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Sportsman Aerobatics
F2B Aerobatics
1/2A Combat
F2D Combat
Goodyear Team Race
1/2A Team Race
F2C Team Race
Class 'B' Team Race
Phantom Racing

Day one was arrival, registration day and setting up the various sites and getting back in touch with all your mates from around the country.
The weather was overcast, windy and cold and for the most part this was the case for the whole Nats which meant many would struggle and for the Free Flight guys I can only guess what their comments were!!!!

The First day of competition was again windy and cold with a few spells of sunshine that took the edge off the cool easterly wind.
Results and text courtesy of the Fly Papers - Thanks to Alastair Rivers.

Sportsman Aerobatics

The Nats for C/L started with Sportsman aerobatics with a large entry including one all the way from Austria. The wind made for a hard time for all but fortunately no tragedies occurred. The top four were all close but eventual winner Bryce Gibson flew the High 'K' factor manoeuvres well which made the difference in the end. Jon Spain did well to come in second in his first competition while our Austrian visitor Rudi Konigshofer rounded out the top ten using the fourth place getters model!!!

To all, - Well done

Glen Lewis - CD

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Results

FAI F2B Aerobatics

Although the wind was getting near to the limit for flying this event, I did not hear any complaints from the competitors. The first round showed the usual nerves with the wind making this even more so. At the end of the first round the event could have been won by any of 5 flyers. Most competitors improved their scores in the second round, which was also flown with slightly less wind but in the third round the wind was back up again. In the third round Kim Webby and Owen Rogers were starting to stand out, both trying to beat the other flyer. Unfortunately about half way through his manoeuvre's, Owen's outboard wing detached itself from his model blowing his chance to beat Kim. Although windy there were no crashes, although the ground was very very close on occasions! (wasn't it Robbie!!)

The judge would like to thank the fliers for their promptness and readiness to fly. In fact I didn't have time to add score or even have a drink during the whole contest. All flights were completed in under three hours which averages 8 minutes a flight. This event, to my knowledge, was also the first NZ Nats using an FAI approved judge.
The results show how close the competition was, even in the wind.

Don Robinson - CD

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Results

1/2A Combat

A contest where the wind had control and Bill Long came through from a first round lost to win the event by staying airbourne, leaving Glen Lewis in second place loosing two in a row to Bill at the death.

Results

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Day 2 Thurs 30th Dec

FAI F2D Combat

Today we were greeted with very light wind and a little cloud cover which for any F2D pilot is perfect and remained so for the whole event.

The flying was of a very high standard and this was appreciated by spectators and judges alike.
After 5 rounds of combat we came to the final between Bryce Gibson from New Zealand and Rudi Konigshofer from Austria, with Rudi winning 2 cuts to one. A fly off for second and third was flown between Bryce Gibson and local hope Jon Spain, again a 2 cuts to 1 score line and once more Bryce was on the wrong end leaving Jon to finish second.

Finally to the cut judges, (Fred Bennett and Jim Boyd) many thanks for a job well done.

Glen Lewis - CD

Results

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Goodyear Team Race

A hot afternoon greeted us at the tarmac site for the first team race event, Goodyear.
The ever persistant easterly wind put in another appearance but just a fraction of what it was yesterday. As there were only three entrants, one heat and a final was held.

The long team had a few problems with blowing plugs and failed to finish a race while Jon Spain with Austrian pilot Rudi Konigshofer played a tortoise and the hare race to finish second with their diesel powered 'Slow' Goodyear model.
This left the Palmer team with a relatively trouble free run to claim victory.

Glen Lewis - CD

Day 3 - Fri 31st Dec (the last day of the century, however the new millennium is not till next year!!)

Well this was one of the worst days yet and due to the high wind we decided to fly today's events tomorrow. This was not going to cause us any real delays as there were only 3 entires and as there were only 2 speed entries that event was abandoned.

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Day 4 - Sat 1st Jan 2000

Well, what do we do now was the order of the day as we woke, well some of us did not sleep at all with New Year celebrations and watching the sun rise at New Brighton beach which turned out to be a watching the grey sky get light as the rain set in. The rain was not going to stop so a notice was left at the gate to lets the thousands know that we would re access the situation at 1pm.

By 12 mid day the tarmac was dry and with only light wind the circle was re marked and we were ready to go.

1/2A Team race

A wet New Years morning put the start time out to 1pm and a great sigh of relief was heard from all over after some intensive Millennium celebrating.
After some practice we flew two 2 up heats to make for some easy racing. The heats were well raced and some good times resulted.
The final was a great race with Doug Palmer and Andrew Robinson working very hard getting around Rob Fenwick. The final times were quite fast with the Robinson Team doing a personal best time for a final in first place with the Palmer team not far behind for 2nd place.

Overall the racing was of an excellent standard with no incidents and three very tired pilots. Thank you all for a fine day's racing.

Glen Lewis - CD

Results

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FAI F2C Team Race

This year F2C was not well supported as has been the case over the last few years, but some of the normal stayers flew. A one off heat followed by a final was held.
The Wellington/Lewis team were first off the ground followed by the Plamers. All three team's engines were not quite right and many adjustments were made, at lap 83 for Wellington/Lewis, Glen held the running model on the ground to warm the motor a little before release while the Robinson team were coming down for a pitstop. Andrew failed to over-fly the lines, catching them and pulling both models into the circle. This left the Palmer team to fly enough laps to win with Wellington/Lewis finishing second as a result of the Robinson's DQ.
A sad ending to the days racing.

Bill Bell - CD

Class 'B' Team race

Class 'B' was the last Team race event and again with only 3 entries it was decided to run only a final as we were all tired and in need of recuperation after the previous night's excursions.
Mike Morice, with pilot Robert Fenwick powered away with their K&B 29 powered machine while Graham Tapper cruised around with his vintage 'B' model for second. The Palmer team had tank problems and only managed 1 lap.
Many thanks to all helpers for the team race events, your assistance was appreciated.

Glen Lewis - CD

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Results

Phantom Racing

After a wet morning the afternoon turned out great with light wind, clear blue sky and for a change, it was warm!
Racing was keenly contested with two separate groups of racers, the fast ones and the 'gentleman's' class. All races were exciting for a number of reasons andf a lot of fun was had by all.
The final was between Paul Lagan, Bill Long and Graham Main. At lap 96 of 160, Graham had a hard landing breaking a wheel (From the Kit I believe!) to end hid race, leaving the other two to slog it out.
Paul had a clean run but fell a few laps short on his last tank so an extra pit stop was required and just held out to beat Bill Long by 4 laps.

A great evening's racing was topped off with a whisky for all racers, compliments of Graham Tapper ending a really long but enjoyable day.

Glen Lewis - CD

Results

THEY CAME, THEY SAW, HE CONQUERED

Rudi and Petra Konigshofer, from Austria have been popular visitors to these Nats.
Here in NZ until May/June, both Rudi and Petra have been vocal in their appreciation of the hospitality they have received and the scenery they've seen. After leaving the Nats, they will be travelling south to the Fiords and back up the west coast before heading north.
Rudi has enjoyed the competition and friendly camaraderie as well as the fierce competition in the circle. With 15 years flying in Austria, he leaves here as the raining F2D champion, having beaten both Jon Spain and Bryce Gibson.
Rudi, on his return to Austria hopes to introduce 'Slow' Combat to his fellow competitors after seeing first hand one of our "Slow' meetings in Maramarua held at Bill Bells last November.
"action, yet cheap".

Next Years Nats. 28th Dec 2000 to 2nd Jan 2001 in Caterton, see you there.

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