Looking back at the EGC and 13.5 m WGC in Pocuinai,, I still wonder what exactly happened with Stefano and Thomas, in my eyes very respectable and integer, persons and pilots.
So I tried to find out more by asking around a bit.
From the scores I knew how the organizers thought about it.
First I was wondering why all 4 Italian pilots were out. Did they disagree with the organizers or felt ashamed and left? Only Thomas was disqualified.
No that was not the reason.
The withdrawals;
Stefano withdrew “because his mental state after Thomas’ disqualification, without any evidence, prevented him from safely continuing the competition.” I understand that totally.
Luca Urbani withdrew because he seriously damaged the glider in outlanding, because the fields were high and the conditions were very marginal. I know him for many years and he is a very experienced pilot.
Lorenzo Fornari damaged his glider as well.

Then the disqualification;
“Thomas had a shortage of battery and to avoid a potentially dangerous outlanding, he had to find thermals, which is NOT forbidden. In three consecutive days, three gliders were severely damaged and this was the main reason why Thomas did not land and tried to return to the airport. “
If safety was indeed the reason, of course the team did not agree with the outcome of the organizers and they filed a complaint.

I guess that after the WWGC in Lake Keepit, another appeal during a WGC will be delivered to the international court of appeal.
Not good!!!! But honesty and justice , fairness and integrity should win at ALL TIME in sport/life. Including SAFETY.
Otherwise we better stop!
I keep you informed and I am very anxious to know the final result and share it with you.
To be honest, I prefer comps without problems. I guess we ALL do.

——————————————————————-

The 37th WGC in Szeged in Hungary
July 24/ August 5 2022

LOOKING AHEAD;
“Due to unforeseen circumstances, the location of the 37th FAI WGC 2022 has been changed from Kecskemét-Matkópuszta (Hungary) to Szeged (Hungary),” was, what was written in the 2d bulletin.
So Szeged had to organize in a relative short time a WGC, but they did it before.
82 Pilots will attend; the official site www.wgc2022.hu
For some pilots it will be the return to where they were once before.
Maybe in 2010 when Michael Sommer won in open class , Zbigniew Nieradka in 18 m and Stefano Ghiorzo…yes Stefano, who was bitterly disappointed in Pocuinai and withdrew….in 15 m.
In my last blog I gave you the schedule, so now it’s looking ahead of what’s going to happen and who is who.
In 20 meter class there are 2 interesting couples. Sarah ,who won the last WWGC in Australia, flies with Karl Striedeck, multiple WGC pilot and more than that,…. a USA icon!!! Strong couple.
AND,…the only competitors from the USA. They fly an ARCUS T.
From Australia Allan Barnes also in an ARCUS now an M, with Harry Medlicott in his mid nineties. Allan flew several WGC’s and Harry is a flying phenomena. This is what he always wanted and now at this age it all happens, why not??!!!
Also they,… are the only participants from Australia.
Pierre and Arnaud de Broqueville, are well-known faces in this class too AND good pilots!!!
The Finish team Aku Jaakkola and Juha Sorri, might be less well known in this class, but during my stays in Finland I got to learn them. Jaku then still as a junior, now married with children, Juha a bit older with many titles on his name.(Finnish champion, standard: 1992, 2005, 2007, 2009, 2011, 2012
Finnish champion, racing: 2015, 2017, 2018) and more.
Chances also for UK pilots Steve Jones [ who won with his brother Howard in 2014 in 20 m class]and Gary Coppin .
My Dutch mates Erik Borgmann [runner up in Sweden in Borlange] with Joost Wolff in an ARCUS T, had already good practice together.

In 18 m. Wolfgang from Austria will fly his Ventus 3TS, WGC winner in 2003 [Leszno] and 2018 in Hosi. the brothers Tijl and Bert [jr] Schmelzer both in Ventus 3T. Bert jr was WGC champion in 2014 in Rayskala. Young Petri Sucksdorf is too young to be world champion already, but has a bright future! The French pilots Christophe Abadie and Melanie Gadoulet will fly in a JS 3. Melanie won the last WWGC in Lake Keepit. Good to see Hungarian pilot György Gulyás is still flying comps. He won in 2008 in Luesse. Davide and Riccardo fly their JS 3 for Italy. Hadriaan van Nes and Jeroen Verkuijl participated for the Netherlands in several WGC’s and fly JS3. Attie and Uys fly their own glider for South Africa.
Mac from Japan flies an AS 33es and don’t underestimate Roman Mracek from Czech Rep.

Open class; has several “heroes”. Russell Cheetham [won the WGC in 2017 in Australia ] and Andy for the UK.[won in 2003 in Leszno] . Yves Gerster who had some really good flights lately in JS 1 C /21 m.. Oscar Goudriaan and Riaan Denner fly an EB 29 DR.
Bas Seijffert [The Netherlands ] is good/fast in his JS1C and Alberto Sironi also good and fast in EB 29R. Not too forget Michael Sommer who has been at least 5 times WGC champion in 2006 in Eskilstuna] in 2008 in Luesse. in in 2010 in Szeged , in 2014 in Leszno and in 2018 in Hosin. He flies with Felipe Levine [EB 29R] who was JUNIOR WORLD CHAMPION in 2009 and 2011. Not to forgeteither, Radek Krejcirik from Czech Rep. in a JS1C.
And then Sebastian Kawa even won more, 12 , I counted on different disciplines. BUT I do not see him on the list in Hungary.
I only found 3 Polish pilots one in each class.

I look forward to the event and hope it will be a fair one, without treats from the Russians and without corona. I will keep you informed!

Preparations for the 37th WGC in Hungary;
So is the presentation of the Danish team, but now for the WGC in Hungary.
They fly there with 5 pilots all good ones, what about; Arne Boye Moeller, [18 m] Peter Eriksen, [open] Rasmus Orskov, who was WGC champion in club class in 2018 in Ostrow Poland] , [18 m] Poul Kim Larsen [open] and Tom and Henning in 20 m.

Slowly the teams are arriving in Szeged.
“Arrived in one piece. Glider in good condition. Chomping at the bit.” Oscar from South Africa.
” So , the JS is rigged and ready to go. Now coffee and shopping and a flight to discover the area from above.” Hadriaan from The Netherlands.
“First training flight yesterday with thermals up to 2700 m [5m/sec] . ” Philippe from France.

They are practicing hard as well. Also for today there is grid info on https://wgc2022.hu/ under news. One comment after/during a flight :”First impression .The sky is on fire! (quite literally..)”

——————————————————————

Preparations for the WWGC in Husbos are in full swing as well.
The French are going with a big team to the WWGC in Husbos in the UK. Their presentation is top, look at this. Sorry one way or another the pictures at the flag from the girls disappeared.
4 of the girls I met at the last WWGC in Australia, where Melanie became world champion.
Anne was WWGC champion in 2013 and 2015 and Aude Grangeray in 2015 and 2017. A very strong team.

———————————————————————————

It’s hot in the Netherlands, very hot but the annual SUMMER COMPS 2022 from Malden were on, between 17 July 2022 – 23 July 2022.
It’s a qualification competition to enter the Dutch Nationals and for some a fun competition.
Even with the 40 dgr. C they had to fly a 2 hour AAT. But the higher , the cooler and for those on the ground they have a huge cellar under there hangar , where they store all their gliders in winter, and that area under the ground is nice cool.
Till now they flew 2 out of 3 days , with a 184 km. set task, and 2 x a 2 hour AAT. The last one was cancelled.
For today a 105 km. race is set, with the expectation later in the day for severe thunderstorms with hail , lot’s of rain and gusty winds.

OLC news;
Between the 1.230 km. last Friday From Gordon Boetcher/ James Lee from Minden in the ARCUS J and the 1.025km. from Germany by Josh Jarosch in a Nimbus 4 , the flight from Tim Kuijpers in his ASW 20 WL, from 961 km. flown from Malden, was outstanding. He tried a 1000 but as he said he made a small mistake at the TP…. costing him. Great flight mostly flown over Germany.
On Saturday still great weather ;1.345 km by Keith Essex from Ely Arpt in the EB 29R.
Fuente has early already top weather…the heat there is unbearable so the higher the better….4x a 1000 km.plus .
Sunday .Great flight from Alfred Paul from the Netherlands flying from Garray Sorianuma in Spain; Soria.
He flew easily avoiding thunderstorms ;1.105.77 km with speed of 147 km./h He loved flying from Soria so much ….”What a country this is !! The most attractive women, stunning nature, and  I believe the best European gliding conditions”….that he will travel back for another week after work.

We had tropical temperatures on Monday, the first official tropical day in the whole country; we here in the SE had it already earlier this year and we had 39.8 dgr. C yesterday, not the expected/forecasted 40 ….with code orange for heat and smog, but I did not see any smog.
Also the UK suffers from the heat with temperatures over 40 dgr. C, never ever before it was so hot there. So it was a “HOT TOPIC” during the day.
Heat records everywhere in the S W of Europe, BUT …it is not funny anymore. Over 500 died of the heat only in Spain. In Spain, France and Portugal bushfires got out of control. Like in Australia ,where I spend a lot of time, people have to leave their houses , camping’s and agriculture land….. tragic!

CU again on Wednesday or earlier when there is enough WGC or other news!!!
Cheers Ritz