The new Club Class Australian National Champion, Sophie Curio on the grid at Temora.
After seven consecutive racing days, Sophie Curio is the new Australian Club Class Champion. She flew her LS4a consistently, winning one day, taking 2nd place on three days and one 3rd place. This was more than enough to put her at the top of the table, beating Jack Hart in his ASW20b into 2nd place.
Tasks were between 300 and 500km each day with conditions ranging from weak blue days to a strong cumulus-filled sky for the final two races.
Sophie Curio landing her LS4a at Temora.
The 20m 2 Seat contest was won by Adam Woolley and Keith Gateley, who also flew for Australia in the Uvalde WGC in 2024. Speeds of up to 140 kph over 450km were achieved during the seven days of competition. Also flying in the 2 Seat Class were several past Australian WGC competitors including Pete Temple, Bruce Taylor, David Jansen and former World Champion Brad Edwards.
20m 2 Seat Australian National Champions Adam Woolley (front) with Keith Gateley flying an Arcus on the penultimate day of the championships.
Temora, in the New South Wales Wheat Belt, once again showed that it is a world class open soaring site. Temora lies between Narromine, 200km to the north, that hosted the 2023 WGC and 2015 JWGC, and Benalla 500km to the south that hosted the 2019 WGC. This vast area covers some of the strongest summer soaring conditions in the world.
This competition is a major contributor to determining the Australian pilots for the next WGCs in Club and 2 Seat Classes.
Australian Club 2 Seat and Club Class National Championships, Temora NSW
16 - 23 February 2025
20M 2 SEAT CLASS
1 Woolley & Gateley Kingaroy & Bathurst ArcusM 6,576
2 Jansen & Evans Kingaroy ASG32Mi 6,442
3 Paterson & Thomsen Tocumwal Arcus 6,139
CLUB CLASS
1 Sophie Curio Kingaroy LS4a 6,212
2 Jack Hart Bendigo ASW20B 6,137
3 Daryl Speight Darling Downs DiscusB 5,719
Full results at soaringspot.com tinyurl.com/TEMORANATS
Photo: Michael Strathern
Photo: Adam Woolley
Former World Gliding Champion Brad Edwards, (front) with Bruce Taylor in their ASG32Mi.
New Zealannd pilot Michael Strathern flying his ASW20.
Jack Hart, 2nd place in Club Class flying his ASW20b.
By Sean Young