by Bomber

Introduction

This years WA State Hang Gliding Competition was again hosted in Wyalkatchem (Wylie) situated 200Km North East of Perth. The competition format was towing with a mixture of ground towing and aero towing. 21 Pilots registered on the practise day of the competition with a total of 4 teams poised to fight out the coveted “Andrew Humphries” memorial teams trophy.

This year we were all ready to go after the nationals warm up, we’d flown, we’d been swimming, we’d sat in the paddock for countless hours waiting for the wind to die down and more importantly we’d drunk big time. Now the guns had gone back home the weather was bound to come good - “Gordo’s World” was no longer upon us (“Gordo’s World” is a topic for another article - however, beware as you wouldn’t want to go there). All the competitors were local pilots except for our Spanish friend Miguel “MIG Weld” Ruiz-Sanchez and the “Pommy Git” team comprising Alan “Lucky” Barnes, Steve “Ashley & Martin” Elkins, Ronny “Davron” Richardson and Dave “The Hat” Holbrook.

Day 1: Wylie - Beacon 98 Km

The first day’s task was a 98 Km straight line task to Beacon. The day was rough as guts - one pilot Mr Wallace was heard screaming from 6,000 feet whilst wrestling with his CSX on his first flight. Best height of the day was 7,000 feet and with a North Easterly drift the task was cross tail.

Seven pilots made goal with Mr Wallace being one of them. 1st in was Lucky (Allan Barnes) followed by Ashley & Martin (Steve Elkin), and Kiwi Dave (Dave Wellington). Local pilot Dave Fowler showed up a few others by making goal in his XT (His Xtralite being worse for wear after the nationals) – A Feat he was to repeat several times. Jon “Spike” Orders almost made goal.

Day 2: Wylie - Koorda - Wylie 94 Km

Today the conditions were “light and scariable” and a 94 Km out-and-return task was called to Koorda. The day was tough was pilots getting 400-500 feet/min climbs to 6,500 feet. Only two pilots made goal being Lucky (again) and Ronny Davron. Dazza (Daryl Speight) landed 9k short after a grinding 5 hour effort.

Day 3: Wylie - Mollerin 86 Km

Don’t know what happening today - due to spending most of it on the ground due to bombing out. However, others tell me it was slow going with a low base early (3,000 feet) which got better towards the end of the day (6,000 feet). The wind was moderate with a 15-20 Km/hr drift towards the North. Five made it in to goal - 1st in was Lucky followed by Kiwi Dave and Ashley & Martin. Great efforts from Scurge and Phil Wainwright. Dazza proved to be consistent by landing 10k short again.

Day 4: Wylie - Cadoux - Kalannie 105 Km

Today saw light winds with 1000 up thermals to 7,000 feet. The task was a dog leg North West with a North run to Kalannie. The flying was great and I made goal - about bloody time ! Ten made it in to goal with Lucky only leaving the paddock at just before 4.00 pm and still making it in. 1st in was Ashley & Martin, followed by Lucky and Ronny Davron. Sam made it to goal with 6,000 feet - to be sure-to-be-sure – after mistakenly thinking he was 1 town short and thermalling up 2kms from goal.

Day 5: DNF

Tooooooooooooooooooooooooo windy - went to the pub. The task was changed to a pool comp in which Phil Wainwright blew away all the competition.

Day 6: Wylie - Calingiri 91 Km

Today the window was opened a little latter due to windy conditions in the paddock. A straight line task to Calingiri was called. Pilots seemed to be having more trouble getting out of the paddock with the last pilot leaving shortly before 4 pm. Most pilots went down between Dowerin and Goomalling.

Five pilots made goal, including Scourge for his third successive day (must be using “Scurge theory” - something for a whole separate article). First in was guess who, Lucky, followed by Wood Chucka (Andrew Holmes) and Dazza . Dave Fowler also made it in his Moyes XT. Sam again flew well, passing ever so close to goal but missing it (Didn’t switch to goal channel).

Overall Results

Open
1st - Allan Barnes (GBR, Laminar)
2nd - Steve Elkins (GBR, Avian)
3rd - Kiwi Dave (Aus, Enterprise Wings Elite)

WA State
1st - Kiwi Dave (Enterprise Wings Elite)
2nd - Andrew “Wood Chucka” Holmes (Airborne Shark)
3rd - Daryl Speight (Moyes CSX)

Intermediate
1st - Mike Howden (Airborne Shark)

Novice
1st - Jamie Oorshot (Airborne Sting)

Teams Event
1st - Sky Junkies
2nd - Viper
3rd - Thermal Dynamics
4th - CMF

Turkey Award

The nomination this years for the turkey award for the act of greatest stupidity included:

Son of Shaun - new innovations in towing to speed up the operation by responding to abbreviated command from another pilot radioing in his position. This innovation was further enhanced by modifications to the towing system to increase its effectiveness. Be afraid , be very afraid…

Spike & Frilly Nightie - if communications is the key to effective flying then these two can forget it. Picture this - Spike upon seeing Frilly wonders what radio channel he’s on. Solution - fly close to him, point frantically at your helmet and shout alot. Frilly sees some crazy guy getting really close and pointing at his hang loops in a panic - result Frilly spends the rest of his worrying about if he’s going to fall out of the glider.

Ruckus - excited about his flight he forgot to retrieve tip battens.

Bomber - very minor and brief PR disaster with an over inquisitive local after bombing early in the day (ED: One day the truth will come out Bomber).

Sam Blight - flying over a goal at 6,000 feet and wondering how come all those guns had bombed out in the same paddock.

Sam Blight - flying over goal the next day and landed 2 Km past goal.

Phil Wainwright - entering “Gordo’s world” for a day. Events started in the paddock when the tow car broke down and Phil and to set his car up. Phil then bombed out 12 Km from the paddock and waited 4 hours for a pick. Upon being picked up Phil bogged his car. Phil un-bogged the car by removing a small tree and kept a small souvenir in his leg. Climax of the day was in the local hospital with a needle in his backside and minor surgery on his leg to remove said souvenir.

As the comp director I was given the authority to determine the Turkey Award winner. However, during the presentation I sensed a slight disagreement with my selection and I was over ruled.

The winner was Bomber with Phil way back in second place - better luck next time Phil.

Thank U’s

Special Thanks go to Gordon Marshall, Nav Brennan, Sam Blight and Phil Wainwright for all the work required for both the State and National Competition. Also all the people which volunteered their time for turn point and goal paddock selection - your work will be of value to the club for a long time to come.

During the comp I received invaluable assistance from Phil Wainwright (scoring), Nav Brennan (registration), Ruckus, Dave Fowler, Farmer Dude and Kiwi Dave (Task Committee), Frilly Knightie and Wood Chucka (Weather) and Sue Speight(being there to help when it count and letting me go flying with Daz on the weekends).

Mostly I’d like to thank the town of Wylkatchem for their support, not only during the competition by for the last 3 years. The town has been right behind our sport and our club in particular, and we hope for a long association with them.