Alphen aan den Rijn 25-01-2009
We had an extreme low pressure last friday;960 hectopascal! Since they started recording, the pressure here in Holland, was only once lower in 1989 with 956 hectopascal. Result lots of rain and strong ,to very strong wind.
Not as bad however as in parts of France [regio of Bordeaux] and Spain [Nord] where severe wind up to 160 km p/h ., gusting to 192 km/h., hammered on buildings and blew over trees and roofs . In total atleast 16 people were killed all over Europe.
No worries however in Benalla where the National championships were held with extremely good weather. What about Tom Claffey who flew with a speed of 159.9 km/h. over 498.8 km?????The SLOWEST in that class flew 128 km/h.
Out of 11 days 8 days were flown in 3 classes and 7 in open class.
Glorious winner in standard class was the number 3 from the World comps in Rieti; Peter Temple with nearly 600 points ahead on the number 2.
In 15 m. John Buchanan was an even more glorious winner. In 8 days of flying he “got” 7942 points, meaning he nearly won every day.
In 18 m. class it was another win for Graham Parker. Great pilot and great results this seaon. It is clearly HIS year. Strong pilots in this class with David Jansen and Bruce Taylor, wellknown WGC pilots, as runner up and number 3.
In open class good old friend Paul Mander won before Dion Weston and good old friend Gerrit.
On day 2 Gerrit had an airspace violation before start, loosing the day; zero points. He won however 4 days was one day 2d and on the last day 7th.
For the full story see below, as Jo was quick and efficient as ever. Thanks again Jo!!!
I was very pleased to see Jan and Stefan in Tocumwal. Jan is a real km. eater even when he flies an LS 4. He flew 857 km.!!!!!Stefan flies every year his own glider in Tocumwal and he knows how to fly long distance too, not afraid of having NO engine!!
VERY pleased also with the 1000 km flight from Neil from Toc airport.
And what about “mate” Daan…. He added another 1000 km flight from Corowa.Yes Australia finally has in January its REAL OZ weather!!!!!So it should!!!!
Still good in Africa too. Hans has made already 42 fights till now and is clearly leading the FAI OLC class with 22.252.95 points , flying 27,3334.88 km.
Both Hans and Pepe flew in the past in Tocumwal. Pepe also made 41 flights till now in Narromine and Corowa and has flown 13.478.97 km.Both pilots are very satisfied over the places where they fly now, which is great to hear!
In Santiago in Chile , the Grand Prix Qualifying is on with 3 European pilots in the top 3.
After 6 days out of 8 , Uli Schwenk is leading before Tilo Holighaus and Thomas Gostner. I heard a fatal accident has happened but I could not find any proof of that till now. My source is very reliable, so I guess I should be sad over 2 fatal accidents during the GP over the last years.[New Zealand and Chile].
Then better some good news before I leave you to Jo.
I know my readers are mostly also my friends and a lot of them live in Australia.
From October 13 till November 12 2009 , I will be back in Tocumwal and I am very excited to go back again. From November 12 till 19 I will spend some time in Cairns before flying home back to Holland.
So enjoy now the story from Benalla by Jo!
47th Multiclass Nationals
Gliding Club of Victoria, Benalla
12 – 23 January 2009
Practice Mon 12 Jan 09
55 pilots entered the Nationals – Standard 19 pilots, Open x 8, 18 metre x 12, 15 metre x 16. 41 pilots launched on practice day, several resting after the Vic State Comp last week.
Cu was predicted over the distant mountains and to the north-east, with max temperature around 34 degrees, moderate instability and some thermal distortion.
The day turned out to be blue and there was less cu on track than predicted; there were 7 or 8 knots at 7,000′ but it was difficult below 5,000′ and conditions weakened at the end of the task.
Winners:
Standard: Tobias Geiger (LS 4A) at 117.1 km/h over 328.1 km
15m: John Buchanan (ASW27) at 121.8 km/h over 315.2km
18m: Bruce Taylor (Ventus 2cT) at 120.8 km/h over 363.2km
Open: Gerrit Kurstjens (Nimbus 4T) at 114.4 km/h over 348.5km
Day 1 Tue 13 Jan 09
A day of extreme fire danger and a total fire ban is declared in Victoria. A slow moving pressure system is situated in the Tasman Sea and a low pressure trough over the Bight will reach south-west Victoria late today. Cu over the distant mountains and to the north-east is predicted with a max temp of 38 degrees and slight-moderate instability with some thermal distortion. Max height DALR 9500 ave lift 6-8 kts max 10+.
6.30pm Day 1 Tue 13 Jan 09
The temperatures mid-afternoon were down a bit and there was not as much cloud as forecast; the day was basically blue. Pilots reported varied experiences – some found great lift all day and lots of gaggles to hop across, others found sink around the last turn. There was one outlanding, about 18km from the finish.
Day 2 Wed 14 Jan 09
Provisional day 1 winners:
Standard: Peter Temple (LS 8) – 123.9 km/h – 380.1 km
15 m: David Pietsch (ASW 20) – 120.8 km/h – 381.2 km – “I’ll take luck over skill any time!”
18 m: Graham Parker (ASG 29) – 131.5 km/h – 487.4 km
Open: Gerrit Kurstjens (Nimbus 4T) – 119.1 km/h – 487.4km
Another total fire ban for most of Victoria. A slow moving pressure system is situated in the Tasman sea and a trough will move over the contest area today, estimated to be at Benalla at 1700 hrs local time. The day will be mostly sunny with scattered cu and isolated CB. Max temp expected 42 degrees, with 36 degrees to break to 4,000′. There will be moderate instability with some thermal distortion. Max height DALR 13-14,000′ average lift 11-12 kts max 14.
Racing tasks were again set for all classes.
Michael Sommer, who lives in Melbourne, saw that it was to be a good day and has come up to Benalla to fly a Nimbus into the mountains.
11.10am day 2 Wed 14 Jan 09
Pilots’ meeting called on the grid.
Day not starting as early as predicted and cirrus is moving in.
A & B racing tasks canned; task now C task – a shorter AAT for each class.
3.15pm day 2 Wed 14 Jan 09
6 club gliders launched at 10.30am to capitalise on the 36 degree trigger temperature, but there was unanticipated inversion over the top. Feeble lift was contacted 7 km to the north of the field but conditions slackened towards the Warby range.
Non-competition pilots, English visitor Bob Nichols in his Ventus 2 scraped northwards whilst Michael Sommer in a Nimbus 3 and Graham Garlick (competition weatherman) in an ASW20 polished the Chesney rocks. Graham Garlick succumbed to a smallish paddock to watch Michael Sommer scrape away in feeble lift. Bob Nichols and Michael Sommer are aiming for a thousand.
In trying 40 degree heat, there was a change of runway as the wind had moved from north-easterly to a westerly, and launch commenced around 2.30pm.
The AAT was brought back to 2.5 hours with a change to the first circle for Standard – 30 km to 50 km: Boree Creek 169.2 km (30 / 50); Deniliquin 159.3 km (70); Glenrowan 152.5 km (15) – 319.0 km / 709.8 km (502.1 km) – Standard 282 / 745 (502.1).
At 3pm, 18m competitor Hank Kauffmann reported 7 kts climb to a cooler altitude. The heat on the ground prevails; the Wagga Wagga trace predicts 12,000 ‘ in the direction of the task.
7.30pm day 2 Wed 14 Jan 09
Last on the grid, Open class gate opened at 4.15pm. It took a while to break through the inversion, but the day turned out to be good in the air and very fast – strong reliable climbs, which dropped off a bit at about 11,000’.
11am Thu 15 Jan 09
Yesterday saw Bob Nichols, visiting English pilot, complete 1,030 km – his first thousand. Michael Sommer did 1,137 km; back at work today!
The winning speeds for day 2 were fast:
Standard: Tom Gilbert (SZD 55) – 144.2 km/h – 381.5 km
15m: John Buchanan (ASW 27) – 142.9 km/h – 379.0 km
18m: Graham Parker (ASG 29) – 158.9 km/h – 406.8 km
Open: Gerrit Kurstjens (Nimbus 4T) – 137.3 km/h – 343.2 km
Today, a trough lies to the north-east and a cold front will cross Tasmania. A high pressure system will develop over the Bight. There is a south-westerly stream with some subsidence, with the temps increasing as the high moves to the east. There is a chance of showers and thunderstorms in the afternoon with a max temp of 32 degrees. Lift will be unstable; max height DALR 6,000; ave lift 4 kts max 8 kts with a late start – 1730 hrs. Visibility will be good but reducing in showers. Hot temps are forecast from Sat onwards.
Today is cancelled because of the overcast conditions with low convection.
2pm day 3 Fri 16 Jan 09
Contest Day 3 has started, with gliders doing an area task of 200-500 km. Weather was forecast to be cool and blue, with strong south to south-westerly winds.
A westerly wind change didn’t happen as predicted. Instead the wind strengthened from the south and caused problems during launch because of strong crosswinds. Standard and 18m were launched on a 3 hour task, and 15m were regridded and launched on a 2 hour task. Open Class, who were at the rear of the grid, was cancelled because there was not enough time for them to do a task.
11am day 4 Sat 17 Jan 09
Day 3 provisional winners:
Standard: Tobias Geiger (LS 4A) – 91.3 km/h – 274.6 km
15m: John Buchanan (ASW 27) – 94.1 km/h – 194.1 km
18m: David Jansen (ASG 29) – 102.6 km/h – 312.0 km
Open: day cancelled
There were 5 outlandings.
Graham Garlick predicts that today will be less grueling than yesterday, though the tasks are longer. The high has moved in, with temps similar to yesterday and weaker winds.
The day will be blue with some cirrus and cu over the distant mountains and an (optimistic) max temp of 29 degrees. Lift will be slightly unstable in the lower level with some subsidence. Max height DALR 7500 ave lift 4-6 kts max 10 start 1200 hrs cut off at Benalla 1800 hrs.
Racing tasks are set for all classes, with Open on the front of the grid.
7.30pm day 4 Sat 17 Jan 09
Last on the grid, 18m was altered to the Standard class task, a shorter racing task, because the day started low at Benalla.
Out on track it steadily improved to the north with some thermals 7 – 8 knots to 7,000′ AGL. The day slowly deteriorated towards the south and the Mildura River, but then improved slightly on the way home to Benalla. “It was a better day for golf than gliding.” 5 outlandings so far.
11am day 5 Sun 18 Jan 09
Yesterday, Jay Anderson outlanded at Corowa airfield; he took an aerotow and then landed 16 km from Benalla – another aerotow.
Day 4 provisional winners:
Standard: Tom Gilbert (SZD 55) – 108.7 km/h – 410.7 km
15m: John Buchanan (ASW 27) – 101.3 km/h – 385.4 km
18m: Graham Parker (ASG 29) – 115.3 km/h – 375.6 km – “thanks to the standard and 15m gliders for creating a trail of plastic for me to follow on the first 2 legs!”
Day 3 provisional winner:
Open: Gerrit Kurstjens (Nimbus 4T) – 104.1 km/h – 470.5km
After calling in back up loggers, Tim Shirley will finalise day 2 scores incorporating airspace infringements today.
A high pressure system will move across Bass Strait and advance towards the Tasman Sea. The day will be blue with some cirrus and cu over the distant mountains. Max temp expected 33 degrees. Lift will be moderately stable; max height DALR 7000; ave lift 6 – 7 kts max 10+. Start 1100 hrs cut off at Benalla 1800 hrs.
Indications are that the day may be slighter better than originally predicted with a northerly tendency bringing higher temperatures.
AATs have been set in all classes. 18m is first on the grid, Standard, 15m, Open.
6pm day 5 Sun 18 Jan 09
The day was similar to yesterday, but a bit better. Climbs were very broken, average 6 knots, improving towards the end of the tasks. For once, many pilots were pleased to be getting south of the Murray River and back into Victoria where, today, lift was better.
There were no outlandings.
Spot tracking devices are being used in this competition. Spot is a small (mobile phone size) internal battery powered device that has a GPS for position and communicates back to base via satellite. The device reports a position every 10 minutes.
Tracking is being displayed at the Benalla clubhouse on a big screen and is also available on the internet.
The Club has 10 spots available through the Gliding Club of Victoria and 10 units compliments of New South Wales Gliding Association. Additionally, a number of pilots have their own spots.
With 19 gliders in Standard class, 8 in Open, 12 in 18 metre and 16 gliders in 15 metre, the Spots are being placed in one class each day + leaders in other classes.
This is proving a great way to provide interest to those at the competition but left on the ground, and to let the rest of Australia and the world know what’s happening at the Australian Nationals.
To access Spot, use browsers Firefox or Safari – not Internet Explorer.
See also:
http://www.findmespot.com/
http://www.glidingmaps.com/
11am day 6 Mon 19 Jan 09
Day 5 provisional winners:
Standard: Peter Temple (LS 8) – 112.8 km/h – 347.6 km
15m: Peter Trotter (ASW 20) – 115.5 km/h – 348.8 km
18m: Bruce Taylor (Ventus 2cT) – 122.9 km/h – 442.7 km
Day 4 provisional winner:
Open: Gerrit Kurstjens (Nimbus 4T) – 114.3 km/h – 345.1 km
There is a high pressure system in the Tasman Sea and a trough of low pressure will cross western and central Victoria. The day is blue but there is a possibility of cu mid afternoon at Benalla! There will be cu over the mountains and to the north-east. Max temp is expected to be 37 degrees. Lift will be unstable; max height DALR 10,000; average lift 7 – 9kts, max 12+. Start 1100 hrs, cut off at Benalla late.
Graham Garlick launched around1100 hrs and was going through 5,000′ at 10 knots, so his prediction of a good day seems correct. First competition launch midday – Standard, 15m, 18m, Open – all racing tasks.
7pm day 6 Mon 19 Jan 09
Today turned out to be ‘real gliding weather’ – strong thermals that worked, but some found it difficult to get a decent climb around Urana. The day was blue – fine and sunny with no cu around Benalla at all! There were 2 outlandings.
11am day 7 Tue 20 Jan 09
Day 6 provisional winners were the same as the previous day winners in each class:
Standard: Peter Temple (LS 8) -126.7 km/h – 504.8 km
15m: Peter Trotter (ASW 20) – 125.0 km/h – 519.2 km
18m: Bruce Taylor (Ventus 2cT) – 133.2 km/h – 490.3 km
Day 5 provisional winner:
Open: Gerrit Kurstjens (Nimbus 4T) – 126.2 km/h – 477.9km
Leaders after 6 days of flying are:
Standard:
1. Peter Temple – LS 8 – 5648
2. Tom Gilbert – SZD55 – 5540
3. Tobias Geiger – LS 4A – 5296
4. Lisa Trotter – LS 8 – 5025
15m:
1. John Buchanan – ASW 27 – 5941
2. Peter Trotter – ASW 20 – 5525
3. Miles Gore-Brown – LS 8 – 5341
4. David Pietsch – ASW 20 – 5188
18m:
1. Graham Parker – ASG 29 – 5714
2. Bruce Taylor – Ventus 2cT – 5680
3. David Jansen – ASG 29 – 5678
4. Tom Claffey – ASG 29 – 5411
There is a protest meeting tonight regarding day 2 Open Class scores.
Today there is a total fire ban in Victoria and south-western New South Wales. The day is difficult to predict. A high pressure system is in the Tasman. Benalla surface wind 340/15. Max temp predicted 41 degrees. Lift unstable; max height DALR 12,000; ave lift 7 – 9 kts, max 12+. Start 1200 hrs, cut off at Benalla late.
Graham Garlick predicts that it could be very very good because a trough of low pressure near western and coastal regions is moving north-eastwards into the task area. Cu is already popping over the mountains.
An AAT has been set in each class – Mount Beauty (50), Euroa (40), Coreen (50), Glenrowan (10). 15m has 3.5 hrs; all other classes 3.0 hrs. Grid 15m, Standard, 18m, Open.
5.30pm day 7 Tue 20 Jan 09
The day turned out to be spectacular and dramatic. Heavy rain to the east and the north; most only touched the first circle because of low cloud base and rain. There was good cu for the rest of the track, and overdevelopment with exceedingly strong conditions in the north sector. Lift was variable, as predicted. According to Andrew Georgeson “the thermals were square”.
3 outlandings: Tim Wilson and Jaroslaw Mosiejewski at Porepunka, Peter Trotter at Moyhu.
11.45am day 8 Wed 21 Jan 09
Peter Gray, contest director, thanked the tuggies and pilots for such a good performance in difficult launch conditions yesterday; the pilots loudly applauded the tuggies.
Provisional day 7 winners:
Standard: Lisa Trotter (LS 8) – 145.1 km/h – 469.0 km
15m: John Buchanan (ASW 27) – 146.2 km/h – 552.0 km
18m: Tom Claffey (ASG 29) – 159.9 km/h – 498.8 km – “my fastest speed in a competition by far”.
Provisional day 6 winner:
Open: Gerrit Kurstjens (Nimbus 4T) – 145.6 km/h – 441.4 km
The low pressure trough will weaken over north-east Victoria today; the day will be either blue or become cloudy, with isolated showers and thunderstorms. Today will not be as good as yesterday; max temp expected 38 degrees. Lift will be unstable; max height DALR 10,000 ave lift 6 – 8 kts max 10 +. Start 1100 hrs, cut off late, but earlier if thunderstorms develop.
The same AAT has been set in all classes – Standard and 18m 3.30 hrs, 15m and Open 4 hrs; launch Open, 15m, 18m, Standard. First launch midday, but the day is slow to heat up and the wind has gone to the west. Cu is forming to the north.
6pm day 8 Wed 21 Jan 09
Greg Schmidt: “I got more than 100 kph so it was a good day; that’ll do me! I’ve had 132 kph and 120+ kph and my aim was to break 100 at this comp, so I’ve done that.”
John Nicholls: “I found it mixed; slow on the first leg, then came good. On the second leg, after the cu, it slowed right down so I was conservative and made sure that I got home.”
Andrew Georgeson: “A bit of a tricky day – thermals like triangles – but I blasted home, but then probably everyone else did that too.”
Kris Kauffmann: “The day was better than expected, but tricky – raging to the north of the river; I was worried that it would be dead on the way home, but it was a lot better than it looked.”
Geoff Brown: “It was an interesting day. The weather changed quite a bit – from going fast to slowing right down. I’m having fun.”
Ross McLean: “It was an excellent soaring day, regular strong thermals, high cloud base, some cu and challenging because conditions changed north of the river – it was stronger compared to south of the river.”
11.15am Thu 22 Jan 09
Day cancelled. A cold front is moving through, bringing variable winds gusting to 45 knots on the ground. Chance of thunderstorms with rain later in the day. Humidity is 64%. Pilots are securing their gliders and trailers.
noon Thu 22 Jan 09
Leaders in each class going into the final day are:
Standard
Peter Temple – Adelaide Soaring Club – LS 8 – 7636
Tom Gilbert – Temora – SZD 55 – 7065
Tobias Geiger – Gliding Club of Victoria – LS 4A – 6964
Lisa Trotter – Kingaroy – LS 8 – 6809
Explaining his move into standard class, Peter Temple said: “I enjoyed club class, but I did a flight in Lisa Trotter’s LS 8 at Kingaroy on a no-fly day and fell in love with it”.
15m
John Buchanan – Kingaroy – ASW27 – 7942
Miles Gore-Brown – Kingaroy – LS 8 – 6976
David Pietsch – Temora – ASW 20 – 6816
Bill Hatfield – Kingaroy – LAK 17 – 6606
18m
Graham Parker – Adelaide Soaring Club – ASG 29 – 7683
David Jansen – Kingaroy – ASG 29 – 7507
Bruce Taylor – Kentucky – Ventus 2cT – 7443
Tom Claffey – 2 Wing AAFC – ASG 29 – 7333
Open
Paul Mander / David McManus – Narromine / North Queensland – ASH 25 – 6645
Dion Weston – Cudgegong – ASH 25 – 6211
Gerrit Kurstjens – Darling Downs – Nimbus 4T – 5744
Mick Webster / Graham Rock – Hunter Valley – Duo Discus – 5640
11am day 9 Fri 23 Jan 09
Yesterday’s cold front brought violent torrential rain and 145 kph winds to Benalla. There was a lot of damage on the southern side of town with trees down and rooves blown off, but gliders and trailers at the airfield were secure and undamaged.
Another cold front will approach south-east Victoria later today. Cu is expected over the task area. Max temp 35 degrees. Max height DALR 10,000′; ave lift 6-8 kts max 10+. Start 1100 hrs, end 1800 hrs. Visibility will be generally good but with areas of smoke.
Racing tasks have been set in all classes – 15m & Standard – 430.3 km, 18m & Open – 452 km. Grid: 18m, Standard, Open, 15m.
1.15 pm Fri 23 Jan 09
The day is blue – not heating up sufficiently – temperature only 28 degrees on the ground at Benalla – Tony Tabart just launched as a sniffer.
1.45 pm Fri 23 Jan 09
Temp 29 degrees on the ground. Tony Tabart reports only getting 1.5 knots and nothing above 3,500′; weak broken narrow thermals.
1.53 pm Fri 23 Jan 09
Tony reports 1.5 knots to 3,800′ – “there seem to be an inversion – milky air, but clear above it”.
2 pm Fri 23 Jan 09
Tony reports from north of the lake in the hills – “below 3,000′, haven’t got anything yet – thermals very few and far between”.
2.03 pm Fri 23 Jan 09
Peter Gray announced that the day is cancelled.
Final night diner, Fri 23 Jan 09
Peter Gray, contest director, welcomed everyone to the final dinner and presentations for the 47th Multiclass Nationals. He thanked all pilots and crew – “this is your competition, I especially want to thank the pilots for making this a safe competition and applaud the professional and high quality of airmanship displayed over the last 12 days. I trust that we at Benalla have made your stay one to remember and we invite all of you to return at any time to enjoy the fantastic flying from this site.
“I have enjoyed being your contest director, even though I’ve had to make some hard decisions through Penalty and Protest Committee Meetings, and also some out on the field. This has been a learning curve for me; I have now learnt not to put my hand up at the wrong time!
“This comp would not have been such a success without the first class crew that have done all the hard work and supported me. First and foremost, I wish to thank my good friend – your Operations Director – John Switala for many hours of work and phone calls over the last 3 months. He and I were at the point of answering to such things as ‘hello sweetie’ and ‘goodbye honey’, much to the amazement of our wives.
“Next I would like to thank our weatherman, Graham Garlick, for his usual top job – well done Graham for your accurate interpretations each day which assisted us in getting the best possible launching and tasking. Please thank our task setter, Max Kirschner, who managed to get the best out of each day with challenging tasks. And the man who efficiently and safely lined you up each day and then sent you off, our launch marshal Phil McCann (Phil is from the Bendigo Gliding Club and has given his time to assist us here at the GCV). To keep you all in line and safe, our safety officers did a wonderful job – week one, our visiting Pom instructor, Bruce Cooper and week 2, CTO/Ops Kevin Olerhead. Thanks also to pilot reps – Lisa Trotter, Geoff Vincent and David Jansen.
“The team that put you in the air each day in sometimes difficult conditions, thanks to our 15 tug pilots including Ziggy from the Geelong Club, Jeremy Thompson from Queensland, Sophie and Chris our midweek tug pilot, plus many of our club tug pilots – led by tugmaster Bruce Salter. We must thank all the team that launched you in very hot dusty grueling conditions – the rope runners and wing runners – Lulu, Vivienne, Geoff, Andrew (the masked bandit), David and many others – thank you all.
“One man we couldn’t do without, our very dedicated scorer Tim Shirley, whose competition experience over the years has been invaluable in many areas. Tim’s dedication to duty kept him in the air-conditioned office for the whole competition! The ladies who took your registration, recorded take off times on the grid and took outlanding reports – let’s hear it for the girls in the office – Rhonda Gelletly and Sue Kirschner. Also our scrutineers, Bob Fox and Louis Preiss – thank you both for your dedication in trying conditions. For making our delicious lunches each day – thanks to John Millott and Louise Preiss. Leigh Hall and the team in the kitchen for preparing top quality meals – voted excellent by the pilots and crew who ate at the club each evening. We all thank Gerry Hogan for keeping the bar stocked and for purchasing water and ice for the helpers during the launch. Laurie McKinlay and Ron Grant did a great job in establishing the watering points in the tie down areas, thank you. Paul, our firefighting chopper pilot, for his wonderful display of water bombing – thanks Paul.
“Jutta Goldmann and Kah Chong took some fantastic photos, thank you. And working hard in the background putting our news and photos on the web and compiling our report for Soaring Australia, thanks to Jo Pocklington.
“To all those that I haven’t mentioned who also helped in small and different ways, many thanks to you all too.”
Peter Gray presented trophies:
Doc Heydon Trophy – Standard Class Champion – Peter Temple
15 Metre Champion – John Buchanan
Roger Woods Trophy -18 Metre Class Champion – Graham Parker
Dr Mervyn Hall Trophy – Open Class Champion – Paul Mander / David McManus
Best Performing State Team – South Australia – Graham Parker, Peter Temple, John Nicholls
Sir Donald Anderson Novice Award (first or second nationals) – Kris Kauffman
Best International Pilot – Benny Orrsater (Sweden)
Fun Teams – Mafikeng Maruaders – Graham Parker, Tom Claffey, Lars Zehnder
For scores, tasks and more photos go to Gliding Club of Victoria website
www.glidingclub.org or www.soaringspot.com/austmulti2009/
(diary by Jo Pocklington with thanks to Graham Garlick and Tim Shirley)
That’s it for now. CU next sunday!
Cheers Ritz