Next top model.....

http://www.stuff.co.nz/auckland/local-news/western-leader/4075845/Not-all-plane-sailing-for-Les

..... I'm still giggling over that by-line!

I think that the story is lame and makes light of the hard work and achievement of the team- bummer.

F3J Mosaic

I am waiting for Les to get back from France/London before I change the blog focus back to 'us' so I thought I'd fill the blank space with this photo mosaic made with Big huge Labs Mosaic maker. They are all from the Flickr Stream of Nick Kidd who has done an incredible job!!


1. Joe Wurts, 2. N70_7972, 3. Cody, 4. N70_8315, 5. N70_8088, 6. N70_8093, 7. N70_8329, 8. N70_8389, 9. N30_7929, 10. Icon 2, 11. Croatian Tip, 12. Missed!!!, 13. Skyward, 14. N70_8557, 15. N70_8204, 16. Philip Kolb, 17. Midair, 18. Joue Wurtz kick, 19. CD, 20. Supra, 21. N70_8533, 22. It's Good to Arrive Together :), 23. Timers, 24. Nailing it!!, 25. Flex

I'm going to take a few blog days off look for a post or two from Les early next week.

Check it out man he's Newsworthy!

• http://australia-oceana.getsomenews.com/2010/08/nz-model-fliers-score-gold-at-world-championships-in-france-22303
• http://www.voxy.co.nz/national/nz-model-fliers-score-gold-world-championships-france/5/58190
• http://www.infonews.co.nz/news.cfm?id=55922
• http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/CU1008/S00126/nz-model-fliers-score-gold-at-world-championships.htm
  

Much Nicer...

Lunch at the Arc de Triomphe and Dinner on the Champs Elysees- Life sucks for some people huh?

Gold (and a bit red)

Looking like a few to many days in the sun (or maybe a few wines under the belt) but pretty happy...
(Ok I have to say the scrapbooker that is me hopes that someone got some shitloads better photo than that!)

Final

Coming Back down to Earth

It's been an amazing few days. The guys have just landed for the very last time. Soon we will know how the story ends.

Round 5 scores

Thanks to Hal!

Times Rnd 5

From Les: Another Throw out threw long and straight but don't have the hang time . Landed out at 7 so relaunch to get same time and a landing. JW down in about 10 and Scott in 11.

First of the day...

They have decided to fly one senior round then 2 juniors and then the last senior... but it must be frustrating to have the organisers chopping and changing all the time.

Talking about frustrating the times in round five of the fly off are reflecting the poor conditions at this time of the morning in France. All took long launches but were below launch height within minutes of launch. It sounds like some landed with 6 minutes still left on the clock.

Joe was down with 4.48 mins left on the clock and the CZE pilot who was in 11th has flown a minute longer than the rest.

Photos and standings

An infected thumb on my right hand.
2 hours sleep
2 hours at Rugby in the RAIN with a 2 year old. (His clothes are dirtier than the 22 Rugby jerseys I have to wash all put together.
The world's worst ever Referee- who put a bloody great downer on my Teams last game of the season- W#%ker!
and 2 frikin' hours to get home! (from Devonport- I kid you not)
I'm exhausted.

This cheers me up though:

Kieran got player of the day probably his best game EVER he didn't miss a tackle- flippin' awesome!

I am married to a member of the gold medal winning F3J team. All of whom got in the fly off.- and really considering the calibre of the competition are doing bloody well and holding their own.

There's just one thing that could make it better- The juniors flying their last two Fly off rounds first so that there is a bit of time for some thermal activity to build up for the seniors. I have found the French management/organisation of the competition to be seriously lacking- and that's without the added slowness to upload results and lack of pictures and info.

That aside I can't wait for tonight -

Joe, Scott do your thing!

Les. We LOVE you. REMEMBER you are AMAZING.
G, K, S, M & W xoxoxo

There's an angel under your wings babe.

That's all I know...

The internet at the field is crap and the organisers are probably to busy to be on to it with the scores everyone is enjoying a well deserved dinner right now in France.

R4: Joe 995 pts

SENIORS
1. Feigl 3995.6
2. Perkins 3994.6
3. Strautins 3993.5
4. Wurts 3991.5
5. Borst 3987.9
6. Kolb 3983.3

The competition is intense. Daryl had a 9:58.9 99 and did not win the round...

The seniors fly first in the morning about 6am.

*************

And finally to add serious insult to injury David Hobby's Mum sadly passed away yesterday in Australia. Our deepest sympathy goes to you Dave and your whole family. We are so sorry for your loss.

Rnd 3 & 4

All good for NZ. Good times and landings mine (Les) were 14.55 and 99 and 14.53 and 96. Some people missed the thermal- so I won't be bottom but won't be top either.

Helpers, Callers, and Towers

Now that they can't rely on each other the Team has a number of others working with them:

Joe: Craig Goodrum (SA)

Scott: Brendon B (USA) and Michelle Goodrum (SA)

Les: Reinhardt (A german who has been helping the Turkish) and Dave James

Les said people were putting their hands up all over the place to help out. It sounded like there will be American, Russian and Swedes towing for them.

After Fly off 1 & 2

1. Feigl 2000
2. Wurts 1996.5
3. Borst 1995.8
4. Stautins 1995.6
5. Perkins 1995.1

12. Les 1746.4

15. Scott 1637.2

With a score like that I don't think the reports of Joe missing a landing can be correct.

Remember that a throw away will come into effect once all six rounds have been flown.

From Les:

Scott and I have throw out already. JW good. Rd 2 for me was 14.53 and 100. SC similar and JW probably leading taking very short tow.

0.96 sec

That's the times they are reporting on the launches for the likes of Joe and Daryl- sounds like everyone got away ok in Rnd 2 they have just landed. The Brazillian got a safety penalty. It was also reported that Joe's landing in Rnd 1 was short. There will be 2 Jnr rounds now so hopefully after starting to breath again and have a drink we will get some times.

Oh my....

The Senior round Fly Offs have started and it is totally nerve wrecking information comes via the German Ticker and the RC Groups Message Board. With notes like; ....have to wait for the official times but round 1 is in the books and it looks like both Daryl and Joe w landed pretty close time wise with each other. There were three who landed early including one of the Kiwi's and someone who I think was late, but we will have to wait for the call.

For interests sake:

Round 12:

Joe: 9.59 and 100 (No that's not a typo!) (1000 pts)
Scott: 9.52 and 99 (I think the Pts were 996.2)
Les: 9.53 and 100 (997.6 pts)

The Final Points for the teams were:

New Zealand: 32870.5
Slovenia: 32587.9
Germany: 32580.3
Lithuania: 32479
Czech Republic: 32377.1
USA: 32209.6

The 15 Fly Off Pilots are:

1. Daryl Perkins
2. Carl Strautins
3. Joe Wurts
4. Benedict Feigl
5. Ricardas Siumbrys
6. Arend Borst
7. Phillip Kolb
8. Tobias Lammiein
9. Kristof Pavel
10. Jo Grini
11. Les Stockley
12. Jan Hlastec
13. Marlon Luz
14. Primoz Rizner
15. Scott Chisholm

Hopefully some times and good news soon.

Guess What?

ALL 3 KIWI PILOTS MADE THE FLY OFF!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I've cleared a space on the mantle...

THEY WON!!!!!!!
THEY WON!!!!!!!
THEY WON!!!!!!!
THEY WON!!!!!!!
THEY WON!!!!!!!
THEY WON!!!!!!!
THEY WON!!!!!!!
THEY WON!!!!!!!

GOLD FOR THE NZ F3J TEAM
FRANCE 2010