Hello Sports fans.
Its all over including the shouting.
At the final dinner "debt collector" Theo, extracted some more dosh for the local Search and Rescue Volunteers. The objective wa sto make enough so that they could have a "Grab & Go" kit for hillside rescues that they could take with them on the Helicopter or whatever when they had a mission on a hillside.
Included in a specicial Pack would be such items as bolt/tube cutters, saws, stabalisation equipments, patient protection equipment and all the things they need for such operations
It was gratifying to see that $1855 ish was raised for that worthy cause.
With only one road retrieve from Wanaka-which saw Ben,Tony & Russell arrive back at 11pm - some 70 odd bods enjoyed a fine meal-and had to put up with me raving on and organising the prizes.
This was my last stint as Contest Director at Omarama(my first was 2007 and next months Club Class Nationals will be my last stint as Contest Director. A journey I started some 10 years ago in Matamata.
Time for a new, enthusiastic member of the gliding fraternity to meet fabulous people and be involved in an amazing activity. I can recommend it as a satisfying experience. As I have been quoted, "its like herding cats". Getting so many diverse personalities all heading in the same direction. For me immensly satisfying.
Now to the numbers.
You can see the final scores on the website http://glidingcomps.42.net.nz/nat2011/index.php
The trophies were awarded and thanks to the Aussie Battler's Janeen for presenting the prizes.
Broadlands Cup, winner of 15m Dane Dickinson
Court Trophy, highest placed FAI Standard class Dane Dickinson
Messervy Trophy, most Meritorious Flight over a triangular course, Dane Dickinson Day 6.
Rix Memorial Trophy, highest placed pilot under 25, Dane Dickinson(last time he can win it he says)
Georgeson Trophy, winner of 18 metre class, Grae Harrison
Berkett Trophy, highest placed pilot from the other island, Grae Harrison
Wills Cup, presented by Gavin Wills with the story behind the trophy, awarded to Doug Hamilton/Karen Morgan
Hansell Trophy - most meritorious flight, awarded to George Wills, Day 6 almost home.
Continental Airlines Trophy, longest speed task, awarded to Mike Oakley & Crew, day 4 456kms
Hookings Trophy, Most meritorious flight not a triangle awarded to Billy Walker, Day 3 144.3 kph
Richardson Trophy, highest average speed, Billy Walker, Day 3 144.3 kph
Veterans Trophy, highest placed pilot over 60, Warren Dickinson
The Tasman Trophy - New Zealand - Care of Tony Passmore.
Thats it from me and I wish you all good flying
Keep it up!
Final Glide from Irishmans Creek to Omarama
From XG
Friday, January 14, 2011
Thursday, January 13, 2011
DAY 6 and Flying
The Day started very well with forecast giving good thermal activity albeit a bit blue.
Messrs Kraak, McCaw & McCaw started off the front of the grid to do the task plus a bit to get in a 500km thermal day. 2 or 3 the tree landed out while the third got around the first turnpoint and a third of the way on leg 2 before scratching his way home. The tenacity we like to see in a rugby player.
The launch was interesting with one lad dopping his rope grabbing hook which entailed a linup of grid guys walking line abreast from the next glider in line down the runway. Then we had a towplane reporting smoke and waved off his glider at around 8/900 feet. He retuned safely and the glider climbed away-fabulous.
With 6 towplanes and and 26 gliders to launch it didnt take long.
The day didnt perform as expected and our Aussie Battler lead the charge into airstrips. At one stage we had 4 towplanes on retrieves. Two towplanes had to refuel at Wanaka to achieve their tasks with one towplane doing retrieves from Minnaret station, Makaora and Mt Cook.
The "buggar" award surely went to George Wills who climbed to 8,000ft at Pukaki for his final glide and got shot down 12kms short of Omarama. A great effort.
Today looks good and forecast says better than yesterday. But task setters are a bit gunshy after yesterday's forecast didnt pan out as hoped.
Its an AAT task for all classes so we are looking forward to everyone getting back OK in time for tea and medals also know as final dinner and prizegiving.
To the grid to the grid to the grid grid grid.
Keep it up
Messrs Kraak, McCaw & McCaw started off the front of the grid to do the task plus a bit to get in a 500km thermal day. 2 or 3 the tree landed out while the third got around the first turnpoint and a third of the way on leg 2 before scratching his way home. The tenacity we like to see in a rugby player.
The launch was interesting with one lad dopping his rope grabbing hook which entailed a linup of grid guys walking line abreast from the next glider in line down the runway. Then we had a towplane reporting smoke and waved off his glider at around 8/900 feet. He retuned safely and the glider climbed away-fabulous.
With 6 towplanes and and 26 gliders to launch it didnt take long.
The day didnt perform as expected and our Aussie Battler lead the charge into airstrips. At one stage we had 4 towplanes on retrieves. Two towplanes had to refuel at Wanaka to achieve their tasks with one towplane doing retrieves from Minnaret station, Makaora and Mt Cook.
The "buggar" award surely went to George Wills who climbed to 8,000ft at Pukaki for his final glide and got shot down 12kms short of Omarama. A great effort.
Today looks good and forecast says better than yesterday. But task setters are a bit gunshy after yesterday's forecast didnt pan out as hoped.
Its an AAT task for all classes so we are looking forward to everyone getting back OK in time for tea and medals also know as final dinner and prizegiving.
To the grid to the grid to the grid grid grid.
Keep it up
Wednesday, January 12, 2011
Day 6 Almost
Unfortunately the weather didnt quite come up to expectations, the day was called at 2:30pm.
Just enought time for an intrepid team to hustle up four 4WD vehicles and a jet boat.
Then after a small overheating problem in the Ben Mobile, which gave an excuse to gather at the roadside near the Clearburn Strip. It was off to Turnpoint 46 in the Hopkins River Valley.
A most surprised lone tramper had his tranquil hut setting invaded. First by 4 vehicles and 14 "bods" then almost immediately by a jetboat bring another 3 somewhat wet and cold looking glider pilots.
On the way back the team metup with the more hardy mountain bikers, another half dozen sweaty looking glider pilots who where also out for a non flying day jaunt.
The weather started to look better at 6pm. It must have been OK as Gavin reported scratching around to Mt Aspiring and another local flight climbing to 13,500ft in the wave. But definately was not a taskable day. Honour was satisfied.
Today is the real Day 6 with sunny skys, good forecast and very positive task setting team.
Lex will be flying with Davie Speight in the mighty ASH GYJ, so scoring may be a bit delayed as the long wings task is 470.9kms and the Open class launches off the back of the grid and therefore starts later than the Std/15mtr "boys".
Brian the Aussie Battler is running a blog for his Aussie mates.
http://www.gfa.org.au/iMIS15/GFA/Sports_Content/Brians_Blog.aspx
First launch is estimated to be 12:30. An early day by Omarama standards
Keep it up
Just enought time for an intrepid team to hustle up four 4WD vehicles and a jet boat.
Then after a small overheating problem in the Ben Mobile, which gave an excuse to gather at the roadside near the Clearburn Strip. It was off to Turnpoint 46 in the Hopkins River Valley.
A most surprised lone tramper had his tranquil hut setting invaded. First by 4 vehicles and 14 "bods" then almost immediately by a jetboat bring another 3 somewhat wet and cold looking glider pilots.
On the way back the team metup with the more hardy mountain bikers, another half dozen sweaty looking glider pilots who where also out for a non flying day jaunt.
The weather started to look better at 6pm. It must have been OK as Gavin reported scratching around to Mt Aspiring and another local flight climbing to 13,500ft in the wave. But definately was not a taskable day. Honour was satisfied.
Today is the real Day 6 with sunny skys, good forecast and very positive task setting team.
Lex will be flying with Davie Speight in the mighty ASH GYJ, so scoring may be a bit delayed as the long wings task is 470.9kms and the Open class launches off the back of the grid and therefore starts later than the Std/15mtr "boys".
Brian the Aussie Battler is running a blog for his Aussie mates.
http://www.gfa.org.au/iMIS15/GFA/Sports_Content/Brians_Blog.aspx
First launch is estimated to be 12:30. An early day by Omarama standards
Keep it up
Monday, January 10, 2011
DAY Seex dawns
Yesterday was a most challenging day.
Early on 2 pilots decided that tramping up the Ahuriri Valley offered a much more interesting day while one of our overseas pilots decided to take a friend for a fly in a Duo Discus.
Thank good ness there are a squillion sleek and tidy discii to accomodate such decisions.
I have to admit that at noon with overcast skies I was thinking they may have made the right decision. But no, the forecasters weather duly arrived and in a skurry of activity 24 gliders were launched using 6 towplanes!!! We had 2 extra towplanes on standby in case the task setter required a long tow to Magic Mountin which would have added 4 or 5 minutes to each towplane turnaround time. In the end the local "Horrible" nursery slopes were working so thats where they got launched to.
Some pilots decided to take restarts which put them late on track and ZZ spent quite some time low around the bottom of the Neuman range before staggering honm, task not complete at around 7:30pm. Some heavier gliders couldn't quite get on the tops of the Ben Ohau Range to "get over" and home via Pukaki Spillway. Only one landout which was our Aussie Battler. The retrieve tow pilot arrived back to say "the man deserved a beer" for hanging on in very blustery conditions at the Glen Lyon strip.
The designated barman called in to apologise that he couldnt open the bar as he was having a ripper west of Queenstown and could we organise someone else. Well done LP, shame we hadnt tasked around that area.
Today is another day-forecast not as good as yesterday but we think still taskable. We are aiming to launch the fleet around 1:30-2pm.
Keep it up
Early on 2 pilots decided that tramping up the Ahuriri Valley offered a much more interesting day while one of our overseas pilots decided to take a friend for a fly in a Duo Discus.
Thank good ness there are a squillion sleek and tidy discii to accomodate such decisions.
I have to admit that at noon with overcast skies I was thinking they may have made the right decision. But no, the forecasters weather duly arrived and in a skurry of activity 24 gliders were launched using 6 towplanes!!! We had 2 extra towplanes on standby in case the task setter required a long tow to Magic Mountin which would have added 4 or 5 minutes to each towplane turnaround time. In the end the local "Horrible" nursery slopes were working so thats where they got launched to.
Some pilots decided to take restarts which put them late on track and ZZ spent quite some time low around the bottom of the Neuman range before staggering honm, task not complete at around 7:30pm. Some heavier gliders couldn't quite get on the tops of the Ben Ohau Range to "get over" and home via Pukaki Spillway. Only one landout which was our Aussie Battler. The retrieve tow pilot arrived back to say "the man deserved a beer" for hanging on in very blustery conditions at the Glen Lyon strip.
The designated barman called in to apologise that he couldnt open the bar as he was having a ripper west of Queenstown and could we organise someone else. Well done LP, shame we hadnt tasked around that area.
Today is another day-forecast not as good as yesterday but we think still taskable. We are aiming to launch the fleet around 1:30-2pm.
Keep it up
Saturday, January 8, 2011
DAY 5 - SUNDAY TASK CANCELLED
We knew the day would be "not strong". But were confident it would be flyable.
Plan was to be ready to launch at 1pm for when the temperature went over 20 degrees and the thermals albeit some might be blue, would start popping...
Mmmmm 1:30ish and still all nice and sunny not a cloud in the sky. Some local "rides" were launched on to the nursery slopes but faile dto stay up or climb. One pilot when asked after 45 minutes how it was going reported 3700ft but just had a great climb....of 200 ft....
A motor glider launched on to the Buscott range and reported 300 fpm climb at 3700ft. The pilots sturted to shuffle around on the grid, a bit of expectation in the air. Buggar... a few minutes later motor glider reported couldnt get thru an "inversion" at around 4,000ft.
Dang, its 2:30pm and TASK A has time expired. This is a latest launch time, calculated by estimating the end of the "soarable" day and then back calculating on task time start gate opens launch of the fleet.
Forever hopeful we check the recorded temperature at the airfield. Maybe an increasing temperature will ccok the inversion away? mmm Temperature has been 22C since before 2pm.....More "rides" launch no change in flight profile. WIth TASK B time expiring at 3:30pm a Task C is prepared but not issued to pilots.
Some more waiting while Pilots discuss everything from Schemp Hirth water dump valves that dont, to the merits of bike riding on the wrong side of the road and a million other totally absorbing topics....yea right!
3:30 PM the temperature is now 23C but no change so the day is cancelled
Tis another day tomorrow
Keep it up
Plan was to be ready to launch at 1pm for when the temperature went over 20 degrees and the thermals albeit some might be blue, would start popping...
Mmmmm 1:30ish and still all nice and sunny not a cloud in the sky. Some local "rides" were launched on to the nursery slopes but faile dto stay up or climb. One pilot when asked after 45 minutes how it was going reported 3700ft but just had a great climb....of 200 ft....
A motor glider launched on to the Buscott range and reported 300 fpm climb at 3700ft. The pilots sturted to shuffle around on the grid, a bit of expectation in the air. Buggar... a few minutes later motor glider reported couldnt get thru an "inversion" at around 4,000ft.
Dang, its 2:30pm and TASK A has time expired. This is a latest launch time, calculated by estimating the end of the "soarable" day and then back calculating on task time start gate opens launch of the fleet.
Forever hopeful we check the recorded temperature at the airfield. Maybe an increasing temperature will ccok the inversion away? mmm Temperature has been 22C since before 2pm.....More "rides" launch no change in flight profile. WIth TASK B time expiring at 3:30pm a Task C is prepared but not issued to pilots.
Some more waiting while Pilots discuss everything from Schemp Hirth water dump valves that dont, to the merits of bike riding on the wrong side of the road and a million other totally absorbing topics....yea right!
3:30 PM the temperature is now 23C but no change so the day is cancelled
Tis another day tomorrow
Keep it up
SATURDAYS DAY
Day Four task took pilots over some of the most spectacular scenery in the South Island.
The First Turnpoint Near Glenorchy was so scenic that our Australian Trans Tasman pilot just had to land near Paradise.(I kid you not thats what its called). The area that Peter Jackson used to shoot some spectacular footage for Lord of the Rings. SPOT proved its worth as we knew he landed before he got to a phone to report in. Oh forgot to mention that EE landed on a strip with 600 sheep. No worries says Brian, bought up on a sheep farm. Just herded them down the other end of the cross strip. Well done that man, all without a trusty sheep dog!
Our Airspace Guru Trevor, had negotiated some extra airspace access for airspace controlled by Queenstown Tower which allowed Gliders to fly up to 11,000ft on task rather than the normal airspace restriction of 8,500 and 9,500. Thank you airways Queenstown. Thank you Trevor and Lex for putting the information out to Pilots and in to the scoring program.
Lex had a day off yesterday as he went parting in Christchurch-OK it was a god child but hey-lashings of ice cream and soda pop. Matt took the helm and we still got raw scores out in a timely manner-well done Matt.
A number of landouts gave retrieve aircraft a busy evening with one tug having to refuel at Wanaka to complete his assignment.
We discovered a small glitch with SEEYOU scoring program. TD switched of his GPS 30 seconds after landing and then some time later took an aerotow the short distance back to Omarama. A cunning strategy that fooled SEEYOU in to scoring him as a finisher......But the intrepid operations team easily picked up on that :-)).
The Search and rescue fund got a bit of a boost at briefing this morning(Sunday) as coin contributions were "frowned" upon in favour of something that would buy more than a bootlace for the volunteers. Last time the Nationals were held in Omarama in 2009 the movement raised more than $2,000 for the local volunteers to help fund Sat phones and other equipment to make their job easier.
Today Lemmy has forecast that the task area will be light winds, sunny(mainly blue) with not so high temperatures. With that in mind Tasks for Day 5 Head west to the head of Lake Wanaka then north to a point to the East of Mount Cook and then home.
A task B has been published which is more of a cats cradle to keep the course closer to home.
The word from the wise is that we probably wont launch until after 1pm altho we will need to be ready to launch as soon as the fleet can stay up. So gridding at 12:30 on the runway in front of the Gliding Centre Buildings. With 4 towplanes it shouldnt take long to launch the 26 contestants.(one short today as WC has a day off).
Check the North webcam at http://www.glideomarama.com/conditions/web-cams
for current temperature and what I can see out my window. The grid is slightly to the right of this picture.
Keep it up
The First Turnpoint Near Glenorchy was so scenic that our Australian Trans Tasman pilot just had to land near Paradise.(I kid you not thats what its called). The area that Peter Jackson used to shoot some spectacular footage for Lord of the Rings. SPOT proved its worth as we knew he landed before he got to a phone to report in. Oh forgot to mention that EE landed on a strip with 600 sheep. No worries says Brian, bought up on a sheep farm. Just herded them down the other end of the cross strip. Well done that man, all without a trusty sheep dog!
Our Airspace Guru Trevor, had negotiated some extra airspace access for airspace controlled by Queenstown Tower which allowed Gliders to fly up to 11,000ft on task rather than the normal airspace restriction of 8,500 and 9,500. Thank you airways Queenstown. Thank you Trevor and Lex for putting the information out to Pilots and in to the scoring program.
Lex had a day off yesterday as he went parting in Christchurch-OK it was a god child but hey-lashings of ice cream and soda pop. Matt took the helm and we still got raw scores out in a timely manner-well done Matt.
A number of landouts gave retrieve aircraft a busy evening with one tug having to refuel at Wanaka to complete his assignment.
We discovered a small glitch with SEEYOU scoring program. TD switched of his GPS 30 seconds after landing and then some time later took an aerotow the short distance back to Omarama. A cunning strategy that fooled SEEYOU in to scoring him as a finisher......But the intrepid operations team easily picked up on that :-)).
The Search and rescue fund got a bit of a boost at briefing this morning(Sunday) as coin contributions were "frowned" upon in favour of something that would buy more than a bootlace for the volunteers. Last time the Nationals were held in Omarama in 2009 the movement raised more than $2,000 for the local volunteers to help fund Sat phones and other equipment to make their job easier.
Today Lemmy has forecast that the task area will be light winds, sunny(mainly blue) with not so high temperatures. With that in mind Tasks for Day 5 Head west to the head of Lake Wanaka then north to a point to the East of Mount Cook and then home.
A task B has been published which is more of a cats cradle to keep the course closer to home.
The word from the wise is that we probably wont launch until after 1pm altho we will need to be ready to launch as soon as the fleet can stay up. So gridding at 12:30 on the runway in front of the Gliding Centre Buildings. With 4 towplanes it shouldnt take long to launch the 26 contestants.(one short today as WC has a day off).
Check the North webcam at http://www.glideomarama.com/conditions/web-cams
for current temperature and what I can see out my window. The grid is slightly to the right of this picture.
Keep it up
Friday, January 7, 2011
DAY FOUR DAWNS
A great day yesterday with no landouts by competitors..
As was famously quoted during the Falklands war many years ago by Brian Hanrahan. "I counted them out and I counted them back".
A few pilots abandondoned the task but the vast majority completed. The sad thing about the current scoring system is that altho you complete the task, you can miss out on getting any speed points and just get distance points hence a number of the 15mSTD class pilots all getting 708 points.
Ben Flewett had a bad day as water leaked out of his right wing during the first part of the course leaving him to "limp" around wunwing low.
Billy Walker blitzed the field. His SPOT was not working(seems he hasnt paid the renewal fee:-)) and so we had no idea where he was until he called 5 miles out. The old fashioned Ops Normal Calls every hour, even with a leg number dont really give us a clue as to progress. Especially with long task legs. The task was such that a call one hour out could be Leg 3. That leg was 172kms long. The final leg was 125kms which at 144kph wouldnt take long. I will leave you to do the time maths...
Besides look at Billy's trace on the scoring site. Well done billy who trashed the big wing guys who were doing the same task.
Brett Hunter had a great day after talking to Chris Richards before the launch on a strategy. Brett took Chris's advice and beat his advisor by a good 20%. Just goes to show the comraderie amongst some competitors.
Lemmy, yesterday, suggested that today would be loverly but not as strong as yesterday. A non competition pilot reported 70knot winds at altitude.
Keep it up
As was famously quoted during the Falklands war many years ago by Brian Hanrahan. "I counted them out and I counted them back".
A few pilots abandondoned the task but the vast majority completed. The sad thing about the current scoring system is that altho you complete the task, you can miss out on getting any speed points and just get distance points hence a number of the 15mSTD class pilots all getting 708 points.
Ben Flewett had a bad day as water leaked out of his right wing during the first part of the course leaving him to "limp" around wunwing low.
Billy Walker blitzed the field. His SPOT was not working(seems he hasnt paid the renewal fee:-)) and so we had no idea where he was until he called 5 miles out. The old fashioned Ops Normal Calls every hour, even with a leg number dont really give us a clue as to progress. Especially with long task legs. The task was such that a call one hour out could be Leg 3. That leg was 172kms long. The final leg was 125kms which at 144kph wouldnt take long. I will leave you to do the time maths...
Besides look at Billy's trace on the scoring site. Well done billy who trashed the big wing guys who were doing the same task.
Brett Hunter had a great day after talking to Chris Richards before the launch on a strategy. Brett took Chris's advice and beat his advisor by a good 20%. Just goes to show the comraderie amongst some competitors.
Lemmy, yesterday, suggested that today would be loverly but not as strong as yesterday. A non competition pilot reported 70knot winds at altitude.
Keep it up
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