This article by Jessica Grimble was first published in The Wimmera Mail-Times on 9th of February 2007.
GLIDER pilots from across Australia travelled to the Wimmera for the Horsham Week Regatta and Victorian State Gliding Championships this week.
The regatta, celebrating its 40th anniversary this year, is one of the oldest gliding meets in the world, attracting pilots of all ages and skill levels.
Competition director Rolf Buelter said the meet had attracted 35 to 40 people to the Horsham area.
"Most people stay here for the duration of the competition, and the majority of people have been here in past years," Mr Buelter said.
Tom Van Blaricun of Melbourne is a familiar face at the Horsham Week Regatta, having travelled to the meet for the past 25 years.
He works in the aviation industry as an aircraft structural test engineer, and said he had always had an interest in gliding.
"It's a challenge to fly, and I have been flying for 30 years," he said.
"I enjoy competing, but you can't take it too seriously.
"There is a core group that comes along to the Horsham regatta each year.
"Others may come and go, but we all get along well."
Ben Loxton, 25, of Melbourne is one of the youngest participants in the competition.
Loxton, an aerospace engineering student at RMIT, has attended the Horsham regatta for the past two years.
"Competing is good fun - more fun than anything else," Loxton said.
"I've always been interested in aviation and have flown gliders for four years.
"The other senior pilots are really supportive of the younger pilots.
"They coach us a bit and are really helpful."
Michael Sommer, a world open-class gliding champion, visited the competition earlier in the week, but returned to his Melbourne home on Tuesday because of work commitments.
The competition will finish tomorrow and director Rolf Buelter said close racing was expected in all classes.
The lowest class is the Sports Class which features glider pilots up to 40 years of age.
The Standard Class is defined by a restriction which does not allow the wing span of a glider to exceed 15 metres and flaps cannot be used.
In the Racing Class the wing span cannot exceed 15 metres, but flaps may be used to assist flight.
There are no restrictions on the Open Class.
Each daily winner receives 1000 points towards their final tally while other competitors receive a percentage of the winner's points.
All points will be counted tomorrow to determine a final winner for the regatta.