Uncle Sydney's and Uncle Hal's Gossip Column 2010 F3J World Championships - France Pre-preview for next year's FAI worldchamps Many pilots set to repeat their challenges It is far too early to start forecasting winners for next year's F3J world championships to be held in Dole-Tavaux in the Jura region of France. But from team selections over recent weeks, the stage is already set for the most nail-biting competition ever. One easy prediction for wine lovers, the local lubricants will provide solace for those who don't make the podium! Few countries require their F3J pilots to travel further to win team places than the United States of America, and from 5-7 September - last weekend - 31 seniors and 4 juniors competed for honour and privilege in Denver in what amounts to a 'do-or-die' contest, you make it and there's no second chance! The US team for France next year will be Cody Remington, Daryl Perkins and Richard Burnoski, all the same as last year in Turkey. Brendon Beardsley is again in the junior team, joined this time by Connor Laurel and Michael Knight. I don't know who will be team manager, but surely nobody is better qualified than Jim Monaco who led the organisation of the Colorado selection contest, also placed 17th, and has held the manager responsibility for the last two WCs. The German team for France holds little surprise with Philip Kolb, Karl Hinsch and Tobias Lammlein who clinched their places last weekend too in the German Eurotour event at Ludwigsfelde in stormy weather. Their juniors will be Manuel Reinecke, Timo Ganser and Max Finke who is only 11 years old! Special congratulations are due to Philip Kolb because he won to bring his total of 2009 Eurotour wins to six, out of 14 contests so far, with one more to go next weekend in Bovec. Can he keep up this form in 2010? Australian places are already determined after their qualification process, which takes the form of using the duration scores from the F3B contest at Jerilderie. We shall see Carl Strautins, Jim Houdalakis and David Hobby. Carl competed at Hollandglide and Trnava in recent weeks to get more European exposure so he should be hotter than ever. David Hobby had to be lucky because he only won sixth place and those above him didn't choose to join the team. Norway's competitors are set with seniors Erik Morgan, Per Pedersen who was a helper this year in Poland and Jo Grini as ever. Juniors will be Stein Marius Pedersen and Jojo's son Fredrik, both having cut their teeth in Poland. News from UK is still uncertain with one more league event to come and two of the places still up for grabs. Same applies in Holland and France the host country. Michelle Goodrum from South Africa is pleased that one more trial contest is still to come having enjoyed a busy summer of F3B in Czechia, and they should know the team in about three weeks. New Zealand are set to pick their team next weekend, and many will be hoping that Joe Wurts wins a chance to represent his adopted country for the first time in F3J. I am rooting for Sven Zaalberg, an old flying mate of mine, to make sure he gets to France next year too. Not much news as yet from the eastern European countries who did so well in Poland's Eurochamps, but I am confident that their successes in Wloclawek will provide a new impetus and make the competition even hotter. Prior to the US team selection contest I contacted the Remington family in Louisville Colorado, knowing that both mum and dad of Cody were volunteer timekeepers. I requested notes and trivia for my gossip column, not recognising that in Hal Remington I have a rival. I cannot do better than to copy most of what he sent.
Sydney Lenssen 9 September 2009
sydney.lenssen(at)virgin.net
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