Manilla Monsoon
New Zealand National Championships
Manilla, New South Wales (27th Feb. to 6th March)
The New Zealand Open Championships kicked off under a threatening
sky, with over development on course and rain close by. This
didn‚t prevent the bold and the best from completing the 101 Km.
race to goal, but less confident of the 93 pilots scurried away
to land part way.
Three days of un-seasonal rain followed, which broke 50 year
rainfall records for March! Fortunately two more tasks of 50km
and 90km were possible on the final days to validate the
championships. The overall results reflect the high standard of
competition pilots in New Zealand, espesially impressive
considering the small total number of pilots in the country.
A lot of hard work had been put in by the NZ comps. committee and
Godfrey Wenness in Manilla to provide an extremely well organised
and pleasant competition, with excellent maps and even GPS
downloads to verify startgates. One innovation was the DHV 2
sub-competition which gave pilots on intermediate wings a chance
of recognition and prize money. An idea which deserves to catch
on elsewhere.
1st Angus Tapper NZ
2nd Craig Collings NZ
3rd Enda Murphy Aus
Female
1st Ali Maddock GB
2nd Britta Steude NZ
3rd Nina Brummer Ger
DHV 2 Class
1st. Richard Naylor NZ Swing Astral
2nd Phil Bibby GB Edel Saber
3rd Nigel Leigh NZ Nova Axon
Aussie Championships
Task 1 06/03/99
Half the field of 120 pilots failed to get away in the weak conditions.
Those who made away from the hill were rewarded for their hard work by
climbs to 3500 metres (above the valleys at 400 metres asl.) 18 pilots
got to the 89km goal.
Task 2 07/03/99
Binned due to overdevelopment and rain on track. Generally an
interesting days flying.
