First the last daily evening news from Matej yesterday;
“One last time during this competition, the pilots took off from the planes of the Tabor airfield today. After the two weeks full of excellent weather and exceptional performance, the competitors are currently attempting to achieve the highest average speed in today’s AAT tasks. Like everyone else, even the sky is mourning and crying today, causing some showers through out the day. Luckily, the local weather wanted to be remembered as extraordinary and except the showers, it remained very favorable. After the pilots will arrive from their final flight, pack their gliders and maybe have some rest, they can enjoy the farewell party, which will take place today at 19:30. It is the best way to celebrate the amazing time we all have spent here at the beautiful Tabor airport.”

AND here is David from the USA with another long but interesting story and his view on these comps.
“This morning I was sad, sad, sad that this amazing adventure was coming to an end. That sadness quickly turned into excitement as I was in the front of the grid and had a beautiful sky ahead of me.”
AND
“The amount that I was able to learn and the distance that I was able to fly was absolutely incredible. The learning curve was quite steep but I was able to cope rather well. The fact that this is a full team effort was the biggest shock to me.“
The full story on US Soaring Teams

Team UK via British Gliding Team
“A very close battle right to the end. Podiums for both Finn Sleigh and Toby Freeland! Gold and Silver respectively – Absolutely amazing! Well done to both!” I can only agree.

Whilst typing I was looking at and listening to the prize giving.
10 from each class were asked to come forward. 7 Of them for the certificate and 3 for the medals.
For the NEW WORLD CHAMPIONS there was the National anthem of the UK and Germany.
The winners also got a huge model of a glider!!!

The TEAM cup was won by Germany; GOLD.
Silver was for France.
On 3 the DUTCH team
ALL members of the team and their TC were cheered on.
These results are different to the ones on soaringspot , so I can’t give you the numbers.
Unfortunately the UK had no points on the last day [ damage and illness in St. class, Henry even had to be brought to hospital!!!!] so they were not on 1 anymore.
All the more CHAPEAU for Finn who flew ,when he really was n’t feeling too good. If you are on the gold position you don’t give up easily…… so VERY WELL DESERVED this “fight against all odds ” for gold!

The FAI flag was lowered on with their own FAI hymn and CD Tomas handed it over to Poland for he next JWGC.

Tabor will have the Europeans in ’23 and in ’24 the WGC as well , is what the president of the jury mentioned when he closed the 12TH JWGC!!!!!A splendid one!!!!
If those comps are AS GOOD as these, we can look forward to more great flying in a very pleasant atmosphere. Hopefully the weather is then as glorious as now.

Out of 13 days they had 10 valid soaring- days in both classes!!!!
Life-long-friendships have been made, experiences ,which a lot of young people their age will never have , created and for me as an elderly person, I can only say…… I enjoyed every minute.

Waiting for pictures on the prize giving and then ” full throttle” to the WWGC as priority, but also to the 18 m and 20 m Nationals at Lasham and the CIM in Rieti.

CLUB CLASS;

AND
An extra picture from team UK without Henry.

————————————————————————

11th FAI Womens World Gliding Championship

Husbands Bosworth, United Kingdom,
11 August 2022 – 27 August 2022

Today the ladies and their crews gathered together in a small town called Market Harborough.

Tomorrow on Sunday is the first flying day.

The VERY STRONG French team with as TC Eric Napoleon.

UK 18M & 20M Nationals Lasham 2022
Lasham, United Kingdom
13 August 2022 – 21 August 2022

Day 1 with task 1 is set and done .54 Pilots were ready for this high-levelled championship.
AND ,…it was a really good first day!
18 m; task 1.…375.38 km;
all 43 pilots in this class started and finished and Gary [Stingemore] was the best with a speed of 141.43 km./h! Gary flies an AS33es.
Just a tad slower was Derren [Francis] Ventus 3TS; 140.91 km./h!
20 Flew with a speed of over 130 km/.h.

20 m; task 1…. 359.09 km…..14 2-seaters participate, either a conversion of Duo Discus or ARCUS. With 127.42 km./h. Matthew Cook was the daily best in his ARCUS T , closely followed by Steve Jones in an ARCUS M. Interesting point. Steve flew the WGC recently together with Garry Coppin, they won bronze and they just “kicked” the Dutch team of the podium.[3 points]
Now he flies together in the ARCUS with call sign 66 , with Andy [Aveling] against Steve.
” It will be an interesting duel!” I heard.

You can follow them daily on;
https://www.lashamcomps.co.uk/tracking

———————————————————-

CIM – Coppa Internazionale del Mediterraneo
Rieti, Italy
10 August 2022 – 20 August 2022

They have started already and have flown now for 3 days, so 3 tasks in a mixed class and in 18m/ open class.
The MIXED class had tasks as 2 .50 AAT and 3.10 and a racing task from 360.65 km. today.
21 fly in this class and team Alberto [Sironi] won day 1 in ARCUS T followed by team John Coutts in AS G 32MI. Speed 122.34 km./h. and 119.22 km./h.
I got to know John as a junior in Rieti in 2007. I even remember his dad was there then too. Time flies!!!
The next 2 days were won by Marius Pluščauskas from Lithuania in Ventus 2AX.
Task 2 with a speed of 134.90 km./h for 1000 points and today task 3 with 127.54 km./h.
In 3 days ONLY ONE out-landing.

In 18 m./open class task 1 was won by Alvaro in his ASH 31 MI;130.55 km../h….. have n’t see Alvaro for a long time, may- be during the last CIM I visited. Markus [Frank] in the EB was runner up ; Faster but handicap;132.92 km./h.
task 2 , a 3 hour AAT, was for Boris Zorz in the JS 3 followed by 2x a Ventus 3T from Thomas [Gostner] and Giorgio [Galetto] Alvaro was 4th. Speed 138, 136 and 135 km./h.
Task 3 a racing task from 361 km. was not too good for Giorgio. He was “out” after 248.80 km. and last on the list. A pity!!!!

Not yet found ONE picture of the standard class. Unbelievable. Will try tomorrow again as some heads might be clear then.

Had some problems with my laptop as well, overheated from working TOO hard.
Hence less pictures.
Hope to solve the problem tomorrow.
It was 35 dgr C here today. Still a heat wave in The Netherlands From Monday on, thunderstorms and cooler still 27!

For now sleep well.
Cheers Ritz