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Gliding World Champions


Gliding World Championships have been held - normally every 2 years, except for the war years - since 1937. World Championships for Juniors (up to 25 years of age) were introduced in 1999, and Women's World Championships were held for the first time in 2001. More recently, in 2005, the World Sailplane Grand Prix was started. The following tables list the world champions in each of the categories, together with the following information: the country of the pilot, the championships class, the glider type, the location of the championship event and the year. The lists are in reverse chronological order; in the case of the unrestricted category, a separate list in alphabetical order of the pilots' name is also provided.

World Gliding Champions in the unrestricted category - in reverse chronological order
Name Country Class Glider Location Year
Sommer, Michael Germany Open ASW 22 ble Eskilstuna, Sweden 2006
Jones, Phil Great Britain 18-Metre Ventus 2cxT Eskilstuna, Sweden 2006
Centka, Janusz Poland 15-Metre Diana 2 Eskilstuna, Sweden 2006
Wells, Leigh Great Britain Standard LS 8 Eskilstuna, Sweden 2006
Kawa, Sebastian Poland Club Jantar 3B Vinon, France 2006
Ruch, Christophe France World PW 5 Vinon, France 2006
Kawa, Sebastian Poland Club SZD 48 Elverum, Norway 2004
Karow, Holger Germany Open Nimbus 4 Leszno, Poland 2003
Janowitsch, Wolfgang Austria 18-Metre Ventus 2cxT Leszno, Poland 2003
Coutts, John New Zealand 15-Metre ASW 27b Leszno, Poland 2003
Davis, Andrew Great Britain Standard Discus 2a Leszno, Poland 2003
Kawa, Sebastian Poland World PW 5 Nitra, Slovak Republic 2003
Suchanek, Tomas Czech Republic Club Std. Cirrus Musbach, Germany 2002
Goudriaan, Oscar South Africa Open ASW 22 Mafikeng, South Africa 2001
Meuser, Werner Germany 15-Metre Ventus 2ax Mafikeng, South Africa 2001
Aboulin, Laurent France Standard Discus 2a Mafikeng, South Africa 2001
Masson, Peter Great Britain Club DG 101 Gawler, Australia 2001
Darroze, Olivier France World PW 5 Lillo, Spain 2001
Jones, Steven Great Britain 18-Metre Ventus C-18 Lillo, Spain 2001
Karow, Holger Germany Open Nimbus 4 Bayreuth, Germany 1999
Galetto, Giorgio Italy 15-Metre Ventus 2a Bayreuth, Germany 1999
Caillard, Jean-Marc France Standard Discus 2a Bayreuth, Germany 1999
Henry, Julien France World PW 5 Leszno, Poland 1999
Lherm, Gérard France Open ASW 22 Saint-Auban, France 1997
Meuser, Werner Germany 15-Metre Ventus 2a Saint-Auban, France 1997
Caillard, Jean-Marc France Standard LS 8a Saint-Auban, France 1997
Hoyeau, Frédéric France World PW 5 Inönü, Turkey 1997
Lynskey, Ray New Zealand Open Nimbus 4 Omarama, New Zealand 1995
Napoleon, Eric France 15-Metre Ventus 2b Omarama, New Zealand 1995
Kuittinen, Markku Finland Standard Discus Omarama, New Zealand 1995
Centka, Janusz Poland Open ASW 22b Borlänge, Sweden 1993
Gérbaud, Gilbert France 15-Metre LS 6b Borlänge, Sweden 1993
Napoléon, Eric France 15-Metre LS 6b Borlänge, Sweden 1993
Davis, Andrew Great Britain Standard Discus Borlänge, Sweden 1993
Centka, Janusz Poland Open ASW 22b Uvalde, USA 1991
Edwards, Brad Australia 15-Metre LS 6b Uvalde, USA 1991
Selen, Baer Netherlands Standard Discus Uvalde, USA 1991
Lopitaux, Jean-Claude France Open ASW 22b Wiener Neustadt, Austria 1989
Aboulin, Jacques France Standard Discus Wiener Neustadt, Austria 1989
Gantenbrink, Bruno W. Germany 15-Metre Ventus C Wiener Neustadt, Austria 1989
Renner, Ingo Australia Open Nimbus 3 Benalla, Australia 1987
Kuittinen, Markku Finland Standard Discus a Benalla, Australia 1987
Spreckley, Brian Great Britain 15-Metre LS 6 Benalla, Australia 1987
Renner, Ingo Australia Open Nimbus 3 Rieti, Italy 1985
Brigliadori, Leonardo Italy Standard Discus Rieti, Italy 1985
Jacobs, Doug USA 15-Metre LS 6 Rieti, Italy 1985
Renner, Ingo Australia Open Nimbus 3 Hobbs, USA 1983
Oye, Stig Denmark Standard LS 4 Hobbs, USA 1983
Musters, Kees Netherlands 15-Metre Ventus a Hobbs, USA 1983
Lee, George Great Britain Open Nimbus 3 Paderborn, Germany 1981
Schroeder, Marc France Standard LS 4 Paderborn, Germany 1981
Ax, Göran Sweden 15-Metre ASW 20 Paderborn, Germany 1981
Lee, George Great Britain Open ASW 17 Chateauroux, France 1978
Selen, Baer Netherlands Standard ASW 19 Chateauroux, France 1978
Reichmann, Helmut W. Germany 15-Metre SB 11 Chateauroux, France 1978
Lee, George Great Britain Open ASW 17 Räyskälä, Finland 1976
Renner, Ingo Australia Standard PIK 20b Räyskälä, Finland 1976
Moffat, George USA Open Nimbus 2 Waikerie, Australia 1974
Reichmann, Helmut W. Germany Standard LS 2 Waikerie, Australia 1974
Ax, Göran Sweden Open Nimbus 2 Vrsac, Yugoslavia 1972
Wroblewski, Jan Poland Standard Orion Vrsac, Yugoslavia 1972
Moffat, George USA Open Nimbus Marfa, USA 1970
Reichmann, Helmut W. Germany Standard LS 1 Marfa, USA 1970
Wodl, Harro Austria Open Cirrus Leszno, Poland 1968
Smith, Andrew J. USA Standard Elfe S3 Leszno, Poland 1968
Wroblewski, Jan Poland Open Foka 4 South Cerney, England 1965
Henry, François France Standard Edelweiss South Cerney, England 1965
Makula, Edward Poland Open Zefir 2 Junin, Argentina 1963
Huth, Heinz W. Germany Standard Ka 6CR Junin, Argentina 1963
Hossinger, Rudolfo Argentina Open Skylark 3 Cologne, Germany 1960
Huth, Heinz W. Germany Standard Ka 6BR Cologne, Germany 1960
Haase, Ernst W. Germany Open HKS 3 Leszno, Poland 1958
Witek, Adam Poland Standard Mucha std. Leszno, Poland 1958
MacCready, Paul USA Open Breguet 901S Saint Yan, France 1956
Goodhart, N., Foster, F. Great Britain 2-Place Slingsby Eagle Saint Yan, France 1956
Pierre, Gérard France Open Breguet 901 Camphill, England 1954
Rain, Z., Komac, B: Yugoslavia 2-Place Kosava Camphill, England 1954
Wills, Phillip Great Britain Open Slingsby Sky Madrid, Spain 1952
Juez, Luis, Ara Spain 2-Place Kranich II Madrid, Spain 1952
Nilsson, Billy Sweden Open Weihe Örebrö, Sweden 1950
Persson, Per-Axel Sweden Open Weihe Samedan, Switzerland 1948
Dittmar, Heini Germany Open São Paulo Wasserkuppe, Germany 1937

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Gliding World Champions in the unrestricted category - ordered by names
Name Country Class Glider Location Year
Aboulin, Jacques France Standard Discus Wiener Neustadt, Austria 1989
Aboulin, Laurent France Standard Discus 2a Mafikeng, South Africa 2001
Ax, Göran Sweden 15-Metre ASW 20 Paderborn, Germany 1981
Ax, Göran Sweden Open Nimbus 2 Vrsac, Yugoslavia 1972
Brigliadori, Leonardo Italy Standard Discus Rieti, Italy 1985
Caillard, Jean-Marc France Standard Discus 2a Bayreuth, Germany 1999
Caillard, Jean-Marc France Standard LS 8a Saint-Auban, France 1997
Centka, Janusz Poland 15-Metre Diana 2 Eskilstuna, Sweden 2006
Centka, Janusz Poland Open ASW 22b Borlänge, Sweden 1993
Centka, Janusz Poland Open ASW 22b Uvalde, USA 1991
Coutts, John New Zealand 15-Metre ASW 27b Leszno, Poland 2003
Darroze, Olivier France World PW 5 Lillo, Spain 2001
Davis, Andrew Great Britain Standard Discus 2a Leszno, Poland 2003
Davis, Andrew Great Britain Standard Discus Borlänge, Sweden 1993
Dittmar, Heini Germany Open São Paulo Wasserkuppe, Germany 1937
Edwards, Brad Australia 15-Metre LS 6b Uvalde, USA 1991
Galetto, Giorgio Italy 15-Metre Ventus 2a Bayreuth, Germany 1999
Gantenbrink, Bruno W. Germany 15-Metre Ventus C Wiener Neustadt, Austria 1989
Gérbaud, Gilbert France 15-Metre LS 6 Borlänge, Sweden 1993
Goodhart, N., Foster, F. Great Britain 2-Place Slingsby Eagle Saint Yan, France 1956
Goudriaan, Oscar South Africa Open ASW 22 Mafikeng, South Africa 2001
Haase, Ernst W. Germany Open HKS 3 Leszno, Poland 1958
Henry, François France Standard Edelweiss South Cerney, England 1965
Henry, Julien France World PW 5 Leszno, Poland 1999
Hossinger, Rudolfo Argentina Open Skylark 3 Cologne, Germany 1960
Hoyeau, Frédéric France World PW 5 Inönü, Turkey 1997
Huth, Heinz W. Germany Standard Ka 6CR Junin, Argentina 1963
Huth, Heinz W. Germany Standard Ka 6BR Cologne, Germany 1960
Jacobs, Doug USA 15-Metre LS 6 Rieti, Italy 1985
Janowitsch, Wolfgang Austria 18-Metre Ventus 2cxT Leszno, Poland 2003
Jones, Phil Great Britain 18-Metre Ventus 2cxT Eskilstuna, Sweden 2006
Jones, Steven Great Britain 18-Metre Ventus C-18 Lillo, Spain 2001
Juez, Luis, Ara Spain 2-Place Kranich II Madrid, Spain 1952
Karow, Holger Germany Open Nimbus 4 Leszno, Poland 2003
Karow, Holger Germany Open Nimbus 4 Bayreuth, Germany 1999
Kawa, Sebastian Poland Club Jantar 3B Vinon, France 2006
Kawa, Sebastian Poland Club SZD 48 Elverum, Norway 2004
Kawa, Sebastian Poland World PW 5 Nitra, Slovak Republic 2003
Kuittinen, Markku Finland Standard Discus Omarama, New Zealand 1995
Kuittinen, Markku Finland Standard Discus a Benalla, Australia 1987
Lee, George Great Britain Open Nimbus 3 Paderborn, Germany 1981
Lee, George Great Britain Open ASW 17 Chateauroux, France 1978
Lee, George Great Britain Open ASW 17 Räyskälä, Finland 1976
Lherm, Gérard France Open ASW 22 Saint-Auban, France 1997
Lopitaux, Jean-Claude France Open ASW 22b Wiener Neustadt, Austria 1989
Lynskey, Ray New Zealand Open Nimbus 4 Omarama, New Zealand 1995
MacCready, Paul USA Open Breguet 901S Saint Yan, France 1956
Makula, Edward Poland Open Zefir 2 Junin, Argentina 1963
Masson, Peter Great Britain Club DG 101 Gawler, Australia 2001
Meuser, Werner Germany 15-Metre Ventus 2ax Mafikeng, South Africa 2001
Meuser, Werner Germany 15-Metre Ventus 2a Saint-Auban, France 1997
Moffat, George USA Open Nimbus 2 Waikerie, Australia 1974
Moffat, George USA Open Nimbus Marfa, USA 1970
Musters, Kees Netherlands 15-Metre Ventus a Hobbs, USA 1983
Napoléon, Eric France 15-Metre Ventus 2b Omarama, New Zealand 1995
Napoléon, Eric France 15-Metre LS 6b Borlänge, Sweden 1993
Nilsson, Billy Sweden Open Weihe Örebrö, Sweden 1950
Oye, Stig Denmark Standard LS 4 Hobbs, USA 1983
Persson, Per-Axel Sweden Open Weihe Samedan, Switzerland 1948
Pierre, Gérard France Open Breguet 901 Camphill, England 1954
Rain, Z., Komac, B: Yugoslavia 2-Place Kosava Camphill, England 1954
Reichmann, Helmut W. Germany 15-Metre SB 11 Chateauroux, France 1978
Reichmann, Helmut W. Germany Standard LS 2 Waikerie, Australia 1974
Reichmann, Helmut W. Germany Standard LS 1 Marfa, USA 1970
Renner, Ingo Australia Open Nimbus 3 Benalla, Australia 1987
Renner, Ingo Australia Open Nimbus 3 Rieti, Italy 1985
Renner, Ingo Australia Open Nimbus 3 Hobbs, USA 1983
Renner, Ingo Australia Standard PIK 20b Räyskälä, Finland 1976
Ruch, Christophe France World PW 5 Vinon, France 2006
Schroeder, Marc France Standard LS 4 Paderborn, Germany 1981
Selen, Baer Netherlands Standard Discus Uvalde, USA 1991
Selen, Baer Netherlands Standard ASW 19 Chateauroux, France 1978
Smith, Andrew J. USA Standard Elfe S3 Leszno, Poland 1968
Sommer, Michael Germany Open ASW 22 ble Eskilstuna, Sweden 2006
Spreckley, Brian Great Britain 15-Metre LS 6 Benalla, Australia 1987
Suchanek, Tomas Czech Republic Club Std. Cirrus Musbach, Germany 2002
Wells, Leigh Great Britain Standard LS 8 Eskilstuna, Sweden 2006
Wills, Phillip Great Britain Open Slingsby Sky Madrid, Spain 1952
Witek, Adam Poland Standard Mucha std. Leszno, Poland 1958
Wodl, Harro Austria Open Cirrus Leszno, Poland 1968
Wroblewski, Jan Poland Standard Orion Vrsac, Yugoslavia 1972
Wroblewski, Jan Poland Open Foka 4 South Cerney, England 1965

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Women's World Glidng Champions
Name Country Class Glider Location Year
Kehlman, Sarah Great Britain Standard ASW 28 Romorantin, France 2007
Senne, Kathrin Germany 15-Metre Ventus 2a Romorantin, France 2007
Spreckley, Gill Great Britain Club LS 1f Romorantin, France 2007
Schmelz, Mette Denmark 15-Metre ASW 27b Klix, Germany 2005
Veprekova, Jana Czech Republic Standard LS 8b Klix, Germany 2005
Vokrinkova, Hana Czech Republic Club std. Cirrus Klix, Germany 2005
Netusilova, Alena Czech Republic 15-Metre Ventus 2a Jihlava, Czech Republic 2003
Grote, Christine Germany Club std. Libelle Jihlava, Czech Republic 2003
Schaich, Cornelia Germany Standard LS 8b Jihlava, Czech Republic 2003
Spreckley, Gill Great Britain 15-Metre Ventus 2a Pociunai, Lithuania 2001
Kehlman, Sarah Great Britain Standard ASW 24 Pociunai, Lithuania 2001
Sviridova, Tamara Russia Club Jantar std. Pociunai, Lithuania 2001

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Juniors' World Gliding Champions
Name Country Class Glider Location Year
Walbrou, Kilian France Club std. Cirrus Rieti, Italy 2007
Gai, Patrick Germany Standard LS 8 Rieti, Italy 2007
Parker, Mark Great Britain Standard LS 8 Husbands Bosworth, UK 2005
Nacke, Christoph Germany Club LS 1d Husbands Bosworth, UK 2005
Streit, Michael Germany Club ASW 19 Nitra, Slovak Republic 2003
Hood, Jez Great Britain Standard LS 8 Nitra, Slovak Republic 2003
Rebbeck, Jay Great Britain Standard LS 8 Issoudun, France 2001
Toft, Peter Denmark Club std. Libelle Issoudun, France 2001
Stahl, Günther Germany Standard Discus 2 Terlet, Netherlands 1999
Scheiffart, Robert Germany Club ASW 19 Terlet, Netherlands 1999

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Gliding World Grand Prix Champions
Name Country Class Glider Location Year
Kawa, Sebastian Poland 15-Metre Diana 2 Saint-Auban, France 2005
Kawa, Sebastian Poland 15-Metre Diana 2 Omarama, New Zealand 2007

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