NZ Central Districts Gliding Championships 24

Waipukurau, New Zealand,   17 February 2024 – 24 February 2024

Champions

Racing
1 NK Alain Marcuse 2,014
2 VA Stewart Barton 1,875
3 ML Derek Shipley 1,474
Open
1 IO Patrick C. Driessen 2,416
2 OP Tim Bromhead 2,358
3 VM David Johnson 2,336
Sports
1 KP Dennis Green 2,069
2 NR Grahame Player 1,680
3 ET John Tullett 1,000

Final day wrap up

The final day saw a challenging sky with rough lower level conditions with wave above. There were thermals and also convergences around the task area which allowed another competition day.

 

With the last competition pilot landing after 5:40pm, by the time scoring was completed and gliders de-rigged, it was well after 6pm.

 

Hugh de Lautour supplied some limericks which were read out at prize giving.

 

Ross got a hell of a fright

When grass, not sky came in sight

But a shock came again

When retrieving his plane -

Those electric fences can bite !

 

Derek S saw that victory beckoned

He would not settle for second

So he thought up a plot

Such as others would not

“Get low and stay low” he reckoned!

 

Thanks to the many volunteers and helpers who made the event a great success.

 

Thanks also to We Can Precision Engineering Limited for generously donating the daily prizes and McCain Foods (NZ) Limited for their support.

 

Next year’s event is scheduled to be held from Waipukurau from Saturday 15th February 2025 (practice day) - Saturday 22nd February 2025 inclusive. Mark your calendars now.

Written by: Jason Kelly on 24 February 2024 at 22:11.
Edited by: Jason Kelly on 24 February 2024 at 22:15.

Friday 23rd February

The sky did not develop into a taskable one but a number of pilots flew locally in thermals and convergences for an afternoon of soaring.   A smoked ham dinner followed by dessert of pavlova, fresh strawberries, blackberries and water melon with ice cream ensured all were left well sated.
Read more...

Written by: Jason Kelly on 23 February 2024 at 19:24.

News Update

Friday 23rd and we wait for the sky to develop. It is grey high overcast with a westerly flow, calm on the ground. There is heating getting through so there is hope we will fly. We had 6 land outs yesterday with Alain Marcuse in a remote area east of Dannevirke, the retrieve crew thought there can't possibly be a flat paddock in here, but there was - a perfect paddock 100m from the farm house.  
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Written by: Graham White on 22 February 2024 at 22:55.
Edited by: Jason Kelly on 23 February 2024 at 19:25.

News update

The 2024 Central Districts competition at Waipukurau started on Saturday 17th February with practice day. This saw fantastic convergence and thermal lift which allowed a number of gliders to fly up and around Lake Taupo and back with distances of over 500km recorded. A great start for the week.   Sunday was a contest day with good thermals and convergences. A steak BBQ evening meal was appreciated by all.   The weather on Monday was untaskable but the sky was alive with energy from wave. This sa...
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Written by: Jason Kelly on 22 February 2024 at 19:32.

Live Contest Tracking on PureTrack.io

Live contest tracking for all classes is available at https://puretrack.io/?c=114
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Written by: Tim Bromhead on 19 February 2024 at 02:13.

Day 1: Good. Day 2: Cancelled

Due to high winds we've cancelled day 2, gusty 20 knots on the ground, and 50 knots coming over the hills...
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Written by: Tim Bromhead on 19 February 2024 at 02:12.

Latest winner

1. Alain Marcuse 64.05 km/h
2. Stewart Barton 169.18 km
3. Peter B Cook 93.01 km
Updated: 25/02/2024, 07:27
1. Patrick C. Driessen 128.24 km/h
2. Tim Bromhead 121.72 km/h
3. David Johnson 69.71 km/h
Updated: 25/02/2024, 07:28
1. Dennis Green 60.20 km/h
2. Grahame Player 25.38 km
Updated: 24/02/2024, 18:02

Latest task

Task 7, 24 Feb 2024
Task distance: 71.95 km  /  404.47 km  (248.22 km)
Task duration: 2:30:00
Updated: 24/02/2024, 09:58
Task 7, 24 Feb 2024
Task distance: 71.95 km  /  404.47 km  (248.22 km)
Task duration: 2:30:00
Updated: 24/02/2024, 10:05
Task 7, 24 Feb 2024
Task distance: 54.20 km  /  213.76 km  (131.72 km)
Task duration: 2:00:00
Updated: 24/02/2024, 10:21

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