2010: Recollections by Geoff Vincent - Competition Director

This article by the Horsham Week 2010 Competition Director, Geoff Vincent was first published in the April 2010 edition of Soaring Australia.

A FEW LESS ENTRANTS REGISTERED AT HORSHAM THIS YEAR DUE MAINLY TO A NUMBER OF INTERSTATE PILOTS BEING INVOLVED WITH VARIOUS NATIONAL COMPETITIONS IN THEIR HOME STATES. NEVERTHELESS, THERE WERE APPROXIMATELY 40 PILOTS AND SOME 32 AIRCRAFT INCLUDING SIX TWO-SEATERS. IN CONTRAST TO PREVIOUS YEARS THE 2010 COMPETITION WAS FLOWN BALLASTED DUE TO THE EASING OF WATER RESTRICTIONS IN THE WIMMERA DISTRICT. OUR HEARTFELT THANKS GO OUT TO HORSHAM FLYING CLUB FOR PROVIDING FACILITIES AND PEOPLE-POWER TO ENABLE THE COMPETITION TO RUN SMOOTHLY.

The weather was certainly kinder this year, after the disastrous Black Saturday and Sunday events in 2009, with gradually improving soaring conditions as the week unfolded. The presence of constantly moving trough lines in western Victoria contributed to a couple of excellent days albeit offset by one seriously overdeveloped day during which contestants were constantly challenged by storm cells and lighting around the Grampians. In all seven days out of a total of eight scheduled days were flown - quite an improvement on the three to five day pattern that has emerged over the past few years. One of the milestones of the competition was recorded on day three when tasks in excess of 500km were able to be flown (Performance Class 420km) for the first time in many years.

Day 1: Saturday 6 February

Contestants faced a cool blue day with a 10 to 15kt 5E wind and a predicted convection height of 3500ft agl. A 2.5-hour AAT was set, taking in Rupanyup, Brim and Dimboola. lt was a tough day with five outlandings.

Day winners were Paul Dilks (Bendigo)- Performance Class; John Orton (GCWA)- Standard Class; Craig Collings (Mt Beauty) - 15m Class; Jack Hart (Beaufort)- Open/18m Class.

Day 2: Sunday

Despite moderate blue conditions being forecast contestants were treated to a great soaring day with plenty of excellent streeting under cu to 8000ft, attributed to a nearby trough line. The AST set involved a first leg to the NW followed by an easterly leg and return to Horsham, with distances ranging from 320km (15m and Open) to 250km (Standard) and 215km (Performance).

Day winners were Jarek Mosiejewski (Geelong) - Performance Class; Paul Mander (Narromine) - Standard Class; Andy Smith (Mt Beauty) - I5m Class; Peter Buskens (Beaufort) - Open/18m Class.

Day 3: Monday

With rumours of a big day circulating the night before, everyone was ready for an early start. An AAT was set for all classes with the first turn at Frances near the South Australian border, then heading NE to Ultima (Birchip for Performance Class) then Horsham, for distances ranging from 420 to 540km. It turned out to be a magnificent soaring day with many personal best cross-country speeds recorded and several 500km badge flights flown. No-one outlanded, with the 'lanterne rouge' being Craig Dilks in Hornet GMK arriving at 20:00 after a nailbiting 75km final glide.

Day winners were Noel Vagg/Jim Henkel (Beaufort) - Performance Class at 98km/h; Paul Mander (Narromine) - Standard Class at 127km/h; Andy Smith (Mt Beauty) - 15m Class at 136km/h; Rolf Buelter (Geelong) - Open/18m Class at 135km/h.

Day 4: Tuesday

A great soaring day was forecast with cloudbase around 8000ft agl but with a later risk of overdevelopment. A four hour AAT was set for 15m and Open/18m Classes with 3.5 hours for Standard and Performance Classes. The task area was the Grampians National Park area south of Horsham including Hamilton and Goroke as principal turnpoints with point-to-point distances ranging from 325 to 435km.

Unfortunately the overdevelopment occurred much earlier than predicted with several pilots opting to turn short to avoid the risks of traversing the Grampians at an uncomfortable altitude. Many pilots reported spectacular lightshows which they kept well away from! Despite the inclement conditions only three aircraft outlanded. Rumour has it that Buzz Bailey and passenger (in Corangamite's Janus B) was so well wined and dined by the Moyston farmer and his family (which included two gorgeous daughters) that they were somewhat reluctant to be retrieved!

Day winners were Noel  Vagg/Jim Henkel (Beaufort) - Performance Class; Paul Mander (Narromine) - Standard Class; Craig Collings (Mt Beauty) - 15m Class; Rolf Buelter (Geelong) - Open/l8m Class.

Day 5: Wednesday

Although good soaring conditions were forecast (8000ft cloudbase) met man David Wilson concluded that a short window of opportunity existed before over-development killed the day. Consequently a 2.5-hour AAT was set for all classes except first-off Standard Class (three hours) with the task Wycheproof/ Donald, Ellam and Horsham. True to form, heavy rain fell during and after completion of flying, dumping 38mm on the airfield overnight.

Day winners were Jarek Mosiejewski (Geelong) - Performance Class; Paul Mander (Narromine) - Standard Class; Andy Smith (Mt Beauty) - 15m Class; Tony Tabart (Corangamite) - Open/1gm Class.

Competition Day 6 (scheduled for Thursday 11 February) was cancelled due to inclement weather and also that the preferred runway 17l35 was declared unserviceable by Horsham Council. It was a good opportunity to run the pilots' meeting and identify the Horsham Week organising committee for 2011.

Day 6: Friday

With the passage of a shallow cold front the previous day convection was limited to 3000 to 5000ft agl, with a slow buildup. A two-hour Run Task was set for all classes (Rupanyup, Minyip, Dimboola, start-point 'J', Rupanyup repeating. The close proximity of the turnpoints to Horsham meant that pilots would be within reasonable striking distance of home at the expiry of the allotted two hour timeframe.

Day winners were Jarek Mosiejewski (Geelong) - Performance Class; David Wilson (VMFG) - Standard Class; Andy Smith (Mt Beauty) - 15m Class; Rolf Buelter (Geelong) - Open/18m Class.

At the end of day six only a handful of points separated first and second places in each of 15m (Smith and Collings) and Open/18m Classes (Buelter and Tabart). So day seven was going to be critical!

Day 7: Saturday

A cool day with a l0 to 15kt southerly breeze. A slow build-up was forecast with maximum convection 5000 to 6000ft late in the afternoon, complicated by the ever-increasing presence of cirro-stratus drifting in from the north-east. Task A was abandoned in favour of a shorter B task (approximately 300km AAT), taking in Litchfield, Rainbow/Antwerp/Ellam and Horsham. Cumulus was developing under the cirrus and a decision to start was finally made at 14:05 with the fleet airborne and all gates open by 15:10. Given the deteriorating conditions it was a credit to individual perseverance that almost everyone got home, unsurprisingly at significantly lower speeds than previous days.

Day winners were Buzz Bailey (Corangamite) - Performance Class; Paul Mander (Narromine) - Standard Class; Craig Collings (Mt Beauty) - 15m Class; Tony Tabart (Corangamite) - Open/18m Class.

Final results for Horsham Week

After the dust had settled the final scores (average points) for the individual classes were:

Performance Class

Standard Class

(Also VSA State Standard Class Championship)

15M Class

Also VSA State 15m Class Championship)

Open / 18M Class

(Also VSA State Open Class Championship)

The Horsham Week Achievement Award trophy was presented to Arnold Niewand (Horsham Flying Club) in recognition of the significant development in his cross-country skills and attainment of his 500km Diamond Distance during Horsham Week.