The European Gliding Championships is a gliding competition held every two years.
Gliding is a competitive sport and was even a demonstration sport at the 1936 Summer Olympics. It was due to become an official Olympic sport in the Helsinki Games in 1940. However since the war, gliding has not featured in the Olympics. For gliding, international competition has been provided by the World Gliding Championships since 1938 and also by the European Gliding Championships since 1982.
The increased number of classes of glider means that it is no longer possible for all the classes to compete at the same location. The European Glider Aerobatic Championships were added in 1992. They are also held every two years.
Each of the following entries give the year and location of the contest followed by the winner of each class, nationality and the glider used.
1st Championships – 1982 Rieti, Italy
Open Class Winner: Klaus Holighaus, West Germany
15-metre Class Winner: Kees Musters, Netherlands
Standard Class Winner: Leonardo Brigliadori, Italy
2nd Championships – 1984 Vinon sur Verdon, France
Open Class Winner: Gerard Lherm, France
15-metre Class Winner: Delylle, France
Standard Class Winner: Jean-Claude Lopiteaux, France
3rd Championships – 1986 Mengen, Germany
Open Class Winner: Klaus Holighaus, West Germany
15-metre Class Winner: Daniel M. Pare, Netherlands
Standard Class Winner: Bruno Gantenbrink, West Germany
4th Championships – 1988 Räyskälä Airfield, Loppi, Finland
Open Class Winner: Klaus Holighaus, West Germany
15-metre Class Winner: Gerard Lherm, France
Standard Class Winner: Janusz Trzeciak, Poland
5th Championships – 1990 Leszno, Poland
Open Class Winner: Eberhard Laur, West Germany
15-metre Class Winner: Gabriel Chenevoy, France
Standard Class Winner: Janusz Trzeciak, Poland
6th Championships – 1992 Békéscsaba, Hungary
Open Class Winner: Gerard Lherm, France
15-metre Class Winner: Gilbert Gerbaud, France
Standard Class Winner: Franciszek Kepka, Poland
7th Championships – 1994 Rieti, Italy
Open Class Winner: Bruno Gartenbrink, Germany
15-metre Class Winner: Stefano Ghiorzo, Italy
Standard Class Winner: Peter Fischer, Germany
8th Championships – 1996 Räyskälä Airfield, Loppi, Finland
Open Class Winner: Janusz Centka, Poland, Germany
15-metre Class Winner: Michael Grund, Germany
Standard Class Winner: Erwin Ziegler, Germany
9th Championships – 1998 Leszno, Poland
Open Class Winner: Ulrich Schwenk, Germany
15-metre Class Winner: Hans Obermeyer, Germany
Standard Class Winner: Paul Crabb, Ireland
10th Championships – 2000 Lüsse, Germany
Open Class Winner: Bruno Gantenbrink, Germany; Glider: Schempp-Hirth Nimbus-4
15-metre Class Winner: Steve Jones, UK; Glider: Schempp-Hirth Ventus-2a
Standard Class Winner: Jean-Marc Caillard, France; Glider: Schempp-Hirth Discus 2a
11th Championships – 2002 Békéscsaba, Hungary
Open Class Winner: Tassilo Bode, Germany; Glider: Alexander Schleicher ASW 22 BLE
18-metre Class Winner: Petr Krejcirik, Czech Republic; Glider: Schempp-Hirth Ventus-C
15-metre Class Winner: Frédéric Hoyeau, France; Glider: Alexander Schleicher ASW 27
Standard Class Winner: Tomas Suchanek, Czech Republic; Glider: Rolladen-Schneider LS8
12th Championships – 2004 Pociūnai, Lithuania, Official Website
Open Class Winner: Russell Cheetham, UK; Glider: Alexander Schleicher ASW 22 BL
18-metre Class Winner: Wolfgang Janowitsch, Austria; Glider: Schempp-Hirth Ventus-2cx
15-metre Class Winner: Herbert Zemmel, Germany; Glider: Schempp-Hirth Ventus-2
Standard Class Winner: Tomasz Rubaj, Poland; Glider: Rolladen-Schneider LS8
13th Championships – 2005 Nitra, Slovakia Official Website
Club Class Winner: Sebastian Kawa, Poland; Glider: SZD-48-3M Brawo
Standard Class Winner: Pavel Loužecký, Czech Republic; Glider: Rolladen-Schneider LS8
18 metre Class Winner: Wolfgang Janowitsch, Austria; Glider: Schempp-Hirth Ventus-2CX
13th Championships – 2005 Räyskälä Airfield, Loppi, Finland, Official Website
15-metre Class Winner: Steven Raimond, Netherlands; Glider: Alexander Schleicher ASW 27
Open Class Winner: Peter Harvey, UK; Glider: Schempp-Hirth Nimbus-4T
14th Championships – 2007 Pociūnai, Lithuania 28 July 2007 – 12 August 2007 Official website
20 meter Two-Seater Class Winners: Gintautas Butnoris Vytautas Rasimavicius, Lithuania; Glider: Schempp-Hirth Duo Discus
Club Class Winner: Sebastian Kawa, Poland; Glider: SZD-48-3M Brawo
Standard Class Winner: Frederic Hoyeau, France; Glider: Rolladen-Schneider LS8
World Class Winner: Krzysztof Herczynski, Poland; Glider: PZL PW-5
14th Championships – 2007 Issoudun, France 2 August 2007 – 19 August 2007 Official website
15 meter Class Winner: Janusz Centka, Poland; Glider: Diana 2
18 meter Class Winner: Ronald Termaat, Netherlands; Glider: Ventus 2CXT
Open Class Winner: Peter Harvey, UK; Glider: Schempp-Hirth Nimbus-4T
15th Championships – 2009 Nitra, Slovakia 27 June 2009 – 11 July 2009 Official website
15 meter Class Winner: Louis Bouderlique, France; Glider: Ventus 2A
18 meter Class Winner: Russell Cheetham, UK; Glider: Alexander Schleicher ASG 29
Open Class Winner: Peter Harvey, UK; Glider: Schempp-Hirth Nimbus-4T
15th Championships – 2009 Pociūnai, Lithuania 25 July 2009 – 8 August 2009 Official website
20 meter Two-Seater Class Winners: Janusz Centka/M. Szumski, Poland; Glider Schempp-Hirth Duo DiscusxT
Club Class Winner: René de Dreu, Netherlands; Glider: LS 1F
Standard Class Winner: Mario Kiessling, Germany; Glider: Schempp-Hirth Discus 2a
World Class Winner: Jedrzej Sklodowski, Poland; Glider: PZL PW-5
16th Championships – 2011 Nitra, Slovakia
20 meter Two seater Class Winner: Harri Hirvola & Visa Matti Leinikki; Finland; Glider:Schempp-Hirth Arcus
Club Class Winner: Roman Mracek, Czech Republic; Glider:Schempp-Hirth Standard Cirrus
Standard Class Winner: Sebastian Kawa, Poland; Glider: Schempp-Hirth Discus 2a
World Class Winner: Jakub Barszcz, Poland; Glider: PZL PW-5
16th Championships – 2011 Pociūnai, Lithuania 31 July to 13 August 2011
15 meter Class Winner: Christophe Ruch, France; Glider: Ventus 2A
18 meter Class Winner: Karol Staryszak, Poland; Glider: Alexander Schleicher ASG 29
Open Class Winner: Markus Frank, Germany; Glider: Binder EB29
17th Championships – 2013 Vinon sur Verdon, France 8–21 June 201315 meter Class Winner: Louis Bourderlique, France; Glider: Ventus 2A
18 meter Class Winner: Sebastian Kawa, Poland; Glider: Alexander Schleicher ASG 29
Open Class Winner: Michael Sommer, Germany; Glider: Binder EB29
17th Championships – 2013 Ostrow Wielkopolski, Poland, 5–20 July 2013
Standard Class: Sebastian Kawa, Poland; Glider: Schempp-Hirth Discus 2a
Club Class: Roman Mracek, Czech Republic; Glider:Schempp-Hirth Standard Cirrus
20 meter Multi-seat Class: Wolfgang Janowitsch & Andreas Lutz, Austria; Glider: Schempp-Hirth Arcus M
18th Championships – 2015, Ocseny, Hungary, 12–25 July 2015, (18m, 20m and Open Classes)
18 meter Class Winner: Sebastian Kawa, Poland; Glider: Alexander Schleicher ASG 29
Open Class Winner: Lukasz Wojcik, Germany; Glider: Jonker JS1C
20 meter Multi-seat Class: Wolfgang Janowitsch & Andreas Lutz, Austria; Glider: Schempp-Hirth Arcus M
18th Championships – 2015, Rieti, Italy, 2–15 August 2015. (Standard, Club and 15m Classes)
15 meter Class Winner: Didier Hauss, France; Glider: Ventus 2
Standard Class: Lukasz Blaszczyk, Poland; Glider: Schempp-Hirth Discus 2a
Club Class: Ondrej Dvorak, Czech Republic; Glider:Schempp-Hirth Standard Cirrus
19th Championships – 2017, Lasham Airfield, UK, 23 July - 6 August 2017, (15m, 18m and Open Classes)
19th Championships – 2017, Moravska Trebova, Czech Republic, dates to be announced, (Standard, Club and 20m Classes)
1st European Women s Gliding Championships in Hungary 1979
champion: Monika Warstat (East Germany); runner-up: Eda Laan (UDSSR/Lithuania); placed: Jindra Paluskova (CSSR)
2nd European Women s Gliding Championships in France 1981
standard class
15m class
3rd European Women s Gliding Championships in Saint Hubert (Belgium) 1983 (originally supposed to be held in Oryol (UDSSR))
standard class
15m class champion: Giesela Weinreich (West Germany)
4th European Women s Gliding Championships in Subotica Yugoslavia 1985
standard class
15m class champion: Gisela Weinreich (West Germany); runner-up: Geogeo Litt (Belgium); third place: Maria Kyzivatova
5th European Women s Gliding Championships in Bulgaria 1987
standard class
15m class
6th European Women s Gliding Championships in Oriol (UDSSR) 1989
standard class
15m class
7th European Women s Gliding Championships in Husbands Bosworth (UK) 1991
standard class
15m class
8th European Women s Gliding Championships
standard class
15m class champion: Hana Zejdova (Czech Republic)
9th International European Women's Gliding Championships in Marpingen (Germany), 1995
standard class
15m class
club class champion: Anna Michalak (Poland); runner-up: Rieke Hastert (Germany); third: Halina Rynkiewicz (Poland)
10th International European Women's Gliding Championships in Prievidza Slovakia, 1997
standard class
15m class
club class:Claire Luyat (France)
11th European Women's Gliding Championships in Leszno (Poland), 1999 held in conjunction with the 2nd World Class World Championship
standard class
15m class
club class:Claire Luyat (France)
The FAI granted World Championship status to international women's contests in 2001. The 1st World Gliding Championships were held in Pociūnai (Lithuania). However, this decision was made rather late so that it was essentially a European contest. For the results of this and the following women's contests refer to Women's World Gliding Championships.
1st European Junior Gliding Championships in Falköping (Sweden), 1991
Standard Class Winner: Tomasz Rubaj (Poland), glider: SZD 55
Club Class Winner:
2nd European Junior Gliding Championships in La Roche-sur-Yon (France), 1993
Standard Class Winner:
Club Class winner: Yann Mignot (France), glider: Pégase C101
3rd European Junior Gliding Championships in Leszno (Poland), 1995
4th European Junior Gliding Championships in Musbach (Germany), 1997
Later contest have been held as Junior World Gliding Championships.
European Glider Aerobatic Championships are held every two years, so that they alternate with World Glider Aerobatic Championships which are held every two years since 1985. These contests are flown in the unlimited category, only. In 2006, the first European Advanced Glider Aerobatic Championships was held in Bad Frankenhausen in conjunction with the German Glider Championships in the unlimited and advanced category. The second European Advanced Glider Aerobatic Championships were held in conjunction with the 2008 German Glider Aerobatic Championships in Rothenburg-Görlitz (26 July 2008 – 3 August 2008).
1st European Glider Aerobatic Championships
2nd European Glider Aerobatic Championships, Rieti (Italy) 1994
3rd FAI European Glider Aerobatic Championships, Pér (Hungary), 27 June 1996 – 6 July 1996
Individual results:
- Mikhail Mamistov (Russia), glider: Swift-S1
- Jerzy Makula (Poland), glider: MDM-1 Fox
- Adam Michałowski (Poland), glider: Swift-S1
Team winners:
- Russia :Mikhail Mamistov (Swift-S1), Sergei Rakhmanin (Swift-S1), Sergei Krikalev (Swift-S1)
- Poland :Jerzy Makula (MDM-1 Fox), Adam Michałowski (Swift-S1), Marek Hernik (MDM-1 Fox)
- Czech Republic : Martin Stáhalík (MDM-1 Fox), Petr Poborský (MDM-1 Fox), Josef Čech (MDM-1 Fox)
4th FAI European Glider Aerobatic Championships, Ostrów Wielkopolski (Poland), 19 July 1998 – 2 August 1998
Individual results:
- Jerzy Makula (Poland), glider: MDM-1 Fox
- Georgij Kaminski (Russia), glider: Swift-S1
- Adam Michałowski (Poland), glider: Swift-S1
Team winners:
- Poland : Jerzy Makula (MDM-1 Fox), Adam Michałowski (Swift-S1), Małgorzata Margańska (Swift-S1)
- Russia : Georgij Kaminski (Swift-S1), Valentin Barabanov (Swift-S1), Alexandr Panfierov (Swift-S1)
- Czech Republic : Petr Poborský (MDM-1 Fox), Přemysl Vávra (MDM-1 Fox), Jiří Peprný (MDM-1 Fox)
5th FAI European Glider Aerobatic Championships Salon de Provence (France), 7 August 2000 – 20 August 2000
Individual results:
- Ferenc Tóth (Hungary)
- Jerzy Makula (Poland)
- Georgij Kaminski (Russia)
Team winners:
- Poland : Jerzy Makula, Adam Michałowski, Krzysztof Brząkalik
- Hungary : Ferenc Tóth, István Matuz, János Szilágyi
- Russia : Georgij Kaminski, Alexandr Panfierov, Valentin Barabanov
6th FAI European Glider Aerobatic Championships, Pasewalk (Germany) – 16 July 2002 – 26 July 2002
no official results due to poor weather conditions
7th FAI European Glider Aerobatic Championships, Moravska Trebova (Czech Republic), 6 July 2004 – 18 July 2004
Individual results:
- Jerzy Makula (Poland)
- Alexandr Panfierov (Russia)
- Ferenc Tóth (Hungary)
8th FAI European Glider Aerobatic Championships, Rybnik (Poland), 19 July 2006 – 29 July 2006
Individual results:
- Ferenc Tóth (Hungary), glider: Swift S-1
- Jerzy Makula (Poland), glider: Solo-Fox
- Georgij Kaminski (Russia), glider: Swift S-1
Team winners:
- Hungary : Ferenc Tóth (Swift S-1), János Szilágyi (Swift S-1), Szabolcs Kühtreiber (Swift S-1)
- Russia : Georgij Kaminski (Swift S-1), Igor Plakhsin (Swift S-1), Olga Romanenko (Swift S-1)
- Germany : Eugen Schaal (MDM-1 Fox), Markus Feyerabend (Swift S-1), Olaf Schmidt (Swift S-1)
9th FAI European Glider Aerobatic Championships, Radom (Poland), 7 July 2008 – 17 July 2008
Individual results:
- Ferenc Tóth (Hungary), glider: Swift S-1
- Erik Piriou (France), glider: Swift S-1
- Markus Feyerabend (Germany), glider: Swift S-1
Team winners:
- Czech Republic : Přemysl Vávra (Swift S-1), Jan Rozlivka (Swift S-1, Miroslav Červenka (Swift S-1)
- Russia : Alexandr Panfierov (Swift S-1), Georgij Kaminski (Swift S-1), Igor Plakhsin (Swift S-1)
- Germany : Markus Feyerabend (Swift S-1), Olaf Schmidt (Swift S-1), Hans-Georg Resch (Swift S-1)
10th FAI European Glider Aerobatic Championships, Jämijärvi (Finnland), 17 July 2010 – 24 July 2010
Individual results:
- Erik Piriou (France), glider: Swift S-1
- Ferenc Tóth (Hungary), glider: Swift S-1
- Dietmar Poll (Austria), glider: Swift S-1
Team winners:
- Hungary : Ferenc Tóth (Swift S-1), János Szilágyi (Swift S-1, Szabolcs Kühtreiber (Swift S-1)
- France : Erik Piriou (Swift S-1), Daniel Serres (Swift S-1), Pierre Albertini (Swift S-1)
- Poland : Maciej Pospieszynski (Swift S-1), Jerzy Makula (Solo-Fox), Stanisław Makula (Solo-Fox)
