AIR SPORTS INTERNATIONAL

What is the "Club Class" ?

The purpose of the Club Class is to preserve the value of older high performance gliders, to provide inexpensive but high quality international championships, and to enable pilots who do not have access to gliders of the highest standard of performance to take part in contests at the highest levels.

The only limitation on entry of a glider into a Club Class competition is that it is within the range of handicap factors agreed for the competition. The handicap factor list for the country or region in which the competition is held shall normally be used.

Another particularity is that pilots can not use the water ballast.

The 1st World Gliding Club Class Championship was held at the Adelaide Soaring Clubs aerodrome at Gawler 40 Km North of Adelaide. Advance information was circuleted to all by Terry Cubley in April 2000 : Please see the relevant article in Air Sports International May 2000 issue.

Entries for the Club Class Competition

Club Class entries were received from 21 countries, as under :


Australia	Hungary
Austria	Lithuania
Belgium	Netherlands
Canada	South Africa
Czech Republic	Slovakia
Denmark	Sweden
Germany	Switzerland
Japan	Great Britain
Pakistan	Slovenia
Italy	USA
Poland

**Club Class**
Country	Pilot	Aircraft Type	ID
Australia	Bruce Taylor	LS 4a	HDL
	Tom Gilbert	Std Libelle	GCK
	Ron Sanders	LS 4	CQO
	* * * * * * * * *
Austria	Dietmar Weingant	DG 200	WUZ
	Herbert Ziegerhofer	Cirrus 75	GON
	Heinz Eibel	Pik20D	WQQ
	* * * * * * * * *
Belgium	Bruno Pieraerts	LS 4	ZBC
	* * * * * * * * *
Canada	Heribert Polzl	LS 4	IIY
	* * * * * * * * *
Czech Republic	Petr Krejcirik	Std Cirrus	GOX
	Thomas Suchanek	Std Cirrus	GMS
	* * * * * * * * *
Denmark	Kristian Hansen	Hornet	GHT
	Peter Rasmussen	Hornet	GEX
	* * * * * * * * *
Finland	Pasi Pulkkinen	LS 4
	* * * * * * * * *
Germany	Andreas Nagel	LS 1 f	GMF
	Mathias Sturm	Std Cirrus	GSM
	Wolfgang Beyer	Std Libelle	GGW
	Frank Hahn	LS 1 d	CTG
	* * * * * * * * *
Great Britain	Afandi Darlington	LS-1f	L77
	Richard Hood	Std Cirrus	152
	Peter Masson	DG101	EKP
	* * * * * * * * *
Hungary	Peter Gonczi	Std. Libelle	GTX
	* * * * * * * * *
Italy	Diego Volpi	DG300	GDH
	Guido Fontana	Jantar Std3	HDR
	* * * * * * * * *
Japan	Makoto Ichikawa	LS4	KYO
	* * * * * * * * *
Lithuania	Mindaugas Zaliukas	Jantar Std 2	CQS
	Vladas Motuza	Jantar Std 2	IUD
	Darius Liaugaudas	Jantar Std 3	HNF
	* * * * * * * * *
Netherlands	Max van Bree	LS 4	GNM
	Rob Looisen	LS 4	UKA
	Ferdi Kuijpers	LS 4	CQN
	* * * * * * * * *
Pakistan	Adnan Mirza	LS 4	GXP
	* * * * * * * * *
Poland	Pawal Frackowiak	Jantar Std	KYX
	* * * * * * * * *
Slovakia	Viliam Kubovcik	Std Libelle	GZS
	Jan Cesnek	Std Libelle	GOT
	* * * * * * * * *
South Africa	Attie Jonker	Cirrus	GGC
	Uys Jonker	Cirrus	GVE
	* * * * * * * * *
Slovenia	Zeljko Roskar	Pik 20D	WVA
	Uros Stuklek	withdrawn - illness
	* * * * * * * * *
Sweden	Torbjorn Hagnander	LS 7	XJJ
	Borje Gustavsson	Jantar Std	UKU
	Benny Orrsater	Hornet	GEY
	Hans Larsson	res.
	* * * * * * * * *
Switzerland	Dirk Reich	Hornet	GAE
	Thomas Della Casa	Hornet	GMW
	* * * * * * * * *
USA	Alphonso Jurado	Cirrus	GOQ
	Karl Striedieck	Hornet	GMU
	Hank Nixon	LS 1f	GEB

**Grand Prix**
Country	Pilot	Aircraft Type	ID
Australia	David Wilson	ASW24	ZAE
	Tracey Tabart
	Simon Dixon	Discus	IUN
	Mark Simpson	Discus	IUI
	* * * * * * * * *
Canada	Jim Carpenter	Ventus	GFN
	* * * * * * * * *
Germany	Benno Beesten	ASW27	UIT
	Swaantje Geyer	Ventus	GQH
	* * * * * * * * *

Names of Pilots who competed in the Club Class are :

Country	Pilot	Aircraft Type
Australia	Bruce Taylor Tom Gilbert Ron Sanders	LS 4a Std Libelle LS 4
Austria	Dietmar Weingant Herbert Ziegerhofer Heinz Eibel	DG 200 Cirrus 75 Pik20D
Belgium	Bruno Pieraerts	LS 4
Canada	Heribert Polzl	LS 4
Czech Republic	Petr Krejcirik Thomas Suchanek	Std Cirrus Std Cirrus
Denmark	Kristian Hansen Peter Rasmussen	Hornet Hornet
Finland	Pasi Pulkkinen	LS 4
Germany	Andreas Nagel Mathias Sturm Wolfgang Beyer Frank Hahn	LS 1 f Std Cirrus Std Libelle LS 1 d
Great Britain	Afandi Darlington Richard Hood Peter Masson	LS-1f Std Cirrus DG101
Hungary	Peter Gonczi	Std. Libelle
Italy	Diego Volpi Guido Fontana	DG300 Jantar Std3
Japan	Makoto Ichikawa	LS4
Lithuania	Mindaugas Zaliukas Vladas Motuza Darius Liaugaudas	Jantar Std 2 Jantar Std 2 Jantar Std 3
Netherlands	Max van Bree Rob Looisen Ferdi Kuijpers	LS 4 LS 4 LS 4
Pakistan	Adnan Mirza	LS 4
Poland	Pawal Frackowiak	Jantar Std
Slovakia	Viliam Kubovcik Jan Cesnek	Std Libelle Std Libelle
South Africa	Attie Jonker Uys Jonker	Cirrus Cirrus
Slovenia	Zeljko Roskar Uros Stuklek	Pik 20D withdrawn - illness
Sweden	Torbjorn Hagnander Borje Gustavsson Benny Orrsater Hans Larsson	LS 7 Jantar Std Hornet res.
Switzerland	Dirk Reich Thomas Della Casa	Hornet Hornet
USA	Alphonso Jurado Karl Striedieck Hank Nixon	Cirrus Hornet LS 1f

Sunday 14th Jan., 2001 - No Contest

The morning of the first scheduled day of competition saw the forecast changed from the night before.
Maximum temperature is now expected at 37 ° by 1400 hrs., and winds N/NW of 15 - 30 knots over the task area.
An 'A' and a 'B' have been set, with a decision to be made on the grid. Launching to commence at 1300 hrs.

Tasks 'A':
Club Class - 2 hr and 120 km minimum.
Grand Prix - 147 km Saddleworth - Robertstown - Gawler

Tasks 'B':
Club Class - 2 1/2 hr and 150 km minimum.
Grand Prix - 249 km Hallett - Gawler

40 ° and too cold to soar !

After yesterday's 46.7°, the temperature needed to get to 43 ° for the thermals to rise to 3000'. As it did not get to the trigger temperature, only 40 °, the tasks were cancelled and the teams raced off to the beach for the day.
Some of the German team went south to Victor Harbor. At nearby Waipinga they exhibited tourist type behaviour; exclaiming over the beaches and photographing kangaroos in the wild.

Tonight there is to be a cool change come through and the chances of a contest day were considered good.

Monday 15th Jan., 2001 - No Contest

Forecast for temperature around 30 °, with weak thermals around 2 kts to max. 4000'
Launch due to commence at 1230 hrs.

Alternate tasks set:
A task:
Grand Prix - 207 km Blyth - Tarlee - Saddleworth - Gawler
Club Class - 2 1/2 hrs, 120 km minimum.

B task:
Grand Prix - 161 km Blyth - Gawler
Club Class - 2 hrs, 100 km minimum.

The day was cancelled on the grid, after the G.P. pilots struggled for some time around 1800', and one outlanded at the Start Point .

Tuesday 16th Jan., 2001

Forecast for temperature around 29 °, with weak thermals around 1 kt to 2500' - "Challenging"
The day was cancelled early.
When the contest director, Terry Cubley, made the announcement one of the Danish pilots is quoted as saying "The weather is Terry-bull "

Wednesday 17th Jan., 2001 - First Contest Day

Forecast for temperature around 35 °, with thermals around 4 kts to 4600', and 4-5 kts to 5000' if trigger temp. of 36 ° achieved.
Tasks :
Grand Prix - 317 km Caltowie - Burra - Gawler
Club Class - 4 hrs, 250 km minimum.
Mandatory 1st turnpoint of Spalding or Hallett

I have been advised that under the rules, even interim results will not be issued until after all outlanding details are recorded.

These results are provisional only.

Club Class

Karl Striedieck (USA) Hornet -- 84.67 kph
Peter Masson (GBR) DG100 -- 84.48 kph
Hank Nixon (USA) LS1f -- 84.35 kph
Martias Sturm (GER) Std Cirrus -- 83.34 kph
Afandi Darlington (GBR) LS1f -- 83.34 kph

Grand Prix

Jim Carpenter (CAN) Ventus -- 77.12 kph - was the only GP pilot to get home.

Thursday 18th Jan., 2001 - Second Contest Day

Forecast for temperature around 35 °, with difficult, narrow, weak thermals to 4300'

Alternate Tasks :
A:
Grand Prix - 147 km Saddleworth - Robertstown - Gawler
Club Class - 2 1/2 hrs, 120 km minimum.

B:
Grand Prix - 147 km Saddleworth - Robertstown - Gawler
Club Class - 2 hrs, 100 km minimum.

Launching scheduled for 1300 hrs

Task 'B' was set on the grid.

There were 4 remote finishes, and 7 outlandings.

UnOfficial Results - 2nd day competition - 18th Jan

 Grand Prix  

Country	Pilot			Id     Glider		Points
GER	Swantje Geyer       |GQH	Ventus B     | 9
GER	Benno Beesten       |UIT	ASW 27       | 6
AUS	Simon Brown         |IUI	Discus B     | 4
CAN	Jim Carpenter       |GFN	Ventus B     | 3
AUS	David Wilson        |ZAE	ASW 24       | 2
AUS	Mark Simpson        |IUN	Discus B     | 1


Club Class
Pos	Pilot		Ctry	Reg	Points	Speed Dist
1	Looisen R	NED	UKA	938.4	80.25	160.5
2	Hood R    	GBR	152	866.9	73.32	151.5
3	Masson P	GBR	EKP	850.0	72.18	146.5
4	Jurado A  	USA	GOQ	835.7	71.52	164.0
5	Darlington A	GBR	L77	806.4	70.18	147.2

Friday 19th Jan., 2001 - Third Contest Day

Forecast for temperature of 39 °, with strong thermals (6-7 kts) to around 7000',

Club Class: - Alternate "Assigned Area Tasks" AAT :
turnpoints:
Blyth (20km)
Hallett (60km)
Waikerie (60km)
Task A: - 5 hrs minimum.
Task B: - 4 hrs minimum.

Grand Prix
Task A: - 318 km Hoyleton - Terowie - Gawler
Task B: - 384 km Hoyleton - Terowie - Morgan - Gawler

Launch for the "A" task commenced at 1130 hrs

Summary Frid. 19th

There were three outlandings in Club Class, Guido Volpi of Italy in DG300, Peter Rasmussen of Denmark in a hornet and Ron Sanders of Australia in a LS4.
In the Grand Prix, Simon Brown damaged his discus when outlanding, and the aircraft will take no further part in the contest. Simon was unhurt in the incident.

Provisional UnOfficial Results

Club Class

Bruce Taylor (AUS) - LS4 88.08 kph (h'cp adjusted)
Jan Cesnek (SVK)- Std Cirrus 85.26
Rob Looison (HOL) - LS4 84.88

Grand Prix

Benno Beesten (GER) - ASW 27 88.72
Swantje Geyer (GER) - Ventus B 88.12
Jim Carpenter (CAN) - Ventus B 87.60

Saturday 20th Jan., 2001 - Contest Day Four

Forecast for temperature of 37 °, with isolated strong thermals to around 5700', ahead of a NW change. Winds forecast at 15-20 kts. , moving around early afternoon.

Club Class: - "Assigned Area Tasks" AAT : - 3 1/2 hrs minimum.
turnpoints:

Burra (50km)

Waikerie (50km)
Grand Prix

Task - 192 km Robertstown - The Gums - Gawler
Launching was completed by 1230 hrs

Placings:

- Club Class
1 Paul Masson (GtB) - DG101 [EKP] at 106.2 kph
2 Ferdi Kuijpers (HOL) - LS4 [CQN] at 108.3 kph
3 Hank Nixon (USA) - LS 1f [GEB] at 102.8 kpg

- Grand Prix-
1 Mark Simpson (Aus) - Discus [IUN] at 109.8 kph
2 David Wilson (Aus) - ASW 24 [ZAE] at 103.5 kph
3 Jim Carpenter (CAN) - Ventus [GFN] at 96.7 kpg

** Provisional ** - as at Day 04

Club Class 
                                                       Points
   Country     Glider          Pilot               Total   day04
1. HOL     UKA LS4          |  Rob Looisen         3618.2  875.8  
2. GBR     EKP DG101        |  Peter Masson        3569.6  995.9  
3. CZE     GMS Std Cirrus   |  Thomas Suchanek     3468.8  972.8
4. GBR     L77 LS1f         |  Afandi Darlington   3361.8  983.1 

Grand Prix

Country Id      Glider          Pilot                Total   Day04 
GER     UIT     ASW 27       |  Benno Beesten       | 21        2     
GER     GQH     Ventus B     |  Swantje Geyer       | 21        3     
CAN     GFN     Ventus B     |  Jim Carpenter       | 20        4     
AUS     ZAE     ASW 24       |  David Wilson        | 17        6  
AUS     IUN     Discus B     |  Mark Simpson        | 13        9 
AUS     IUI     Discus B     |  Simon Brown         |  7        0

Sunday 21th Jan., 2001 - Contest Day FiveForecast for temperature of 36 °, with thermals 2kts to around 3000' at around 1400 hrs, with temperature of 39 °, with thermals 3-4kts to around 4000' by 1600 hrs.
Winds forecast at 5-10 kts.

- Alternate Tasks set
Club Class: "Assigned Area Tasks" AAT :
turnpoints:

Blyth (30km)
Eudunda (30km)
Task 'A' - 2 hrs minimum.
Task 'B' - 2 1/2 hrs minimum.

Grand Prix

Task 'A' - 132 km Hoyleton - Saddleworth - Gawler
Task 'B' - 162 km Hoyleton - Eudunda - Gawler

Launching commence 1230 hrs for the longer 'B' tasks

At least 10 Club Class pilots, including Bruce Taylor, and one Grand Prix pilot have outlanded today. Tom Gilbert was the first home.
A wave started to develop at 1500 hrs today, and unconfirmed reports have the USA pilots in the wave at 13,000ft.

Provisional Placings

Grand Prix 


CAN  Jim Carpenter       (GFN)  Ventus B   -   64.73 kph
GER  Swantje Geyer       (GQH)  Ventus B   -   61.54 kph
AUS  David Wilson        (ZAE)  ASW 24     -   59.78 kph
GER  Benno Beesten       (UIT)  ASW 27     -     43.9 km
AUS  Mark Simpson        (IUN)  Discus B   -      9   km

Club Class 

Country	  Glider	Pilot			Pos	HcpSpd
HOL	CQN LS4          Ferdi Kuijpers      |	1	88.32
JPN	KYO LS4a         Mak Ichikawa        |	2	87.46
HOL	GNM LS4          Max VanBree         |	3	87.44
GER	GMF LS1f         Andreas Nagel       |	4	87.22
AUS	CQO LS4a         Ron Sanders         |	5	86.77

Monday 22nd Jan., 2001 - Contest Day 06

Forecast for temperature of 39 °, with moderate thermals (2-3 kts) to around 3700',
Winds: 10-20 kts [2000 - 5000'], 10 kts [surface]

Tasks set:Club Class: - Alternate "Pilot Speed Tasks" PST :
Task A: - 4 hrs; 270 km minimum
Task B: - 3 hrs; 170 km minimum

Grand Prix
Task A: - 374 km Hallett - Waikerie - Gawler
Task B: - 277 km Burra- Morgan - Gawler Task C: - 329 km Burra- Waikerie - Gawler

Launching for the "A" task commenced at 1230 hrs

German web page has a number of outlandings reported

Unofficial placings only - issued 22:00 hrs.

Club Class
1. [GtB] Afandi Darlington, LS1 f 105.5 kph
2. [GtB] Richard Hood, Std Cirrus 105.3 kph
3. [GtB] Peter Masson, DG101 104.6 kph

Grand Prix
1. [CAN] Jim Carpenter, Ventus 83.4 kph
2. [GER] Benno Beesten, ASW 27 80.7 kph
3. [AUS] David Wilson, ASW 24 75.0 kph

Tuesday 23rd Jan., 2001 - Contest day 7

Forecast for temperature of 44 °, with 5 kt lift to 5300';
thermal wave to 14,000', with sink in Virga (10-14 kts .
Winds: 10-20 kts [2000 - 7000'], 10 kts [surface]

Tasks set:

Club Class: - Alternate "Pilot Speed Tasks" PST :
Task A: - 3 1/2 hrs; 200 km minimum
Task B: - 3 hrs; 160 km minimum

Grand Prix
Task A: - 217 km Robertstown - Waikerie - Gawler
Task B: - 101 km The Gums - Gawler

After the launch was held for a short while, the "A" task was set

Preliminary Results

Unofficial results have Richard Hood (GtB) in a Std Cirrus winning the day
- [411 km at 117 kph] . from Bruno Pieraerts (Bel) LS 4 at 112.9 kph
and Thomas Suchanek (CZE) Std Cirrus at 112.5 kph

Bruce Taylor had a technical O/L when he returned to the airfield mid-afternoon with double logger failure.
Rob Looisen (HOL) took the 100 point penalty with a Remote Finish and Wolli Beyer (GER) Outlanded.

In the Grand Prix Benno Beesten won at 116.7 kph,
from David Wilson at 112.1 kph
and Swantje Geyer at 99.15 kph

Unofficial Aggregate placings
   Club Class
					points
Peter Mason  	(GtB) DG101 		6195 
Richard Hood 	(GtB) Std Cirrus 	6129 
THomas Suchanek (CZE) Std Cirrus	5947

Grand Prix
Jim Carpenter	(Can) Ventus B		40
Benno Beesten	(Ger) ASW 27		38
Swantje Geyer	(Ger) Ventus B		34