The Barberton skyline was dotted with colour last week as paragliders competed in this year’s edition of the annual Barberton Paragliding Nationals.

WATCH: Barberton Paragliding Open 2021

The competition was held over seven days, but the conditions were not favourable for flying on the last two days due to a cold front that brought a southerly wind which made take-off impossible.

Barberton has cemented a reputation among the free-flying community as South Africa’s premier winter flying site, where Porterville in the Western Cape is the site for summer flying.

This year, the competition was held in honour of the late Andrew Smith, an internationally renowned pilot of great repute and inspiration to many pilots over three decades or more.

Smith touched many lives in his tireless passion for free flight. He is one who pioneered all aspects of paragliding in South Africa, from administration to coaching, mentorship, epic cross-country and the highest level of competition.

It was his desire for years to compete in Barberton during April, which was his birthday month and one he believed would work really well for a paragliding competition out there. The organisers decided there could be no greater tribute to Smith other than to grant this wish in celebration of his life.

Participating pilots descended on the town from Lone Tree Hill in their brightly coloured parachutes and finished at the Barberton Golf Club.

Prizes/trophies were awarded for first, second and third places: overall, ladies, performance, sport, intermediate, novice and tandem (if entered).

Overall, Russell Achterberg took the spoils after accumulating 3 583 points in five days. Anton Naudé came second with 3 433 followed by Stephane Juncker with
3 331.

The top three in each category:

Novice
• Warren Miller – 1 618
• Robert Brown – 1 281
• Michele Lodi-Fè – 990

Intermediate
• Mark Millar – 2 406
• Brandon Orpwood – 2 213
• David Scott – 2 131

Sport
• Cal Dyker – 2 833
• Jeremy Holdcroft – 2 684
• Gerhardus Combrinck – 2 351

Performance
• Stephane Juncker – 3 331
• Henry Schurink – 3 140
• Duncan Kotze – 2 800

Ladies
• Khobi-Jane Bowden – 2 971
• Tracey King – 1 454

Tandem
• Pierre Carter – 983
• John Nicholas – 964
• Adam van Renssen – 383

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Competiton
• Russell Achterberg – 3 583
• Anton Naudé – 3 433
• Khobi-Jane Bowden – 2 971

Team
• Hawking A Team – 8 032,4
• Winelands Paragliding – 7 164,9
• Pugwash – Aloft – 6 370,2.