin Smit in LS 4Neo. 12 From 13 Finished.
Combi class; 161.57 km…..As said showers were expected and for some it was at the last TP. From 8 pilots in this class ONLY ONE finished!
2-Seaters; 163.25 km...NOBODY could return home. but the most kilometers ,81.85, were flown by van Doorn & Kamphuis from the Gelderse in a DUO DISCUS XLT. So all 11 teams were caught by the showers between 50 and 80 km.
18 m/open; 193.14 km….the “long wings” from the Nimbus 4D and 2 top pilots Marco [Vermeer] and Bas [Seijffert] were the only fishers. They managed to fly around the shower on the last TP and were IN. Speed 71.42 km./h. Even with a Nimbus you need to fight for the points.

In Belgium they had a competition at Weelde. Also a 1-day-competition. 10 Pilots tried to fly the set 63.50 km task and 2 succeeded. Starts around 4PM; With 43.14 km./h team Kortleven & Vierstraete in a DG 500/20 m. won . Runner up Raeymaekers & Lauwers sharing an ASW 19. [39.57 km./h]
This is one of a row of comps at different Belgian airfields. Next one at Keiheuvel in August.

—–AND,….when you want to learn more about that impressive flight, from the Alps to Corsica and Sardinia, a declared triangle over more than 1400 km over the Ligurian Sea by Baptiste and Thomas you can read an interview by Joshua Rieger with Baptiste on ;
https://magazine.weglide.org/soaring-ligurian-sea-baptiste-innocent/?fbclid=IwAR2cvCyTDVCGjT3lLBCTTkS1A34Nf5gJmm29RXkMp1OknO6pXqtRZyclauk
https://magazine.weglide.org/soaring-ligurian-sea…/

I spend ALL Saturday looking at the coronation. What a lot of history, great music , colorful military parade and many happy guests.
I found this picture from the The Gliding Bible

CU again on Wednesday.
Cheers Ritz

Post ;1.417 on Mai 3 2023
Last Sunday it was FINALLY SPRING here. Sunny, great clouds and no coat….18 dgr.C!!!! Full of enthusiasm I wanted to look at the flights on the OLC and WeGlide, BUT……a fatal accident at Terlet tempered the joy.
Terlet is the home of the Gelderse, but also host of different other clubs. One of the members of those clubs, a 57 year old lady died after hitting the trees on the S. of the field. SO SAD!!!!!!They had a spring camp at Terlet.
PLEASE BE CAREFUL!!!!!! PLEASE REMAIN CAREFUL !!!!

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KLIX….Germany
 28 April 2023 – 6 May 2023

After 2 non-flying days , Sunday finally was the day to start this competition.
Task 3 on flying day 1. A pretty challenging day, blue with a base of 1100 -1500 m. max.
Club class; with 27 pilots from Germany, Italy , The Netherlands , Poland and Hungary got a 227 km. racing task. Among them Frouwke Kuijpers, Elena Fergnani and Lilian De Bruijn.
Daily winner Jacek Flis from Poland in LS 3WL; 91.78 km./ h was the best speed.
A total of 6 Polish glider pilots in this class; They were on spot 1-2-3-4-5 and 26, due to an airspace- outlanding. They all started at the same time.
26 Started 24 were in. The last to finish was Frouwke, BUT she was IN!!!!. Good on her!!!!
Standard class; with 19 pilots from Italy, Germany, Denmark, Poland, The Netherlands and France. Among them Sabrina Vogt and Michelle Fergnani. Their task; 329 km.
1000 points for daily winner Poulkim Larsen from Denmark in an LS 8T.
19 Started , 16 finished.
Double-seaters; 25 teams, mainly from Germany and 2 from The Netherlands; Task; 234.60 km.
Hillebrand & Meyer in the ARCUS M were the daily best; 106.68 km./h.
Only the BACK family was out, from the 25 who started!!
18 m. class; 405 km……34 participants, a few fly as team in Nimbus 2 D or ASH 25.
Daily winner; Helge Liebertz for 1000 points. Norbert Kalish [ somewhere I think he flew in the past with us in Tocumwal] was runner up in the ASH 25 and Dutch pilot Steven Raimond was 3d in his ASG 29.

Task 4 on flying day 2; a tad less good weather and flights over Poland. For those back it was party time.
Club; 193.20 km.…Nicola and Elena, brother and sister, started together. Elena is as you know the World Champion from Lake Keepit. Both fly a Discus. Nicola was just a tad faster with 69.15 km./h for 67.29 km./h. Runner up was that great little Libelle flown by members of the Kronitzer family.
From 26 starters only 13 were in. One of the out-landers was Jacek who won the day before!
Note; I was wrong in sharing the news that Elena is the current WWGC champion. She won in Lake Keepit. The current WWGC champion is of course Petra Piskata from the Cezch Rep ,who won in HusBos.
Last week Petra flew and trained very well with the Czech ladies team, at the FCC in Prievidza were she was 8th overall from 21.
SORRY ABOUT THAT.
Standard; 239.87 km.…Good day for the Dutch pilots with Jeroen [Verkuijl in JS 3] as winner [ 69.74 km./h] and former World Champion Sjaak [Selen] as number 3[ 65.39 km./h in Discus 2A] . In between Lorenzo [Monti] from Italy. [64.96 km./h in LAK 19]
19 Started 9 were in.
2-Seaters; 206.74 km.…Even slower was the speed in this class. The DG 1000 from Dinger & Zoller flew around with 57.73 km./h.
24 Started and only 3 were in. With the DG also a Duo Discus XLT and an ARCUS T.
18m/open; 194.82 km....With 88km/h Norbert won in his Nimbus 4D the day. For sure he would not have taken out his glider out of the hangar on such a day at home.
31 Started and 26 were in. One Danish pilot started too early and “got” ZERO points. Pfff….

No task 5 yesterday on Mai 2, due to the weather. Neutralized.

Mai 3; today! No news yet.

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Gauteng Regionals from ORIENT.
29 April 2023 – 6 May 2023

They started on Sunday as well with 2 classes, sports-class [ 11 pilots ] and open .[7]
Task 1 in sports class was 234.39 km and won by John [Coutts] in a Libelle 301;117 km./h.
John won task 2, a 2 hour AAT as well [ 182 km with 88.86 km./h] and for today he and his mates have a 2.45 AAT at the menu.
Task 1 in open 299.49 km. was won by Laurence Hardman with 123 km./h. Oscar was runner up; 122 km./h. Oscar however, won day 2 ,with a 2.30 AAT flying 307.69 km with 111.36 km./h.
For today a 3 hour AAT has to be flown.

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COPPA CITA DE VARESE [CCV] / Italian OPEN CLASS NATIONALS.
Calcinate Del Pesce
30 April 2023 – 6 May 2023

No flying on the first days but a bigger task on Mai 2. Not good in Klix, but good in Calcinate.
15 Pilots in all kind of gliders between the EB 29DR and LS 6 fly for the COPPA or title. [Walter Vergani Trophy]
From the UK Jon Gatfield participates [AS 33es/18m] and from Austria 3 pilots with Peter Hartmann.[JS1C/18m]
Well known Italian pilots; Alberto Sironi,[ARCUS T] Margherita Aquaderni [ Ventus 3F/18m] and Stefano Ghiorzo. [Ventus 3T./18m]
Task 1 on May 2; 506.97 km…..later changed in 3 hour AAT.…
Daily coppa winner; Luca Castelli in JS1B EVO; 332.67 km with 90.44 km./h. showing it was a difficult day!
From 14 starters only 5 finished.
Daily open winner; Luca and only 3 finished in this class. 10 started .
More on SUNDAY.

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TEUGE_2-DAYS-COMPETITION 2023.[The Netherlands]

The Dutch juniors started their competition season with a 2-day-competition at Teuge. AND …they did well. Niels van Nieuwland in his LS 8 was the best over the 2 days with a spot 2 on both days.
Task 1 had 323.59 km and was won by Halmar Lakeman. On task 2 he was 6th in his LAK 17/18m. over 179.88 km.
The other juniors Noud [Kaay] and Tim [Kremers] flew the Duo Discus to a first spot on day 2.
The AG is one of the 2 “junior-glider’s ” and Lucas [Vink] flew it last Sunday for the first time .
A total of 11 pilots participated.
It’s REALLY nice to see that several of them are children from long time mates!!!!
By the way Maurits [Hebels] had all those great flights in Varese , I wrote about a few weeks ago. Even a 1000 in an ARCUS T.

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Yesterday ,not far from where I live , just over the border in Belgium at KEIHEUVEL, pilots had a very good soaring day with 760 km [500 FAI triangle] for Wim Akkermans in his Ventus 3 F/18m. and 691 km for Ward Geysemans in DG 400/17m.
On April 30 Tijl [Schmelzer[ flew from Keiheuvel 693 km in his Ventus 3 T/18m
Terlet and Soesterberg had up to over 600 km as well yesterday. Lizzy flew from Soesterberg a 300 FAI triangle , in her LS3A, as practice for the WWGC in Spain soon. Her very first WWGC.

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And to finish,… this spectacular picture with Kenshi and Matthew . I guess with a Go Pro on the wing. Aussie Matthew [Scutter] is in Japan and flew there with Kenshi Tagami [as far as I remember Kenshi flew with us in Toc.] over Mount Fuji.
I only drove past ” the mountain” when I was in Japan. BUT,….I saw all the fabulous cherry blossom.

More on Sunday with the final results on Klix, Gauteng and Calcinate.

Cheers Ritz