Sunday 2000-8-20
    As forecast, following last night's wild party, nothing stirred in the parking lot for a long time. The pilots slept late and hobbled in to the 8:00 a.m. briefing at the last minute.




    In light of the unfavorable data from the meteorologist forecasting very strong winds with a minimal chance of thermics in the strongly over-warmed air, the organizers decided to declare Sunday a non-competing day, and thereby end the whole race. The ceremonial announcement of the results was set for 11:00 and on the table set in front of the lodgings, a pile of beautiful prizes for the winners appeared.




    Slovak racer Juraj Sladky stepped up on the winner's step following the three valid rounds of racing in the Podbrezova Cup 2000, and in addition first prize in this race he also took home the first place trophy for the Slovak Cup 2000.




    Second in the overall placing for the Podbrezova Cup 2000 came in Dan Vyhnalik and in third place stood Petr "Pedro" Nedoma.




    Radek Dykast, unfortunately, didn't get onto the winners box and seemed a tad disappointed with the size of his trophy for his very nice 4th position. He'd pushed into fourth place with his last flight with which he'd surpassed the Slovak favorites, Bohumir Kolesar and Fero Nizner. Maybe just one more event and ...




    Jirka Houba, one of the rewarded members of the Czech team and a heavy smoker, again couldn't believe his eyes when in the plastic bag labeled Podbrezove Ironworks, there were no cigarettes to be found.

    The Championship of the Czech Republic 2000, upon completion of part 1 in the Austrian Greifenburg and part 2 in Podbrezove, was won by Dan Vyhnalik, who came in ahead of second place Radek Dykast and third place Petr "Pedro" Nedoma. Honza Krofta placed 4th in the overall placing of the Czech Republic Championship, and Radek Bares in 5th place.



    The winner of the Sponsor's Cup for competing beginners, became Honza Sokol and received a five-liter demijohn of well-cooled wine from the editorial department of the SkyFly server, along with, of course, 30 cups. In this heat the wine would gone warm unnecessarily on the way home. Absolute beginner Tomas Jiranek took second place in the overall placing this competition.



    The mayor of the city of Brezno awarded a special prize to Jirka Helesic, who on Friday flew into a football game in the local stadium, without a valid ticket, on his hangglider and landed in the grandstand. He received a season pass to all games for the year and so next time can walk in the front gate.

    Nizke Tatry Mountains are a truly excellent terrain for organizing large races. Baranovo, Podkonicke Plese, Pansky Diel and of course Kralova Hola are starting grounds relatively close to Podbrezove, providing a huge space for a large number of starting pilots. It is possible to plan navigationally clear, and for landing, even very safe events at lengths of up to 200 km from anyone of these, without in any way complicating transport of pilots from the route. The spacious and well-furnished lodging facility of the Podbrezove Ironworks in Lopej along with the 8 km distant campground, Tale, in a beautiful mountain surrounding are as if designed for the purpose.



    Local organizers have not only the visible support of the Podbrezova Ironworks management along every step of the way, but also years of experience in organizing large competitions of this kind. It is certainly not by chance that the European Hanggliding Championship for the year 1998 was held right here in Podbrezova.

    So see you next summer here again in Lopej !