Page 45 - MFW June 2025
P. 45
Especially at the age of 64! The first time I attended a 2025 Australian GPS Triangle Racing Championship
world championship event was back in 1991 for category A group of New Zealand flyers, Kevin Botherway, Dave
F3B. I became the World Champion. In 1998, I attended Griffin and Ron Johnson competed in the Australian GPS
the first F3J world championship event and became the Triangle Championship. Dave and Kevin finished on the
first F3J World Champion. In 2011, I attended the first podium. Well done guys!! Soaring Rocks.
F3K world championship and became the first F3K world Report and pics elsewhere in this MFW.
champion. The trend was broken with the first F5J world
championship in 2019, as I finished fourth there. I have
now remedied this failure of mine! :)
"This year's F5J world championship in Argentina was
well organized and very well run. The contest officials
adapted nicely with the sometimes-uncertain weather. It
was an ideal world championship event, with a wide
variety of conditions to test the pilots. Even the flyoffs had
a wide variety of conditions in the space of just a few
hours, which really challenged the pilots. The hospitality
of the Argentinians has been superb for our time here in
Cordoba.
Kiwi Flyers with Hiscock family supporters.
NZ Soarchamps.
Mark your calendar now, put in for your leave and come
and fly at the 2025 NZ Soarchamps from the 16th to 19th
of October. To be flown in sunny Hawkes Bay at the Black
Bridge Soaring field near Clive, and a short drive from
Napier, Hastings, or Havelock North.
Soaring Classes; F3B, F3J, ALES Radian, eRES 2M,
F5J, F3K and F5K will be flown over the 4 flying days.
Joe – Nailed it!!
"I have to give huge thanks to my teammate and friend
Kevin Botherway, who called me throughout the
preliminary and flyoff rounds. Without his expert help, I
would not have done nearly as well. Our team manager,
David Pratley was also instrumental in our results.
"Two days after the flyoffs have been completed, I still
feel like I am in a dream world. Despite my more youthful
successes, I was not expecting this result at all. I am
proud of my air reading for the full week of flying. A hint of
things to come was winning the Tango Cup prior to the
world championship event. At that point I could have
returned home a very happy person.
"For the world championship itself, the New Zealand
team worked together very well and put forward a great
effort in trying to defend the team trophy (which we won
for the first two F5J world championships). It was very
nice to see Pete McEvoy step up during the world
championship event. He improved markedly during the
weeks flying.”
The NZ team was placed a respectable fifth out of
eighteen teams.
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