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