Competitors battled weak thermals and cool weather conditions but managed to finish the 215-kilometre course which went from Horsham to Rupanyup to Brim, then to Dimboola and back to Horsham.

Competition director Geoff Vincent said the more skilled pilots came out on top.

"It was a day where the skill of the pilot mattered," he said.

"The pilots could only get up to about 4000 feet which is way below their usual height of 8000 to 10,000 feet.

"This makes the racing a bit slower and makes it harder for the pilots to plot their course.

"The competitions ends up a bit like a snakes and ladders game because pilots were continually finding themselves needing to get higher while trying to get through the competition."

Bendigo's Paul Bilks won the performance class competition while West Australia's John Orton won the standard class competition.

Mt Beauty's Craig Collings won the 15-metre class while a two-seater glider won the open standard piloted by David Cleland and Michael Crampton, both of Beaufort Flying Club.

The gliding competition continues at Horsham Aerodrome until Saturday.