8 January 2019
Six of Britain’s top under-26 glider pilots have been selected to represent Team GB in the Junior World Gliding Championships (JWGC) in Hungary later this year.
They are: Jake Brattle, Simon Brown, Peter Carter and Finn Sleigh, and reserves Clement Allen and Henry Inigo-Jones. The six are currently fine-tuning their flying skills through coaching and support from the British Gliding Team.
Graham Garnett, British Gliding Team Manager, said, “Our primary aim going into this competition is to win medals for the UK but also to allow Junior pilots to experience the amazing thrill of competition at the highest level in the world as many will go on to represent their nation as seniors.”
The pilots were chosen by a selection committee using criteria based on UK competition results and success in training camps held through the year. The age limit to compete in the JWGC is 26.
The competition to find a junior world gliding champion will be held over 13 days and includes a practice week for the pilots to familiarise themselves with the local gliding conditions and terrain.
The overall winner and new junior world champion will be the pilot with the most points scored during the competition period. Points are awarded daily to the fastest pilots around each day’s cross-country task, which will typically be between 150 kilometres to 500 kilometres long.
The newly-formed British Junior Team will compete in the 11th FAI Junior World Gliding Championships in Szeged, Hungary from 28 July 2019 to 10 August 2019.
