Battle Over Waikato Skies Looms

PRESS RELEASE
Matamata Soaring Centre

For immediate release
29 January, 2007

Battle Over Waikato Skies Looms:
National Gliding Championships 2007

Glider pilots from around the country will be competing over the Waikato at the 2007 National Sport Class Gliding Championships which start at Matamata this Tuesday.

This year's list of entries includes a number of past National Champions, and pilots who have competed at World Championship level.

The most experienced pilot will be local Waikato pilot Ian Finlayson who has been national champion 6 times. The twist is that Finlayson has been 6 times winner of the Open Class – the Formula 1 of gliding – and this year is looking to give the regular Sports Class pilots a run for their money. One of his prime competitors will be Aucklander Paul Schofield, a previous National Champion in the Sports Class.

Sailplane racing involves flying gliders over pre-set courses hundreds of kms long… fastest around wins. The Sport Class uses medium performance gliders but still sees winning average speeds of 70-130kms per hour depending on the soaring conditions of the day.

Contest pilot Trevor Atkins says, "For some pilots this contest is high adrenalin sailplane racing at its best, for others it's a great excuse to just get out and go flying!". He adds "Over the duration of the contest we will collectively rack up well in excess of 15-20,000kms – not bad for aircraft without an engine".

The 2007 NZ National Sport Class Gliding Championships run from 30 January to 10 February. Results will be posted on the Gliding New Zealand website www.gliding.co.nz as soon as they are available each day.

ENDS

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