April 2003

2003 NATIONAL RALLY FLYING CHAMPIONSHIPS

Rustenburg 3 to 5 April 2003

by Adrian Pilling

Dale de Klerk, Nigel Hopkins (2nd),<br />Renier Moolman and Adrian Pilling
L to R: Dale de Klerk, Nigel Hopkins (2nd), Renier Moolman and Adrian Pilling

Well can you believe it, before the summer has gone and the winter days draw near, it was another year gone and time for the SA National Rally Flying Championships again. This time it was held in Rustenburg, the location of the upcoming World Championships in July this year. Clearly a great place for the team to train and to gain as much local knowledge as possible. The event was hosted by the Rustenburg Flying Club who had stepped in to replace Pilanesburg as the main venue for the Worlds. The open class event was held over three days while the Sportsman class only over two days

While the event was held in the same area (using the same map) as the forthcoming Worlds the organisers were careful not to use any checkpoints or away landing fields that would be used in the Worlds to ensure that SA did not have an unfair advantage.

The crews arrived from all around the country and literally camped at the airfield where Jan Hanekom and his very able team put together a competition that literally scarred the pants off of everybody. The routes were tough, uncompromising and designed to get everybody in the mood for the upcoming worlds. Everyone was aware that the team selection to the worlds was at stake. There were two classes of competitors, Open (eligible for selection) and Sportsman.

After the opening briefing on the Wednesday night all the crews retired for the evening and prepared for the forthcoming event.

Thursday – Competition Day 1

After the compulsory 8h00 briefing it was all go as the first crews received their clue sheets and took off. All throughout the morning and into the early afternoon the crews were out there pitting their skills against the other competitors. The day was warm and sunny with little smog. A feature of the day was the away landing at Brits Airfield, this landing counting for points.

During this route, one of the crews – Ernie Alexander and Wendy Barter – experienced some engine problems and were able to make an emergency landing at Brits. After some delay they were allowed to restart the competition and finished some time later back at Rustenburg.

At the end of the evening the results were announced. (after some protests and changes) 1st place Frank and Quinten, 2nd Place Hans and Ron, 3rd Place Nigel and Dale, 4th Place Adrian and Renier, 5th Place Ernie and Wendy, 6th Place Barry and Mary, 7th Place Robin and Chris, 8th Place Walter and James, 9th Place Wayne and Mike and 10th Place Mike and Mark.

Des Warden and Helgaardt Meyer
Des Warden and Helgaardt Meyer Sportsman Class Winners

The penalties were massive with most crews receiving a serious “wake up call”. It was clear that there was serious work ahead and time to renew our dedication to perfection.

Friday – Competition Day 2

The day dawned similar to the previous day. After the usual morning briefing the crews set off again. This time the route took us out to the north, and again there was an away landing this time on a small dirt strip, an interesting challenge.

The crews returned to Rustenburg and to our horror we discovered that Ron and Hans had experienced a problem with their electronic logger. It had not recorded the route at all due to a fuse that came loose!!! What a disaster. This unfortunately gave the hapless crew a maximum penalty score for the day, a real shame.

After some delays the results were announced for the day, but not before we were thrilled to congratulate Barry on his 60th birthday. A special cake was made for him in the shape of a runway and most had a merry time � well done Barry.

The results were as follows, 1st Place Nigel and Dale, 2nd Place Barry and Mary, 3rd Place Adrian and Renier, 4th Place Wayne and Mike, 5th Place Frank and Quinten, 6th Place Walter and James.

Saturday – Competition Day 3

The final day. Wow this is where it all happens. At the morning briefing we learned that this was the shortest and most concentrated of the routes. We would have to fly even more accurately to conquer this route.

The crews returned complaining that the route was a real toughie and that there were many tricky parts to it. Many crews were caught out. The preliminary results were released and the daily positions were, 1st Place Adrian and Renier, 2nd Place Barry and Mary, 3rd Place Mike and Mark, 4th Place Hans and Ron, 5th Place Ernie and Wendy and 6th Place Robin and Chris.

At a gala dinner held at the Rustenburg club house the results were announced for the evening.

Open Class:

  • 1st Place: A Pilling and R Moolman
  • 2nd Place: N Hopkins and D de Klerk
  • 3rd Place: B de Groot and M de Klerk
  • 4th Place: F Eckard and Q Taylor
  • 5th Place: E Alexander and W Barter
  • 6th Place: W Walle and J Lidderd
  • 7th Place: R Spencer-Scarr and C Spencer-Scarr
  • 8th Place: H Schwebel and R Stirk
  • 9th Place: W Bond and M Biermann
  • 10th Place: M Cathro and M Gregson

Sportsman Class:

  • 1st Place: D Warden and H Meyer
  • 2nd Place: M Frieboese and P Barter
  • 3rd Place: D Joubert
  • 4th Place: B Knoll and R Schamotta
  • 5th Place: R Frieboese and B Frieboese
  • 6th Place: T de Bruin and A van Tonder

Trophies:

  • Best Pilot: A.Pilling
  • Best Navigator: R.Moolman
  • Best Club: Brits
  • Best Province: North West
  • Best Landing: H.Schwebel and R.Stirk

After the event the Protea team was announced and comprised:
Adrian Pilling and Renier Moolman, Nigel Hopkins and Dale de Klerk, Hans Schwebel and Ron Stirk, Barry de Groot and Mary de Klerk, Frank Eckard and Quentin Tailor and Walter Walle and James Lidderd.

2003 SA Rally Flying Team
South African Team – 13th World Rally Flying Championships

The “B” team was made up of Robin and Chris Spencer Scarr and Ernie Alexander and Wendy Barter. Adrian Pilling was elected Captain, Nigel Hopkins as Vice Captain and Paul Barter appointed as Manager of the team.

Well done and congratulations to the team and to those that did so well and those that tried so hard. Well done to the Sportsman Class for the great effort and commitment. Well done to those that made this competition possible and of course to the team. Good luck and bring back the gold.

Thanks to the Rustenburg Flying Club, The people at the canteen, the selection team of Jan Hanekom, Deon Van Den Berg, Dave Perelson, the ground crew and of course Thys Hermann and all the other people that have pulled together to make this a great competition.

 

 

 

 

2003 RALLY NATIONALS OPEN CLASS

DAY 1 DAY 2 DAY 3 GRAND
POS PILOT NAVIGATOR REG OBS NAV LAND TOT OBS NAV LAND OTHER TOT OBS NAV LAND TOT TOTAL
1 A PILLING R MOOLMAN CVO 500 1358 70 1928 475 232 20 727 400 92 60 552 3207
2 N HOPKINS D DE KLERK LZV 400 836 60 1296 100 126 90 316 350 1228 40 1618 3230
3 B DE GROOT M DE KLERK CNG 575 1416 220 2211 500 308 120 928 425 408 20 853 3992
4 F ECKARD Q TAYLOR MOC 475 286 50 811 450 1204 100 1754 1175 2596 20 3791 6356
5 E ALEXANDER W BARTER AHM 1225 672 40 1937 1025 1318 100 2443 1275 750 200 2225 6605
6 W WALLE J LIDDERD CNZ 1200 1086 80 2366 800 1198 40 2038 1000 1578 20 2598 7002
7 R SPENCER-SCARR C SPENCER-SCARR JMK 1400 786 80 2266 1300 962 90 2352 1300 1198 40 2538 7156
8 H SCHWEBEL R STIRK CNZ 625 218 20 863 600 4800 40 5440 700 492 0 1192 7495
9 W BOND M BIERMANN CLR 1250 2360 100 3710 875 358 140 1373 1000 1702 200 2902 7985
10 M CATHRO M GREGSON CLR 1200 3526 80 4806 1200 2026 260 3486 450 452 60 962 9254

2003 RALLY NATIONALS OPEN CLASS – Landings

DAY 1 DAY 2 DAY 3 TOTAL
POS PILOT NAVIGATOR LAND LAND LAND
1 H SCHWEBEL R STIRK 20 40 0 60
2 W WALLE J LIDDERD 80 40 20 140
3 A PILLING R MOOLMAN 70 20 60 150
4 F ECKARD Q TAYLOR 50 100 20 170
5 N HOPKINS D DE KLERK 60 90 40 190
6 R SPENCER-SCARR C SPENCER-SCARR 80 90 40 210
7 E ALEXANDER W BARTER 40 100 200 340
8 B DE GROOT M DE KLERK 220 120 20 360
9 M CATHRO M GREGSON 80 260 60 400
10 W BOND M BIERMANN 100 140 200 440

2003 RALLY NATIONALS SPORTSMAN CLASS

DAY 1 DAY 2 GRAND
POS PILOT NAVIGATOR REG OBS NAV LAND TOT OBS NAV LAND TOT TOTAL
1 D WARDEN H MEYER MHH 900 1272 200 2372 700 655 200 1555 3927
2 M FRIEBOESE P BARTER CCO 1350 4600 40 5990 1350 878 40 2268 8258
3 D JOUBERT 0 BWE 1600 4019 40 5659 1200 1367 40 2607 8266
4 B KNOLL R SCHAMOTTA NTC 1250 2860 280 4390 850 3105 200 4155 8545
5 R FRIEBOESE B FRIEBOESE GWR 1400 4258 40 5698 850 3479 40 4369 10067
6 T DE BRUIN A VAN TONDER CUB 1400 4588 40 6028 1250 3091 40 4381 10409
7 B WILLIAMS C WILLIAMS MHH 1600 5300 240 7140 1450 2539 200 4189 11329

2003 RALLY NATIONALS SPORTSMAN CLASS – Landings

DAY 1 DAY 2 DAY 3 TOTAL
POS PILOT NAVIGATOR REG LAND LAND TOTAL
1 D JOUBERT 0 BWE 40 40 80
2 M FRIEBOESE P BARTER CCO 40 40 80
3 R FRIEBOESE B FRIEBOESE GWR 40 40 80
4 T DE BRUIN A VAN TONDER CUB 40 40 80
5 D WARDEN H MEYER MHH 200 200 400
6 B WILLIAMS C WILLIAMS MHH 240 200 440
7 B KNOLL R SCHAMOOTA NTC 280 200 480