posted Nov 28th, 2018 - The NSL Power Rankings of the ISR Grand Prix 2018 projected only one final placement of the Top 6 correctly. ISR FireFlash defeated HF eX3MO easily with the help of substitute Jacco van Eerden, and the battle of the next four teams for the best placements behind the two top teams and the bronze medals turned out differently.

HF Flying Circus took the bronze medals after a strong showing and with a new team record average, while the three other teams in the same battle finished in an unexpected order. Out of the Blue and Jazz Republic all posted team record averages, as well, while Jetmax did not perform on the team's top performance level. That was what Out of the Blue and Jazz Republic needed to move up and finish ahead of the second Belgian team in the Top 6.

Jetmax were still not unhappy with their performance in Roosendaal: "We managed to handle the competition as it should be from every angle, technically, tactically, mentally and physically. A good meet for us."

Jetmax saw last weekend's eight rounds more as a final test for the upcoming national indoor championships in their home chamber of Airspace Indoor Skydiving. Coach David Grauwels was in Roosendaal to evaluate the Jetmax performance and use the results for the next competition in a few weeks.

ISR Grand Prix 2018			1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	Total	Avg
Rank	AAA Class		A,18,F,6	Q,N,11,12	17,10,5	J,B,L,2	O,3,16	D,21,C,G	9,H,K,14	7,E,22	Total	Avg
1	ISR FireFlash	BE	28	25	25	30	24	28	29	25	214	26.8
2	HF eX3MO	IT	22	19	24	30	25	27	27	21	195	24.4
3	HF Flying Circus	CZ	22	20	21	29	22	26	24	18	182	22.8
4	Out of the Blue Project 20+	NL	23	20	20	26	22	23	23	21	178	22.3
5	Jazz Republic	ZA	20	20	19	24	19	23	24	20	169	21.1
6	JETMAX	BE	22	17	16	24	19	20	19	21	158	19.8

Jazz Republic and Jetmax at the ISR Grand Prix 2018

The NSL News preview of the event also mentioned Jazz Republic as an underdog not too far away from the bronze medal position. It turned out that the South Africans tied two of the highscores between the four bronze medal contenders and also outscored HF Flying Circus in the last round.

Jazz Republic had their best lineup in Roosendaal and improved the previous team record average (20.1) significantly with the 21.1 last weekend. The same lineup competed last time at the FAI Indoor World Cup 2016, where the two tall team members Simba Marcellin and Colin Rothman had to master a 14-foot flying chamber, as well.

Colin Rothman was a founding member of Voodoo who competed for South Africa between 1998 and 2012. Voodoo then moved the team to Great Britain, and he competed with Dave Sumter, Vana and Dennis Parker one last time at the World Challenge 2013. Then he joined Jazz Republic in 2015.

The Simba Marcellin/Colin Rothman combination was in action earlier this year when Savolo needed help with a lineup for the South African outdoor nationals. Jazz Republic did not compete, and Savolo won easily. However, neither Savolo nor Jazz Republic then competed for South Africa at the FAI World Meet 2018, as the NSL News reported on 26 August.

FAI World Meet 2018			1		2		3		4		5		6		7		8		9		10		Total	Avg
Rank	4-way Open		21,L,B,G		22,18,17		19,7,O		J,16,12		10,A,D,15		Q,M,F,C,N		H,20,P,13		6,14,11		E,2,5		4,1,3		Total	Avg
1	NMP-PCH Hayabusa	BE	32		21		27	-2	24		22	-3	62	-2	22	-2	20	-1	27	-1	22		279	27.9
2	Arizona Airspeed	US	26	-5	21		27	-1	24		24	-1	60	-1	26		22		27		20		277	27.7
3	Aerodyne Realfly	FR	29	-1	19		24	-2	23		24		52	-3	20	-3	17	-3	24		19		251	25.1
4	Qatar Tigers	QA	24	-2	14	-1	24	-1	21		22		53	-4	21	-1	18		20		17		234	23.4
5	Echochamber	SE	25	-1	16		21	-1	17	-2	20	-1	48	-4	14	-3	18		21	-1	15	-1	215	21.5
6	Amnesya	IT	24	-2	14		20	-1	18		18	-1	48	-5	18		14	-2	21	-1	15		210	21.0
7	Satori XL	UK	21		14	-1	21		19		19		37	-3	19		17		18	-1	16	-1	201	20.1
7	Airheads	CH	22	-3	14	-2	19	-2	17	-1	18		44		16		16	-2	18	-1	17		201	20.1
9	Evolution	CA	21	-1	13	-2	22		18	-1	15	-3	43	-2	15	-5	15	-2	19		15		196	19.6
10	Airbus FSZ Saar	DE	21	-1	14	-1	17	-5	17		16	-1	45	-1	15	-3	14	-1	18	-1	15		192	19.2
11	Tanay Wolves	RU	22		14		18	-1	17		16	-2	35	-3	17	-3	14	-1	18	-1	14		185	18.5
12	Rotor Out	AU	21	-1	13	-1	18	-2	14	-1	16	-1	32	-3	13	-7	13	-1	18		14		172	17.2
13	CTR Optimum	BR	19		10		17	-1	15		13	-1	31		14		14		18		13		164	16.4
14	Papea Masculino	ES	17	-1	13		18		13	-1	13		28	-3	14	-1	14	-1	13	-2	12		155	15.5
15	Out of the Blue Project 20+	NL	16	-1	11	-1	13	-3	14		15	-1	28	-2	15	-1	15		14	-2	12	-1	153	15.3
16	Meraki	ZA	14	-3	11		14		14		13		28	-1	12	-1	12		14		12		144	14.4
17	New Zealand	NZ	10	-4	9		12		11		10		21		7	-3	11		10	-1	11		112	11.2
18	Paraguay	PY	10	-1	8		10	-1	7	-2	9		17		7	-4	8	-1	10		8	-1	94	9.4
19	Cyprus	CY	13	-1	8		9	-2	8		7	-2	19	-1	7		8		9		5	-2	93	9.3

The new South African team Meraki, with former Savolo member Bailey Edmunds in the lineup, competed in Australia, while two Jazz Republic members had other jobs to do at the same event.

Claire King and Dirk Venter invented the InTime scoring/judging system and have been running it for several years. There is not really a need for them any longer to be present at the events, as the program is self-sufficient. However, both are also FAI Judges, and Claire King had to evaluate the South African Meraki performance on her own system, while Dirk Venter provided technical support.

Together they were back at the favorite part of their comprehensive engagement in the sport, with Jazz Republic at the ISR Grand Prix. Their team has been competing mostly at indoor events, and they are slowly approaching the scoring level where even Savolo will have to watch out.

However, Jazz Republic is an outdoor team, as well, and the South African top level and qualification for a world meet is in reach for the team. It would be a tough deal for Claire King and Dirk Venter though. Competing, judging and providing technical InTime support can hardly be done at the same time...