posted Oct 1st, 2016 - Black Cat has been the old and new Russian national 4-way champion for a few days, even though the official crowning of all Russian skydiving champions is scheduled for Saturday at the Russian Nationals 2016.

There was never a doubt that Black Cat would defend the 4-way title successfully, even though Barguzin scared the Russian national team seriously in Round 1. Barguzin had former Barkli members Vladimir Pavlenko and Sergey Shenin in their lineup, who have been team mates with Black Cat members Valentin Ilin, Vasily Korotkov and Evgeny Stashchenko in several different teams and at many 4-way and 8-way meets.

Black Cat members Vasily Korotkov and Evgeny Stashchenko and Barguzin members Vladimir Pavlenko and Sergey Shenin are also the only currently active 4-way competitors in Russia who have won 4-way medals at a World Championship of Formation Skydiving.

FAI Mondial 2016		1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	10	Total	Avg
Rank	4-way Open	12,A,16	18,15,O	1,F,E,C	17,B,14	10,2,20	21,11,G	J,5,19	L,M,K,7	D,8,4	3,13,Q	Total	Avg
4	Black Cat	22	20(-1)	30	24(-1)	17	21	24	33(-1)	21	19	231	23.1

Russian Nationals 2016		1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	10	Total	Avg
Rank	4-way Open	E,21,7	F,1,D,K	G,8,C,J	H,19,3	Q,4,11	5,22,B	15,10,O	18,20,A	M,12,L,9	13,P,2	Total	Avg
1	Black Cat	25	27	25	23	20(-2)	22	16(-1)	19	21	18	216	21.6

Black Cat's Vasily Korotkov and Evgeny Stashchenko were first at the world meet in Rijeka 2004, together with Michail Kuznetsov and Alexei Minaev. Current Black Cat videographer Vadim Niyzov was filming the Sky Panthers winning their bronze medals in 2004.

Barguzin's Vladimir Pavlenko and Sergey Shenin followed up with bronze medals for Russia six years later in Menzelinsk 2010. This time, Michail Kuznetsov also had Oleg Shalamykhin in his lineup, and Andrey Seliverstov was filming the team

The Russian Nationals 2016 featured the four bronze medalists again in two different lineups, and Black Cat won the internal showdown.

It was still not a walk in the park for Black Cat. Barguzin finished with the team's highest average in its second year and missed the 20-average level just by a single point. The 26-pointer in Round 1 was also a real scare for Black Cat. Barguzin won two more rounds and tied Black Cat in Round 10.

Black Cat did not compete with the same lineup that finished 4th at the FAI Mondial 2016 with a 23.1 average.

Valeriy Gredasov replaced Alexander Kvochur and had to contribute his own share to secure the national gold medals for Black Cat.

The 21.6 average was his best result since he joined Black Cat in 2014. His two bronze medalist team mates and Valentin Ilin are now planning to fully integrate Valeriy Gredasov for the 2017 season, while Alexander Kvochur will take the alternate position, with Vadim Niyazov again on the 4-way camera. Then they will try to go after the bronze medals again in 2018...