Glen Austin’s aerobatic champion

The 16-year-old pupil of Midstream High School was crowned the Junior World Champion in Radio Controlled Model Plane Aerobatics. Dugmore took the honours at the 28th International Air Sports Federation World Championship for F3A Aerobatic Aircraft at Midvaal Raceway.

Dugmore’s mother, Susan Miller said, “The award is the highest possible achievement in model plane aerobatics and he will reign as champion until the next world championship in Switzerland in 2015.”

A panel of 20 international judges adjudicated the competition which saw 80 of the world’s best pilots from 30 countries compete in the event. Miller said, “This is the first time in 30 years that any South African has even qualified for the semi-finals at a world championship event. He then surprised the world and won the junior world championship. Wonderful, our Glen Austin lad is now world champion and famous from Japan to America and Finland to Brazil.”

She said the contest was a test of mental stamina and stress management for six days.

The winner was only decided in the very last flight, and the two leading juniors were separated by less than half a percent. Miller put Dugmore’s skill in his last flight down to his temperament and focus.

“Conditions were very windy and difficult for his last, all-important flight and he knew even the tiniest mistake would be disastrous, but he held his nerve and in the end clinched the win,” said Miller. “All his long hours of practice has paid off. For the past two years he has practised four times a week and for the past six months an hour every day,” said Miller.