a packed room during the regular morning briefing

Even when the organisers had some experience with this numbers, it still presented the usual challenge on the takeoff and with retrieve as well. Poor Carolyn in the role of a Launch Marshal had a hard job but she coped well. One tough woman!

                                                          Carolyn under an extreme pressure 

The gaggle on the pic below (85 gliders) is a living testimony everything went well. It took just over 1 hour to get everybody’s feet of the ground on Saturday! The task proved to be rather too tough for the conditions and only 2 pilots (Steve Ham and Nikolay Shorkov) made it. The third place for the day belonged to Craig Donnell.

the gaggle after launch on Sunday - over 80 gliders....

Sunday's blowout provided a welcomed break for both competitors and organisers after the great first day. Everybody was busy preparing for the tough days to come.

Monday certainly compensated for the previous day. With cloudbase at about 2,500m and light SW winds the task committee set a challenging task with the goal at Gundowring.  Surprise: 65 pilots got there, 2 of them 15 seconds too late! Ron McKenzie stole the show in Front of Brian Webb (both flying Gradient Avax RSF) and Miyata Ayumu from Japan.

Ron McKenzie packing his Gradient Avax RSE after winning the Monday's task

another early bird arriving at the goal at Gundowring

Tuesday was blessed with a similar success. The course was set around local turnpoints with goal at the Porepunkah airfield. Weather – again – cooperated and we rewarded Bright with the spectacle of gaggles of  80 or so gliders over a variety of places for about 4 hours. Our Craig Collings was the star of the day beating Brian Webb (both flying Gradient Avax RSF) and Craig Donnell with his Gin Boomerang by a small margin.

Craig Collings watching the traffic after winning the task on Tuesday

Wednesday’s task was almost a carbon copy of the previous one. Conditions were not so favourite this time and the rough air was responsible for one reserve deployment and one tree landing. Both pilots escaped unharmed and the comp continued uninterrupted. Only a small number of sky gods got to the goal this time. Some pilots launching earlier had to do it again as somebody flicked the switch "OFF" shortly after start. The whole gaggle went down after only a short fight with the Mother Nature.

an uninspiring sight shortly after launch opened on Wednesday

In the end of the difficult day our Craig Collings was allowed to keep the trophy shorts winning again over Takagi Nozumu (Japan) and Davide Cardona from Italy.

Thursday looked good again and with the possibility of a wind picking up the organisers set task similar to the ones from previous 2 days. Conditions became quite challenging with large patches of sink and a strong headwind at some stretches. Only a handful of pilots reached the goal at the Porepunkah airfield. The first there was Miyata Ayumu, winning the task only by only 3s before Semih Sayir from Turkey (both flying Gin Boomerang). He has arrived so low, none of the people waiting there believed he would make it. Third place was taken by the incredible Russian, Nikolay Shorkov.

in the gaggle over Mystic on Thursday

Friday saw the competitors waiting for a several hours at the top of Mystic, as a front was moving from the west threatening with strong winds and overdevelopment. It has arrived only minutes after the organisers finally decided to go ahead. Some interesting launches followed and after a short time the task was cancelled to a general relief.

 one of the exciting launches on Friday - not sure who the stuntman is...

Saturday's task was cancelled due to strong winds before it even started. Considering the number of successful days before it wasn't a major tragedy. Pilots and organisers alike welcomed the chance of getting ready for the big presentation night. It was a  great event with a lot of fun and excellent food supplied by the Outdoor Inn. There were a few sore heads the next morning - especially those who tried to keep pace at drinking the hard stuff with Nikolay. Unbeatable as in the air!

Most of the people who put a lot of effort into organising Bright Open - some others were still helping with catering while this picture was taken.

The winners proudly displaying the rewards they received for their efforts - $3,000; $2,000 and $1,000 respectively. Only pity it all went abroad: Japan, Russia and Turkey. The best Aussie pilot, Craig Collings finished fourth.

Bright Open was also the last round of the Nationals. Excellent results for Gradient with Craig Collings retaining his title of the Australian Champion and Brian Webb finishing on an excellent 3rd place - both flying Gradient Avax RSE. The second place was taken by James Lawson, flying UP Tangra - for the last time. He has just joined the Gradient team becoming a proud owner of another Avax RSF. Welcome aboard, James!

Australian Nationals presentation - from the left: James Lawson, Craig Collings, Brian Webb and the Gradient rep Jiri Stipek presenting just another bottle of the rocket fuel that keeps this team flying so well.

Photo: Ian Ladyman

Only top Gin pilots are getting a better treatment - Nikolay receiving kiss from Caroline.

A tough fight for the first place in the teams inspired by Nikolay's reward. As far as I know, no bones were broken.

See you there next year again! Message from Antje - photo by Ian Ladyman