Piako Gliding Club At 50
The highly abridged, unofficial, and whimsical history of Piako Gliding Club’s first 50 years Trevor Atkins with help from Ian Finlayson and Roger Brown
How do you start a gliding club with no aircraft?
Centre driven by the incredible enthusiasm of Auckland Gliding
In the Waikato it all began with an advertisement in the
Club’s Ian Pryde has been critical to the development of soaring
Matamata Chronicle, a brightly painted model glider to demonstrate
in the Waikato. For the past 25 years the Soaring Centre has been
the concept, and a great deal of enthusiasm when in 1957 Lew Hale
ably sheparded by its President, Piako club member Ralph Gore.
started the ball rolling to drum up interest. Lew became the first
Piako Gliding Club members such as Sandy Norman have
Secretary of the Piako Gliding Club with Bob Connor serving as the
also made invaluable contributions beyond the local club scene
first President.
helping to develop the training systems and infrastructure of the
Flying commenced in 1958 with Piako’s first ever glider Rhon-
New Zealand Gliding Association (now Gliding New Zealand); while
lerche ZK-GBO arriving by aerotow on 23 March. Its very first
Piako’s Dennis Crequer was at the helm as President of NZGA
launch from Waharoa that day produced a 28 minute thermal flight
through the more recent CAA-driven revamp of aviation in NZ
– a taste of things to come! Over the next few years GBO was flown
helping to protect soaring as a legitimate aviation activity in the new
in snow to 10,650' by Peter De Renzy, soared across the Kaimais to
world we find ourselves.
Tauranga by Peter Blakeborough, pranged (taking the Club’s Tiger
The club’s trophies and committee minute books, along with
Moth tug along with it), flown at high speed for 80kms by Alan Irving
the Gliding Kiwi, hold the names of many Piako pilots through the
from Hamilton to Thames in 1 hour 35 minutes, and - of course -
years who have explored and opened up the Waikato skies to
pranged again! GBO was sold in 1965 to the Southland Gliding Club
soaring. Pilots from this pioneering time included Tony Fowke, Brian
after seven year’s of faithful service totaling 1902hrs over some
Kosoof, Ross Carmichael, Peter De Renzy and many others. The 1960s and 1970s are considered by many to be the heyday
9300 flights. Piako has been well served by a long list of members willing
of development of soaring both in the Waikato and more gener-
to ensure the continuing wise stewardship of the club. Over its
ally in New Zealand. The July 1963 edition of Gliding Kiwi captures
50 years the Piako Gliding Club has been steered by 123 differ-
the story of early exploration of the Kaimai wave from Matamata
ent people under 20 presidents, while 16 CFIs and 14 Tug masters
with flights to 30,000’. National gliding championships at Matamata
have kept us airborne. Over the years the club has created 11 Life
during this era attracted pilots numbering 50 to 60, including strong
Members to acknowledge their contributions, with Lew Hale receiv-
representation from the South Island.
ing his well deserved Life Membership at the club’s 50th birthday
pion, and also held the national Rothman’s Challenge Cup from
celebration. Life Member Tony Fowke Colin Ross Sandy Norman Bruce Fowler Ralph Insoll Ian Finlayson
Piako Club member Ian Finlayson is a past New Zealand Cham-
Appointed 1967 1969 1979 1981 1984 1988
Life Member Appointed Les Riesterer 1992 Ralph Gore 1996 Shirley Finlayson 1997 Harold Oates 2002 Lew Hale 2007
1973-1991 (until the rules were changed to give someone else a chance!), held a number of National Speed Records, and flew to 7th place in the Open Class at the 1978 World Gliding Championships. Ann Johnson in 1979 soared from Matamata to Gisborne to claim the National Women’s Record for Straight Distance To A Goal – while flying over some of New Zealand’s true tiger country. Other notable Piako pilots from the 1980s to present day include Phil E.
Much of the story of Piako includes the story of the wider
Smith, David Reid, and Bryan O’Brien; all keen cross country pilots
gliding community exploring the Waikato skies and learning to race
who made their presence known winning National Titles in their
sailplanes cross country. The development of the Matamata Soaring
respective classes.
December 2007
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