Its Over

The last competition day has passed and the winners have been announced.

It was a nail biting battle in the 15m/Standard class and the 1st placing was still in doubt until the last landout glider had returned and handed in his trace. It seems that the intricacies of the scoring system need to calculate distance points as well as speed points of all pilots before a final calculation can be made.

As you will see on the scoring site the difference ended up being 34 points....Of course readers will remember that Ben Flewett ended up losing all his points on Day 1. What great mental fortitude(and skill) to be able to climb back up the table with some stunning performances.

The trophies were awarded as:

Lyons Trophy for winner of the Club Class- Hamish McCaw
Broadlands Cup for winner of 15metre/standard class - Ben Flewitt
Court Trophy for highest placed glider conforming to FAI standard Class - Tony Van Dyk
Georgeson Trophy for winner of 18metre class-Chris Richards
Wills Cup for winner of Open Class - Mike Oakley

Richardson Trophy for highest average speeds - awarded to Mike Oakley - Day 2 averaged 165.3kph.

Continental Trophy for winner of the longest speed task from any class-Chris Richards - Day 8 410.6km at 85kph.

Hansell Tophy for most Meritorious Flight during the contest (always a tough one to decide) awarded to Dane Dickinson - On day 5 having had to have a relaunch and starting late into a decaying day, flew relatively low level to Nevis Mine and return to Omarama. This when many earlier starters had abandoned the task.

Norge Cup for highest placed pilot competing in their first nationals - Wilson Ellery
Highest placed young pilot - Wilson Ellery
Highest place Pilot in club owned glider - Wilson Ellery

Veterans trophy for highest placed competitor over 65 years - awarded to David Speight

The Swiss Trophy awarded to the 2nd place getter in the numerically strongest class awarded to Tony Van Dyk in the 15metre/standard Class.

If the trophies are ever recovered/found then the following could have been awarded.

Berkett Trophy for highest placed pilot from the other Island - Ben Flewitt
Hookings Trophy for most meritorious flight over a non-triangle course - Hadleigh Bognude for Day 1 Club Class.

Other National trophies which were not found/sent to Omarama and therefore were not calculated awarded
Messervy Trophy for most Meritorious Flight over a Triangle task
NZ Open Class Motor Gliding Trophy

If anyone knows where these trophies are please email Dane Dickinson its dane at xtra

Last nights presentation had some interesting bits from the Song sung by Marc Crossier accompanyed by Sheena on the fiddle to the tune the "Devil goes down to Georgeia". Renamed for the night as Devil goes down to Omarama.

¨The devil went down to Omarama looking for a soul to steal
¨ he was in a bind cause he was way behind and looking to make a deal.
¨When he came across a contest briefing with a director who was hot to talk,
¨the devil took the mic from his hand and said boys let me tell you what.


¨I’ll bet you didn’t know it but I’m a glider pilot too and if you care to make a dare I’ll make a bet with all of you
¨Now you all fly gliders well but give the devil his due, I’ll bet this Cambridge of gold against your souls cause I think I’m better than all of you


¨The contest director said my names Roy and it might be a sin but I’ll take your bet you’re gonna regret these boys are the best that’s ever been
¨The devil hopped into his glider and said I’ll start this show
¨And fire flew from his wingtips as he carried along on tow
¨He released off tow and cranked so hard over his wings made an evil hiss
¨He headed off to the big mountains and the flight sounded something like this


¨When the devil finished Roy said you're pretty good ol' son.
¨"But if you'll sit down in that chair, right there, and the omarama boys will show you how its done.“
¨Polish up those gliders boys and go out and push real hard
¨The devil’s down in the place of light and he plays real hard
¨If you win you win you get this shiny cambridge made of gold but if you lose the devil gets your soul


¨The devil bowed his head because he knew that he'd been beat.
¨He laid that golden cambridge on the ground at Roy's feet.
¨Roy said: "Devil just come on back if you ever want to try again.
¨"I told you once, you son of a gun, We’re the best that's ever been."


¨Bob in a thermal run boys run
¨Roys on the pray mat praying for sun
¨Dagma in the Kahu baking dough
¨Angela does your dog bite
¨No Hugh no

Sung with gusto and greatly appreciated thanks Marc & Sheena.

In an emotional acceptance speech for the Wills Cup - Mike Oakley pledged $500 for the next National Club Class competion to run in Omaram (2011). Later Tony Van Dyk matched the pledge for a further $500. Giving a total of $1,000 for the 2011 event. Methinks some standard class guys might be borrowing club class machines and making it a huge event.
Of course both Mike and Tony were aiming at encouraging those in the youth glide movemnt to develop their skills to fly the competition as a first Nationals.

Tony also donated one of his company's Wing Stands for auction with proceeds going to Cantebury Youth Glide. Combined with Mike Oakley Auctioning his back seat position for the last competition day - youth glide is well supported.

Great support was also shown by both pilots and guests in supporting the SAR fund. I will be happy to ring the locals shortly to tell them we raised iover $2138.

As I sit here on Saturday morning a steady stream of glider trailers are departing so that we can leave this lovely Hamlet of Omarama to return to its days of sunshine and Gliding.

So until Valentines day February 2010 Nationals in Taupo, its goodbye from me and its goodbye from us.