SGP Gawler is underway with the official Practice Day taking place on Saturday 4 January. A trough moved across the area with high cloud and a southerly breeze pushing the good soaring conditions north of the airfield. The first glider to launch, WP flown by John Grant from Western Australia, climbed to over 11,000ft - 3,000m but the other gliders did not get away.

The weather tomorrow, the first race day, looks challenging with the good soaring conditions forecast to be north of Gawler Airfield.

Australian Pete Temple is competing at Gawler with his newly delivered JS3. Before today's flight, Pete had only flown his JS3 on two days, and has no other JS experience. Pete won SGP Gawler in 2023 flying his ASG 29. It will be interesting to see how he performs this time.

Norm Bloch with his wife Joyce on the grid, made the long trip across from Western Australia. He also flew in the Australian Multiclass Nationals at Lake Keepit in November, and the NSW State Championships at Temora in December.