From the perspective of Friday afternoon's competitors
things looked bleak - soggy low scud and few arrivals, but then lots of
Breighton tea.... It seemed to be pretty much the same everywhere, and
despite a few brave adventures that's the way it  stayed. Saturday started
somewhat better, although not much... but by mid-morning there was a
distant prospect - and indeed at about mid-day a quick peek at the rapidly
thinning grey stuff showed not much left at over 2,800'. A rapid briefing,
flying orders set and we were off.
With the three West Country beginners (toting the same Robin) mixed in
amongst the early standard crowd to maintain a good launch rate, the
'known' sequences were despatched at a sufficient rate to make it clear
that the 'unknown' was well ON too. Having started at after
two o'clock it was a pretty good effort therefore to see the last away
just before Breighton's curfew time of 7.0pm, with an excellent 48 flights
into the bag.
True first-time-out beginner Shawn Doyle waved the flag better than the
rest in his Pitts, with the Robin in Kurt Thiel's hands just ahead of Dave
Cavell's rumbling Yak. At standard there wasn't much doubt after the known
sequence that Colwyn Darlow should scoop the pot, although
the on-form Mr Doyle was not too far behind and our favourite hotelier
Eric Marsh firmly in third. Graham Smith and Eric had more resolve for the
unknown however, but not enough... the One-Design's margin from round-1
was enough, and the Nottingham man won from the Howden lad with Baslow's
finest a close third.
 Altogether a most interesting day. Challenging weather, a confusing box
layout (well, that's what Roy Nicholson said....), a solid core of fine
aerobatic flying from both newcomers and experienced pilots alike mixed
with a steady stream of the usual cerebral disasters, viewed with not a
little ribaldry by a most experienced band of judges who have done it all
themselves and probably ought to know better, all set against Breighton's
relaxed atmosphere and splendid Yorkshire hospitality. Steve Green's
magnificent seven with the black skull-caps included Tom Cassells, Alan
Cassidy, Deborah Brown (assisted by Ben Ellis), Gary Ferriman, Steve Todd
and Brian Gleave (with Kester Scrope on the pencil), Jen B twinkled the
confuser and yours truly toted the clip-board.
Nick Buckenham
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