The Canungra Classic 96 was officially opened by the Dalai Lama. He was tightly guarded by American style security guards Jon and Josh. An enthusiastic Press gallery flashed cameras trying to capture the spectacle of the event. The Dalai Lama wisely and solemnly warned us against indulgences in alcohol and merry making during the week, but apparently wearing flowery red knickers was OK as the Dalai Lama inadvertently displayed on his exit (Yet not one photo from the press).
Next, Dave Staver ran a successful revised and abbreviated Calcutta. Hard to sell pilots were bundled to increase their attractiveness. Some star pilots were in hot demand. Davo skillfully pushed the bidding up to $500 for Geoff Tulloch, by buying him himself.
On the Tuesday night the Canungra Motel put on a successful spit roast and swimming pool party. Unfortunately this was the coldest night of the week, so only a few braved the icy waters not necessarily voluntarily. However, the rest of us had a great time eating and drinking and watching our backs.
On the Thursday night, Richard Nevins ran a Trivia night at the Canungra Hotel. The team competition was fierce with cheating rife and final scores being very close.
The Canungra Classic 96 came to a close with the closing night presentation at Moriarty Hall, with the party going until dawn.
With the competition now over, all the results and the National Ladder can be viewed on the Internet web page
http://www2.eis.net.au/~tim/classic.html
The major fund raising effort this year was the raffle organised by Scott Jones. It was extremely successful. The competition raised $500 worth of Tamborine site fees + $2,500 donation for the club, and $700 worth of site fees for Stan Roy.
For club members we have some special offers on the leftover merchandising. The excellent T-shirt designed by Jules Makk, can be purchased for $15 but only sizes S and M remain. Top quality, brand new Konica films 24 exposure, 100 ASA can be purchased for $3. Canungra Club Stubby Coolers can also be purchased for $3. Proceeds will go directly to the club.
Despite difficult weather conditions, the Canungra Classic 96 was, once again, a fully valid competition scoring in excess of the required 4000 points. A strong field of 61 pilots entered, including 17 of the top 20 ranked pilots in Australia. Yet the number of pilots who made goal was the lowest on record.
Richard Nevins announced a new rule that goal times were taken from when the king post crosses the goal line. Stephen Gilmour, now flying a prototype topless glider, was "stumped" for words.
Round Launch Turnpoint Goal Distance Best Goal Points 1 Tamborine Hillview Rathdowney 48.0 48.0 11 1000 2 Tamborine Rathdowney 42.7 5.0 0 0 3 Beechmont Coulson 50.8 20.8 0 32 4 Beechmont Coulson 50.8 34.5 0 920 5 Beechmont Hillview Kooralbyn 43.7 43.7 3 373 6 Tamborine E.Hillview Maroon Dam 65.8 65.8 7 1000 7 Tamborine E.Widgee Maroon Dam 70.8 52.8 0 797 8 Canceled TOTAL 21 4122
Round Two started with Drew Cooper handing the red shorts over to himself revealing that "Sunday was cross dressing day". Obviously inspired by the Dalai Lama he was wearing a pair of frilly red knickers. The day was more stable although pilots were managing to get above launch. Dave Staver, well back in the field, pushed and all the top pilots launched, got up in a small thermal to about 500 feet above launch, and then bombed out in front. Davo, wisely foreseeing some animosity towards him, did his darnedest to scratch into Benobble . Several pilots drove back to launch to refly, but still no-one could clear the bomb-out zone. Everyone came equal first, zero points.
Round Three brought a change in the weather and off to Beechmont. We were sad to learn of the death of Stan Munster, the land owner behind Beechmont. Wayne Lee, on behalf of the Classic, offered our condolences and gave some flowers and a card. Strong winds and a low cloud base saw many pilots caught in the rotor behind launch and landed in flying fox valley. Mark Newland battled the testing conditions to win the day for 32 points.
Round Four had a higher cloud base and more pilots got away. The day was worth 920 points. However, both Rohan Holtkamp and Grant Heaney flew an equal 34.4 km towards goal and had to share first and second place points giving them 907 points each. Andrew Atkinson (B Grade) came third on the day and was now leading the competition.
Round Five started with a boast from Dave Redman that he had never bombed out at Beechmont. Alternate Launch opened and pilot after pilot bombed out. Redman pushed from the back of Alternate Launch. Every pilot in front of him launched and bombed. Redman skyed out. From Main Launch some gaggles went up. Other gaggles bombed out. Lack of thermal activity close to Kooralbyn air strip (goal) saw several pilots attempt long glides into goal and miss. Attila Bertok and Phil Pritchard landed 200m short. Mark Newland landed 100m short. Grant Heaney harnessed the small bubbles of hot air from the black tarmac to land 10m short of the goal line. Steve Blenkinsop was first into goal but refused to take a start gate time so he wouldn't win the day and have to wear the red shorts. Rick Duncan flew fast and low on his final glide to use ground affect along the long bitumen airstrip and just made it across the line and won the day. Glen Macleod also made goal.
Round Six had improved conditions. Goal was hidden behind a hill on the road to Maroon Dam causing some pilots consternation. Seven pilots made goal. The day was won by Rick Duncan. Peter Beard was interviewed on the hill by the Channel Nine News. "PB - If I go now I should be able to catch the leaders".
Round Seven had a promising start but shut down in the afternoon. However reflyers Steve Ruffels and Neil Petersen made turnpoint. No-one made goal. The day was won by Rohan Holtkamp.
Round Eight was canceled due to dangerous weather conditions. So Jon Durand went for a recreational flight from Tamborine to Moriarty Park.
"to win the Canungra Classic you need to be short and a Mexican" - Rick Duncan 1996
Open 1st - Grant Heaney, Trophy + $1000 (Calcutta $1373)
Open 2nd - Rohan Holtkamp, Trophy + $600 (Calcutta $858)
Open 3rd - Rick Duncan, Trophy + $400 (Calcutta $686)
Open 4th - Geoff Tulloch (Calcutta $343)
Open 5th - Attila Bertok (Calcutta $172)
SEQld Region Perpetual Trophy - Geoff (this is the trophy we all came for) Tulloch
Masters 1st - John (you'll all be in this division one day) Blain, Trophy
Women's 1st - Neva (statistically I'm a better pilot than all of you) Bull, Trophy
B Grade 1st - Andrew Atkinson, Trophy + Moyes Flying Suit (Calcutta $400)
B Grade 2nd - Bernard Gonsalves, Trophy (Calcutta $250)
B Grade 3rd - Tony Knight, Trophy (Calcutta $200)
B Grade 4th - Stephen Ruffels, (Calcutta $100)
B Grade 5th - Neil Petersen, (Calcutta $50)
Sportsman - Scott Jones, Trophy
Real Points Prize - Scott Jones, Trophy
Lucky Pilot Prize - Garmin GPS 38 - John Strickland
1st Prize - Paul Barry, South Molle Island Holiday and Airfares
2nd Prize - Holly Lister, Binna Burra Holiday
3rd Prize - Rick Duncan, O'Reilly's Holiday
4th Prize - Sue Nevins, Skypower Balloon Flight
5th Prize - Nick Dillane, Tandem with Ken Hill
Booksellers Prize - Ronald van Raalte, St Bernards Weekend
Landowners Prize - TBA - Cedar Creek Dinner.
Our thanks go to all the sponsors and helpers who made this competition a success.
Canungra Hotel $500.
Canungra Motel Spit Roast which raised $400 for the club.
South Molle Island: Five nights for two at half price (Raffle paid other half and airfares)
Binna Burra: Weekend for two
O'Reilly's: Weekend for two
Skypower: Balloon Flight
Ken Hill: Tandem
Kadies Kitchen: Free breakfasts
St Bernards: Weekend for two
Wayne Lee - Launch official and helping clear launches prior to comp
Alf Carter - Launch Assistant
Sue Phillips - Goal Marshall
Stephen Whitcher - Assistant Goal Marshall
Peter Beard - Scorer
Richard Nevins - Meet Head
Launch Timers - Robin Taylor, David Phelp, Yve Collins, AJ Murray, Zupy
D Tim Cummings, Scott Jones, Jon Durand, Judy Durand, Richard Nevins, Sue Nevins, Dave Redman
Richard Nevins + Friends
Jon Durand - Trophies
Judy Durand - Media Liaison
Nadine - Opening up hall in afternoon
Speedy - signwriting
Phil Pritchard - Getting airspace approval
Linda Riggs- Organising food and hall
This page provided by the Canungra Hang Gliding Club
Thanks for visiting. You are visitor number
This page maintained by: D Tim Cummings