VSGC 2008
Photos by Richard Hunter
The Gliding Club of Victoria hosted the Victorian State Gliding Championships from the 5th to 12th January 2008 at Benalla. There is an excellent article in the March 2008 Australian Soaring written by Jo Pocklington and I encourage you all to read it.
State 2008 1
The winners and runner-up in each class were:
Open: Points
- Tony Tabart 929.0
- David Wilson 888.6
15 Metre:
- Bruce Cowain 886.6
- Graham Garlick 881.0
Standard:
- Allan Barnes 947.6
- Toby Geiger 932.8
State 2008 2
Check the differences in the scores; all classes were very close with only 5.6 points separating the winner from runner up in 15 metre class!
We had 17 entries in the comp, which was a little less then we wanted but it was a fun and competitive group and everybody had an enjoyable time. We flew 6 out of 8 days with varied conditions throughout the comp with some days up at 11,000 feet and others we struggled around the task at 4,500 feet. A good test of skills!!
In order to make a competition like this many things need to happen! The GCV would like to thank:
State 2008 3
Jo Pocklington for keeping everybody on the internet up-to-date with the results and news on the comp by providing daily updates on the web site and a comprehensive article in Australian Soaring.
State 2008 4
Kaylene was back in the kitchen and doing a great job for us! Many stayed the night to enjoy Kaylene’s fare and enjoyed the company of other pilots with a beverage from the GCV bar. Ron Grant was Kaylene’s bitch for the week, helping with the ordering and cleaning up! It was good to see someone telling Ron what to do for a change!!
State 2008 5
Gerry Hogan kept the bar filled with the goodies we like!! It seemed an almost daily operation for Gerry. Gerry also helped on the field supplying the daily water requirements for the helpers and manned the Bar-B-Q for our club cook-up nights.
John Millott manned the kitchen during the morning proving an array of rolls with a variety of fillings to fuel us for the day’s activities. You had to be quick to get into the lunch queue as demand was high for his tasty and nutritious lunches.
State 2008 6
John Robinson was our Marshall on the field. The Marshall is responsible for the orderly gridding of gliders for the launch. It is sometimes compared with herding cats. John kept everyone under control, although he did get a few minor scratches!
We had a number of people who turned up regularly to help launch the gliders. Many thanks to Viv Drew, David Holbrook and Gerry Quinlan. Also thanks to other helpers who came out on other days.
State 2008 7
Rhonda and Sue helped in the office with the registrations and the (seemingly) never ending list of paperwork requiring signing, counter-signing, witnesses to the signing and counter-signing and filing! The girls were there in the afternoon also co-ordinating the retrieves, both by air and by road, for those pilots who pushed a little too hard on the day!
Our daily weather was provided by David Wilson. David got it right most days with launching times and task conditions. At least David had to fly in the stuff he predicted!!
State 2008 8
Daily task setting was performed by Peter Gray. Peter set a variety of task lengths and times to suit the conditions and was spot on. As Peter was also a competitor in the comp, we were fairly comfortable that he would set a task that was achievable!! Peter also assisted Gerry with the Bar-B-Q nights.
Deniz Ture kept everyone honest by scoring the event. Deniz helped in the morning with the task setting and was harassed at night with people wanting scores. Deniz was usually one of the last to leave the clubhouse.
State 2008 9
Phil Henderson ran his first competition as Competition Director. Phil was a keen observer of Colin Turner’s “directorship” during the Club Class comps two years ago. Phil observations paid off with a well controlled and smooth competition. Everyone thought Phil did a fantastic job for the whole comp.
The GCV will host the Victorian State Competition next year on 3rd to 10th January 2009 inclusive. Competitions are a good way to hone your gliding skills and learn from others. Have a go – enjoy a competition.