Day 8/Final Update

Hello again race fans,
Well what can I say, this day and this contest finished up just like the weather, hot and vicious. We have a new and very young Sports Class champion in Noah Reitter. Noah came up in soaring through the Harris Hill Jr. program and has worked very hard to hone his skills. Noah is a quiet unassuming young man that possesses the skill of someone in his late 30’s to early 40’s. He not only flies gliders but took his turn flying tow in the Pawnee a few days this week. If you need something, just ask him and it will be done. Second place went to John Fessenden, and third to P3, Eric Mann.
The day itself was not nearly as easy as some thought it may be. When the launch started at 12:05 the CD skipped the sniffer process and said keep moving guys. The reason for this is the soaring sky looked much better today over the drag we had yesterday. In all honesty, it was not easy. The day winner from Monday, landed out. Several others came home without the last turn point or just simply quit early. The common phrase I heard while recovering gliders was holy smokes, that was work. I believe I pointed out to one contestant, that if soaring was easy, everyone would do it. There was reportedly a bounty out on the weatherman!
Counting the practice we flew 8 days with 1 day down Sunday the 22nd, Thursday and Friday off and then flew every day to the end. Several days were small backside ridge missions. 1 day was a conventional ridge day with northwest winds followed by the last few true thermal days. All in all a general good time. I am sure after the last few days that there are a lot of tired pilots for the trip home.
Speaking of that today is that dreadful day for us locals. The champion determined the gliders back in the boxes and tomorrow the airport will be totally devoid of all the character or characters of the last 10 days. It always makes me sad to see trailers driving out knowing they are gone until next year.
Mifflin Soaring has many people to thank for making this a continued success. I will try not to miss anyone.   Marshal Mc Clung and Monte Sullivan CD. Karl Striedieck, CM. Sandra Danoff, scorer. Richard Kellerman\Eric Mann, weather and all my trusty tow pilots, Haven Goulding, Noah Reitter, Jacob Barnes, Jr. and Dave Graham. Ground crew, Fred Winter, Steve Glick, Austin Glick, Nikki Glick, Kaitlyn Glick and HH Jr. Eric Shellhammer. Launch start and recovery coordinator, Jackie Dougherty.  All deserve thanks and  kudos.
Retrieve office was Lianne Groshel and Janine Acee. Chris Groshel was in charge of camping and trailers and generally does anything that no one else thinks of. Well that’s all folks.
Signing off until May 2023 regional meet
Brian Glick, CTP