Horsham Flying Club

15/02/2026

The final award presented at our wind up dinner and celebration was the Gliding Club of Victoria Turkey Award. This award was instigated by members of GCV to recognise in a friendly and amusing way the person or people who have stuffed up in some way to the great amusement of their fellow attendees at Horsham Week.

This year the awardee was determined by long time Horsham Week participant, Bruce Cowan. Last year the commemorative plaque went to a per of members of GCV, but they were unable to return the award prior to Horsham Week. It will be passed on to the 2026 recipient in due course. In the mean time Bruce presented a ‘Golden Cockie’ to Garry Stevenson of Alpine Soaring. The actual Turkey Trophy can be seen in the top left hand corner of the accompanying photo.

Garry’s little stuff up was to initially take the wrong trailer on a retrieve for Leonie Furze flying GZW. Garry mistakenly hooked up Keith Willis’s ZAW. It has to be admitted that there is a bit of a difference between a trailer for a PW5 and a Discus.

But the error was discovered quickly and the right trailer eventually picked up the right glider.

15/02/2026

Aside from the crowning of our champions in Open and Club Class there were two other awards announced at present at last nights award presentations dinner.

A notable award presented at the final night dinner is the Max Hedt Award. This award which is named after one of the Wimmera Soaring Club/Horsham Flying Club founding members. Max passed away in late 2025. Aside from being a founder of the club, Max instigated the Horsham Week competition as we know it today.

The award is presented to a person attending Horsham Week as a pilot, crew member, organiser or volunteer. The awardee is recognised for their contribution to the week as a whole, being friendly and welcoming, willing to get stuck in and lend a hand and bringing an enthusiasm to their fellow pilots, crew, organisers and volunteers.

Our Competition Director Craig Dilks after consultation with his fellow operations team and senior members of the Horsham Flying Club awards the max Hedt award to Leonie Furze from the Temora Gliding Club. The accompanying photo physically shows what Leonie bought to Horsham Week 2026 and why she is such a worthy recipient.

14/02/2026

The celebrations for the 60th anniversary of Horsham Week and the announcement of our champions in Open and Club Class were proceeded by a lovely meal prepared by Lorelle, the kitchen team and her specialty roasters.

Competition Director Craig announced the overall winners in both classes. Jack Hart was the overall winner in Club Class, followed by Steve Jinks and George Schultz. Open Class was won by Craig Dilks, with Mike Durrant in second and Richard Traill in third.

14/02/2026

Horsham Week is done and dusted for another year. After a doubtful start to the final tasks on Task Day 6, CD Craig Dilks held his nerve and continued launching Club Class into what proved too be a day with some heights of the week.

The winner in Club Class for Task Day 6 was Steve Jinks, with David Nugent in second and Jack Hart in third.

The Open Class winner was Mike Durrant, with Craig Vinall placing second and Mark Hunt in third place.

13/02/2026

Planning for Horsham Week 2027 is underway. Jack Hart has volunteered to take on the role of Competition Director and in the words of the famous recruiting poster from WW1 he needs you.

So if you want to join the 2027 Horsham Week Crew get in touch.

13/02/2026

13/02/2026

It’s the final day of Horsham Week 2026. We have had our morning briefing and announcement of our winners from yesterday. George Schuit took out Club Class wits Steve jinks in second and Leonie Furze in Third. Open Class was taken out by Mark hunt, followed by mike Durrant in second and Richard Traill in Third.

With a final day of competition to go ther overall standings see Jack Hart leading in Club Class, followed by Steve jinks and George Schmitt. Open Class is being lead by Craig Vinal, rolled by Mike Durrant and Richard Traill.

Today Club Class has an AAT and Open Class another DHT.

12/02/2026

After a couple of days when strong winds prevented the group getting out on task we are up and going today. Club class will be undertaking an AAT to the North and West. Open Class will undertaking the first DHT or Distance Handicapped Task to the North and West. Pilots were given a briefing about HDTs yesterday and the day before at the pilots briefing. Pilots agreed to try a HDT in Open Class before the end of the competition. Basically as far as your correspondent can determine, higher performance aircraft have a slightly longer distance to the turn point. So each aircraft has An individual set of turn points. The same aircraft types or the closest matching aircraft have the same turn points. Otherwise everything is the same. So let’s see how it goes.

10/02/2026

It’s Day 5 of Horsham Week 2026 and the briefing is underway. With high winds heading our way today’s tasking has been cancelled. so on with the results from Day 4. Jack Hart took out Club Class only a few kph ahead of Steve Jinks. Mike Durrant took out Open Class taking advantage of the big wings of the Jantar.