Vicki Cain <<Vicki>>
writes:

Forbes Flatlands Hang Gliding Championships 2016

What started out looking like it was going to be the worst Forbes comp ever
turned out to be one of the best! I think we'll be talking about this one for a
long time to come! It's all about the numbers! Our 10th consecutive Forbes
Flatlands competition. 62 Pilots from 13 Countries 22 Crew from all over All
together in 1 place, for 10 days, doing what we love, having fun, seeing old
friends, making new friends and making the most of this amazing sport.

Conditions turned on for task 4 to allow us to set the longest task ever in a
hang gliding competition. 368 km from Forbes to Walgett. A massive 26 pilots
made the task, that's 41% of the field!

It was a personal best flight for all at goal except for Jonny Durand, Len Paton
and Guy Hubbard. And a World Record flight for the only female pilot to make
goal, the current World Champion Yoko Isomoto. And the Forbes mantra rings true
"How Good is Forbes!"

All this made possible by so many people. Thank you: Meet Director: Wesley Hill.
Operations: Thea O'Connor. Launch Director: Michael Zupanc. Goal Marshall: Rob Van
Der Klooster. Bill and Molly Moyes and the tug pilots Bobby Bailey, Steve
McCarthy, Bruce Crerar, Blaino and Marco Carelli. Launch crew: Richard Nevins,
Sue Nevins, Lizzy Nevins, Jack Nevins, Yes the whole Nevins family! Christina
Quinn, Tony Hanlon, Annie Crerar, Bena, Linda Zupanc. The Task Committee: Gerolf
Heinrichs, Jonny Durand, Bruce Wynne. Safety Committee: Gordon Rigg, Lukas Bader,
Nils Vesk. Protest Committee: Steve Blenkinsop, Glenn McFarlane, Trent Brown.

We set 6 Tasks totaling over 1000 kms with the leaders averaging 160 km per day,
that's close to 100 miles per day! The consistent flying at Forbes is why we
come back year after year. How good is Forbes!

Congratulations to all the winners!

Top 10 Open Class

10th Olav Opsanger Norway Moyes RX 3.5

9th Gavin Myers Australia Moyes RX 5

8th Fredy Bircher Switzerland Moyes RX 3.5

7th Lukas Bader Germany Moyes RS 4

6th Josh Woods Australia Moyes RX 3.5

5th Len Paton Australia Moyes RS 4

4th Glen McFarlane Australia Wills Wing T2C 144

3rd Jason Kath Australia Wills Wing T2C 144

2nd Michael Jackson Australia Moyes LSS 5

And a most deserved win with a dominant performance, and his 6th Forbes
Flatlands title

1st Jonny Durand Australia Moyes RX 3.5

Women Class: 1st Alexandra Serebrennikova Russia Moyes RX 3

Sport Class: 1st Noel Bear Australia Moyes Gecko 155

Forbes A Grade Award: 1st Josh Woods Australia Moyes RX 3.5

Forbes Council Encouragement Award: Howard Jones Australia Moyes RX 3.5

Thank you to all the pilots and their support crews for making the trek to
Forbes, we hope you had the time of your life ; )

Full results can be found at
www.forbesflatlands.com

Photo credits to Michael Zupanc Peak Pictures and Christina Quinn.