This article by Leigh Rogers was first published in The Wimmera Mail-Times on the 14th of February, 2011
HORSHAM Week Gliding Competition concluded with a task taking pilots to Minyip and Goroke on Saturday. Contest director David Cleland said conditions made it difficult for pilots.
"It was a very tough day for our pilots. We had 10 land outs, with three requiring towing, six retrievals and one engine failure," he said.
Cleland said competition was cancelled on Friday because of poor weather.
"We managed to fly every second day of the competition which is quite unusual, but the weather has been strange lately," he said.
Cleland said a dinner on Saturday night marked the end of the eight-day competition.
"Despite the difficult weather, the whole competition was a great success and a lot of the pilots said they would be back again next year," he said.
Thursday results: open section, Peter Buskens, Beaufort; 15m section, Jarek Mosiejewski, Geelong; standard class, Gary Stevenson, Grampians; performance class, Noel Vagg and Jim Henkel, Beaufort.
Saturday results: open, Jack Hart, Beaufort; 15m, Geoff Vincent, Grampians; standard, Greg Jackson, Waikerie; performance, Paul Dilks, Bendigo.
Overall results: open, Rolf Buelter, Geelong GC; 15m, Geoff Vincent, Grampians SC; standard, Gary Stevenson, Grampians SC; performance, Noel Vagg and Jim Henkel, Beaufort.