Here we go with the mythical 'GFA' that has obviously made lots of decisions over time just to try and stop people having fun (or so certain correspondents would have us believe).
Decisions on which classes to run, whether to use handicaps, when to declare or accept an offer to run a championships, are all made by the National competitions committee (comprising current comp pilots) and verified by sports committee (comprising current sporting pilots) and then reported at council - lots of opportunity for the various voices to be heard. There are many different voices - those with (relatively) low performing gliders want to see their gliders still relevant for their level of competition, those with newer gliders argue strongly that handicaps are stopping the growth of the sport. These two views then have to be decided upon based on which is most relevant at the time. A few years ago the new-glider group stopped coming to nationals, so the NCC decided to move the needle back to the handicap group. In Club class the newer old gliders (fibreglass) became the dominant participant and so the rules moved towards this group. To protect the older gliders the Sports class was introduced - but unfortunately the people just didn't come so the class has disappeared by popular vote (it is there but just needs someone to turn up - how about a Boomerang one-type class?). Basically, it is all about market forces, and you can't blame 'the GFA' for this. Corowa wasn't used as a site as they weren't prepared to operate according to the rules/requirements of the competition - they had some commercial issues to address (can't blame them for this, I would do the same if in this position, but you cannot have the commerial needs of a business dictating the operation of a national competition). The Dalby nationals is BIG because of the hard work by GQ and that is where the growth in our sport is happening at the moment. The reason for so many NSW and Qld pilots is that is where the majority of competiition glider pilots live. Great to see that there is a pilot from WA flying - now that is commitment. Was there a suggestion that Borgelt instruments would sponsor the Dalby nationals? ? maybe support for the WA pilot? Terry ----- Original Message ----- From: "Mike Borgelt" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> To: "Discussion of issues relating to Soaring in Australia." <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Sent: Wednesday, September 08, 2004 3:23 PM Subject: Re: [Aus-soaring] Dalby Nationals] > At 04:55 PM 8/09/04 +0930, you wrote: > >On Wed, 08 Sep 2004 07:59:22 +1000, Robert wrote: > >>>Jeez Mike, do you have to be so jaundiced about *everything*? > >> > > > >I do wish the Nationals all the best. > >One of the effects of having been around for a while, there is > >knowledge on historic background that informs why attitudes develop. > > > >Back then, a group of pilots couldn't get access to the Nationals > >because they didn't have 'proper' (ie current generation) sailplanes. > >They asked for entry under handicap. > >They were told to f.off by the GFA, unless they got proper gliders. > >(My letter came to me from the late Roger Woods, who offered the > >salve of being allowed to enter the NSW state contest which did allow > >such outdated equipment in at the time.) > > Similar to when a bunch of us wanted to run a short low key Nationals at > Waikerie over the new year 1986/87. The GFA decided there would not be one > that year because of the Benalla World's later in January.(I guess they > didn't want anything to detract from the reflected glory they were planning > to bask in) So we did the politicing got the SAGA on side and put it on the > ACM agenda but lost by one vote when the NSW State GFA VP voted with the > exec and against his state delegates at Roger Woods urging. > > Those contemplating changing the GFA leadership might like to think about > this. > > The Dalby Nationals are being run under the same handicapping rules as last > year at Gulgong which got 20 entries. I think the larger entry has more to > do with location and time than any special efforts by the GFA, which is not > to deny the organisational effort of those putting on Dalby. > > Don't forget the last Nationals were meant to be at Corowa as organised by > Miles and his committee which was rudely over ruled by the GFA exec. We'll > never find out now if Corowa would have been a better course. > > Mike > > Borgelt Instruments - manufacturers of quality soaring instruments > phone Int'l + 61 746 355784 > fax Int'l + 61 746 358796 > cellphone Int'l + 61 428 355784 > Int'l + 61 429 355784 > email: [EMAIL PROTECTED] > website: www.borgeltinstruments.com > > _______________________________________________ > Aus-soaring mailing list > [EMAIL PROTECTED] > To check or change subscription details, visit: > http://lists.internode.on.net/mailman/listinfo/aus-soaring _______________________________________________ Aus-soaring mailing list [EMAIL PROTECTED] To check or change subscription details, visit: http://lists.internode.on.net/mailman/listinfo/aus-soaring
