Gliders battle thunderstorms and wildfire smoke at women’s world championship | Emma John

British team had a ‘nightmare’ in the Czech Republic, but the solidarity among competing nations shone throughAnne Soltow’s glider was leading the field all day. Now it is in an actual field and a kilometre short of the finish. The single-seater sailplane looks like a giant alien bug: long slender fuselage, a canopy encasing the cockpit like a single eye, epic wings, 15 metres tip to tip. They were all that was keeping Soltow’s engineless aircraft in the sky – until 10 minutes ago.The pilot is furious with herself. She had been in the air for nearly four hours and in first place before running out of altitude on the final run back to the airfield. “Landing out” is common in gliding, where testing courses are spread across hundreds of kilometres (think orienteering in the sky). You stay airborne by climbing naturally occurring, upward-spiralling cylinders of warm air known as thermals. Fail to find these and the ground comes to meet you a lot earlier than you would like. Continue reading...

Comments

Sport news

Gary Neville believes another Manchester United star will hand in transfer request

Metro

Dailymail

Las Vegas Raiders quarterback Aidan O'Connell fractures wrist, with Tom Brady's team now needing new No 2

about 2 hours ago

Dailymail

Glamorous Sky Sports presenter reveals her side of 'uncomfortable' exchange with star in post-match interview after awkward comment left him stunned

about 2 hours ago

Dailymail

Disgraceful moment speedway rivals have on-track brawl - as riders face disciplinary probe

about 2 hours ago

Dailymail

'Upset' father of Jobe Bellingham 'attempted to CONFRONT Dortmund manager' after he was subbed at HALF TIME during dismal display in Germany - as parents of Jude's brother are told NOT to return to locker room

about 2 hours ago

Dailymail

Gianluigi Donnarumma 'agrees personal terms with Premier League giants' after PSG goalkeeper paid an emotional farewell to fans

about 2 hours ago

Dailymail

Nuno Espirito Santo reveals he is set for showdown talks with Evangelos Marinakis and Edu over his future as Nottingham Forest boss breaks cover after THOSE explosive comments

about 2 hours ago

Dailymail

Premier League LIVE: Latest score and updates as Nuno Espirito Santo speaks on his future ahead of Crystal Palace vs Nottingham Forest, while Jack Grealish starts for Everton at Hill Dickinson Stadium vs Brighton

about 2 hours ago

Fulham: Shahid Khan plays down transfer crisis as Marco Silva laments slow summer

Evening Standard

Wests Tigers strike bombshell $100m funding deal after stand off with government officials left their hopes of playing at Leichhardt Oval up in the air

about 4 hours ago

Dailymail

Legendary Leeds United star reveals why his surprise career change means he has no interest in getting back to football right now

about 4 hours ago

Dailymail

'I've dreamed of it my whole life': Man United flop Angel Di Maria nets stunning derby winner for boyhood club - after the veteran returned to the club despite death threats

about 4 hours ago

Dailymail

Roma chief claims Jadon Sancho has a 'lack of motivation' to continue talks despite Serie A giants offering winger Man United escape route

about 4 hours ago

Dailymail

Meet the England star who is the 'glue' binding Women's Rugby World Cup bid together after Red Roses made dominant start by hammering USA

about 4 hours ago

Arsenal: Viktor Gyokeres relishing Eberechi Eze partnership with £67.5m signing in line for debut at Liverpool

Evening Standard

Comments

Sport news

Gary Neville believes another Manchester United star will hand in transfer request

Everton’s new Hill Dickinson Stadium: How much it cost, capacity and reason behind the name

MLB best bets: Cardinals vs. Rays odds, prediction for Sunday

BetMGM bonus code POSTBET for $1,500 in bonus bets for the US Open on Sunday

2025 US Open odds, picks, best bets: Can anybody upset Jannik Sinner and Carlos Alcaraz?

Inside ‘Game, Set, Matchmaker’ — the reality dating show invading the US Open

Fulham vs Man United live: Amorim makes goalkeeper decision as both sides chase first win of Premier League season

Emma Raducanu v Ena Shibahara live: US Open latest score and updates as British No 1 begins campaign

Rampage Jackson’s son appears to brutalise ‘flatlined’ pro wrestler in disturbing video

Former Partick Thistle boss spotted at Airdrie clash amid new gaffer search

Brendan Rodgers decides Celtic next three transfers after Balikwisha deal finally agreed

Man Utd target left out of squad for match as Old Trafford switches edges closer

Jordan Pickford reveals role in Jack Grealish's Everton transfer from Man City

'I was all set to join Arsenal before brutal U-turn – Tottenham picked me up instead'

West Ham crisis could get even worse as Tottenham and Aston Villa eye swoop for key man

Ex-Sky Sports star and wife of former Premier League boss reaps rewards from career change

Ex-Tottenham and England star recovering in hospital after suffering heart attack

Crystal Palace could sign TWO Eberechi Eze replacements with club chiefs 'at odds'

Reece Walsh jokes he risked the wrath of Michael Maguire with 'strange' try-scoring act

Football fans go wild for new sideline NFL reporter after her first game: 'She's causing distractions'

Las Vegas Raiders quarterback Aidan O'Connell fractures wrist, with Tom Brady's team now needing new No 2

Glamorous Sky Sports presenter reveals her side of 'uncomfortable' exchange with star in post-match interview after awkward comment left him stunned

Disgraceful moment speedway rivals have on-track brawl - as riders face disciplinary probe

'Upset' father of Jobe Bellingham 'attempted to CONFRONT Dortmund manager' after he was subbed at HALF TIME during dismal display in Germany - as parents of Jude's brother are told NOT to return to locker room

Gianluigi Donnarumma 'agrees personal terms with Premier League giants' after PSG goalkeeper paid an emotional farewell to fans

Nuno Espirito Santo reveals he is set for showdown talks with Evangelos Marinakis and Edu over his future as Nottingham Forest boss breaks cover after THOSE explosive comments

Premier League LIVE: Latest score and updates as Nuno Espirito Santo speaks on his future ahead of Crystal Palace vs Nottingham Forest, while Jack Grealish starts for Everton at Hill Dickinson Stadium vs Brighton

Fulham: Shahid Khan plays down transfer crisis as Marco Silva laments slow summer

Tennis legend Pam Shriver working to rebuild communities affected by fires

Tottenham urged to hijack Chelsea transfer after losing Eberechi Eze to Arsenal

Man Utd agree personal terms for fifth summer signing after Man City approach

Micah Richards makes bold Arsenal prediction after Bukayo Saka and Martin Odegaard injuries

Red-hot Brett Baty ‘growing up’ and becoming dependable Mets lineup piece

How to watch 2025 US Open tennis for free: Live stream, TV schedule

Top 10 players in 2025 Heisman Trophy conversation

Fantasy baseball depth critical down the stretch — and these options could help

Aaron Boone open to giving Anthony Volpe a breather as his Yankees spiral continues

Five college football predictions, plus how playoffs will play out

Brendan Rodgers says Celtic are ‘really positive’ about Karait play-off tie

Gianluigi Donnarumma 'agrees terms' with Man City - but move hinges on Etihad exit

How to watch Fulham vs Man Utd: TV channel and live stream with new TV deal in full flow

Phil Foden's instant response to Tottenham chant during Man City win

Eberechi Eze's last-minute phone call with Mikel Arteta and Arsenal signing's telling response

Aidan O’Brien set to aim Derby winner Lambourn at St Leger after ‘day at the races’ defeat

West Ham make immediate Graham Potter sack decision after disastrous start to season

Kansas State QB Avery Johnson's dad gets into fist-fight with his other son in wild parking lot brawl after game

Wests Tigers strike bombshell $100m funding deal after stand off with government officials left their hopes of playing at Leichhardt Oval up in the air

Legendary Leeds United star reveals why his surprise career change means he has no interest in getting back to football right now

'I've dreamed of it my whole life': Man United flop Angel Di Maria nets stunning derby winner for boyhood club - after the veteran returned to the club despite death threats

Roma chief claims Jadon Sancho has a 'lack of motivation' to continue talks despite Serie A giants offering winger Man United escape route

Meet the England star who is the 'glue' binding Women's Rugby World Cup bid together after Red Roses made dominant start by hammering USA

Arsenal: Viktor Gyokeres relishing Eberechi Eze partnership with £67.5m signing in line for debut at Liverpool

Arsenal: Shamrock Rovers starlet Victor Ozhianvuna agrees Gunners switch in Irish record sale

Chelsea: Borussia Dortmund near double deal for Blues stars as summer clear-out continues

Arsenal agree record fee to sign 16-year-old Shamrock Rovers midfielder Victor Ozhianvuna

Yankees still have no timetable for Aaron Judge’s return to right field — even with him ‘feeling great’

Five men contenders to watch at US Open

Fantasy baseball owners should focus on finding strikeout pitchers for stretch run

Wrexham will use people wanting them to fail as motivation – Kieffer Moore

Fifa’s next Club World Cup to take place in summer 2029 in blow to Qatar bid