S. Island gliding championships

Press, 16 November 1987, Page 6

S. Island gliding championships

Glider pilots from throughout the South Island are making their home at Omarama for the next week during the South Island regional gliding championships. The South Island regionals have attracted 20 pilots and a similar number of gliders, ranging from old wood and fabric technology to state of the art machines with carbon fibre wings. Competitions for the annual gathering run until next Saturday and a spokesman for the competition organisers, Mr Keith Jessop, said although no record attempts were planned, pilots could well chase new records if the gliding conditions present the opportunity.

Among the pilots taking part in the competitions is Terry Delore, the current New Zealand open class gliding champion and. a member of the New Zealand gliding team which competed at the world, championships in Aus- .

Mr Jessop said winners of the regional competitions would amass points toward possible selection for the next national gliding team, to compete at the world championships in Austria in 1989.

And winners would also be eligible to fly in the national gliding championships, set for Omarama next January. Gliding clubs representing Canterbury, Wigram, South Canterbury, North Otago, Nelson, Southland and an Auckland participant are taking part in the regional competitions, with flying tasks being set on a daily basis.

Results from the first day of competitions:— Open 15 metre class: Ivan Evans, 1; Errol Shirtliffe, 2; Terry Delore, 3. Other finishers in order: Dave Speight, Theo Newfield, Willy Walker, Nigel Ackroyd.

Standard class: Task 154 kilometres: Dave Hamilton, 1; DaveJJraill, 2; Mike Oakiw, 3. Nojßther finishers. IT.