Britain sweep microlighting podium at World Air Games

Britain swept the podium in the weight-shift controlled microlighting event ©FAI

David Broom led a British clean sweep of the podium in the weight-shift controlled microlighting event at the World Air Games in Dubai.

Broom had held a narrow advantage over his nearest challenger Paul Dewhurst in the overall standings heading into the final race of the event, held on a tighter course to force the pilots to fly their aircraft to their maximum capabilities.

The 34-year-old managed to maintain his lead to claim gold ahead of Dewhurst, while fellow Briton Rees Keene completed the podium.

"It was a tight competition all the way to the end, it all came down to the final race,” said Broom.

“I had a six-second lead going into it, but if the wind had been stronger it would have made for a faster time and the competition could have been anyone's."

British dominance of the event was underlined by Mark Fowler finishing fourth, with Spain's Manuel Rey the highest ranked non-British pilot coming in fifth.

Poland’s Sebastian Kawa and Austria’s Werner Amann were the star performers in the gliding match racing competition, an event which saw competitors flying at speeds of nearly 250 kilometres per hour at the desert dropzone.

Kawa claimed victories in the first two races of the event by mere seconds from his Austrian rival and despite receiving a penalty for flying too low on the finishing straight of the final flight, he was able to hold on to secure the victory.

The duo received their medals during a ceremony at the Sky Dubai Palm Dropzone, while three further golds were handed out for the landing accuracy, air navigation and top air navigation competitions.

Poland’s Sebastian Kawa claimed gold in the gliding match racing competition ©FAI

South Africa’s husband-and-wife team of Frank and Cally Eckard were awarded the landing accuracy title, while another married couple, Germany’s Marcus and Astrid Ciesielski, claimed the top air navigation honour.

The Norwegian team of Kurt Norevik and Petter Strømme received their medals having won the air navigation title yesterday.

Following yesterday’s gyrocopter crash the World Air Sports Federation released an update on the condition of the pilot, who had been receiving treatment in hospital.

“We would like to inform you that the competitor involved in yesterday’s gyrocopter accident at Skydive Dubai Palm Dropzone is Arend van Randen from the Netherlands,” a statement read.

“He is currently in hospital and his family is at his side, his condition is stable.

“Under the direction of His Highness Sheikh Hamdan Bin Mohammed Bin Rashed Al Maktoum, Crown Prince of Dubai and Chairman of the Dubai Sports Council and followed up by the FAI World Air Games Dubai 2015 Higher Organising Committee, he is receiving the best medical care.”