This article by Robyn Sunderland was first published in the Australian Gliding magazine, May 1973
The Wimmera Soaring Club's usual superb hospitality and organisation combined with perfect weather made this year's competition one to remember. Can anyone improve on a comp with 8 excellent flying days out of 8?
The comps were well supported, with 21 competing aircraft. The Open Class provided world class competition, with Paul Mander, Tony Tabart, Dave Ferguson and on the last day John Rowe finishing within minutes of one another each day. Standard Class was mostly Libelles, except Max Hedt in the St. Cirrus who as well as directing the contest won every day he flew most convincingly. Sports and Club Class gave pilots of lesser aircraft and two seaters an opportunity to participate in worthwhile competition, these pilots made some remarkably good flights
The sky each afternoon looked perfect with 5/8 well formed Cumulus at about 7000 feet, but pilots had to contend with some clouds not working and a tendency to overdevelopment (particularly at turning points!) Also conditions were late starting most days; on the Cat's Cradle day not till 3 o'clock, nevertheless Paul Mander flew over 500km Standard Class winner Bob Ward 400km and Merv Gill in the tiny Spruce Goose 250km.
The tasks were well selected, covering a good variety of turning-points and getting almost all pilots home every day. The only exception was the 500k O & R to Redcliffs when the 19m. Kestrels were the only aircraft to get round. However the Standard Class pilots avoided outlandings by turning short, mostly in the Hattah region when it became obvious that over-development at the turn-point would result in their landing either at Redcliffs or in the donga. They all made it back to Horsham. An added incentive to getting home was the fact that there were few dry paddocks for some distance to the north after 6 in. rain the previous week.
The task setter was not responsible for the 500k O & R, certain Pilots exerted an influence on him.
The last Saturday looked so good that the Kestrel pilots and John Rowe in the Open Cirrus aimed to better the Australian 300k triangle record. John certainly had the Cirrus moving up the first and second leg, unfortunately conditions over-developed around Hopetoun and everyone got down around 1000! Possibly if the task had been flown in the other direction the record would have been broken by several pilots.
The mirror start gate was used again with considerable success, there were very few negative starts - one pilot made a radio controlled start thanks to the kindness' of the start gate crew. Some of the turning point photographs were can we say original, thumbs and cockpits and ??? - but not legal. Turning point photography appears to be something which clubs might well consider including in Advanced Training as it is a skill in its own right.
Max Hedt asked if the pilots present thought they should run a comps next year and was left in no doubt - so see you on Feb. 9th next year. And on be- half of all pilots thank you to the members of the Wimmera Soaring Club for such a tremendous week. Many of the people who worked had taken their holidays to run the competitions, most didn't get off the ground themselves because one of the stronger thermals took their Blanik flying without a pilot on the first day - hope it's back in the air very soon.
The Winners:
- Open Class - Dave Ferguson VMFG.
- Standard Class - Max Hedt, Wimmera S.C.
- Open Standard Handicap - Max Hedt
- Sports Class - Bob MacGillivray, Geelong
- Club Class - Merv Gill, Balaklava.
- Sports Club Handicap - Bob MacGillivray.