The European Hang Gliding Championship has just finished in Àger after 9 valid tasks - the 3rd successful competition so far this year in Àger in terms of the weather :-)
Italy continue their winning form in the team ranking and now hold the title in both World and European hang gliding as well as European paragliding AND have the reigning European paragliding champion and World hang gliding champion.
Austrian Gerolf Heinrichs of 'freaking bloggers' fame won the overall, but we will all fondly remember him as Jeldof Hendrix from now on ;-) A slight translation/pronunciation issue at prizegiving and 'Gerolf' is no more!
Top ranked Russian chica (24th overall - she beat all her own team) Julia Kucherenko took the womens podium, though as a result of either a DHV conspiracy or just bad luck the womens comp wasn't validated since only 7 women competed. The jury is still out on the true reasons that the 2nd German female team member was prevented from entering (and thus providing the necessary 8th pilot for a valid championship) but since all who have been asked give conflicting answers, we will probably never find out. So by default, Corinna Schwiegershausen (41st overall) remains European female hang gliding champion for a further 2 years.
Once the scoring grumbles had been dealt with the party started late and continued till sunrise fueled by far too much free Sangria!
The masses were packing all morning as I was trying to sleep before they head on over towards Monte Cucco for the HG Pre Worlds. It was great fun to catch up with old friends and find some new ones too!