| Contest Director's Report
Much can be summed up by Paul Ambrose's ditty (to be found
in the forthcoming ANR. We were making a return to Bodmin after a gap of 10 years,
bringing the Kernow Trophy home to its originating airfield. Many pilots
wisely took the opportunity to arrive early on Friday or even on the
Thursday. Several took the opportunity to fly off to a convenient practice
area several miles up the A30, where Ian Trask's gyrating Yak-55 could just
be discerned in the distance from the airfield. The parking space rapidly
filled up and the lucky early arrivals, including the 3 CAP10s, managed to
bag hangar space! A number of pilots had cried off due to the possibility of
bad weather for the ferry trip. The prize
for the most intrepid trip probably goes to Andy McLean in BIPO who had a
torrid time fumbling along the southern parts of Dorset and Devon. Dave
Bruton made a water transit in the Irish Extra 200. A late evening arrival
was Charles Kirk's Jurca Tempest; just as well, really, as he had the Kernow
Trophy in his luggage locker, following a ferry trip to Chas's home field by
Gerald Cooper, last year's winner.
 Thus, the scene was set for a memorable competition on the
Saturday. Perhaps it would have been easier to bear if it had been pouring
with rain all day, but the fine weather experienced over the whole of the
rest of Cornwall only highlighted the frustration of the just-too-low cloud
hovering over the airfield. One by one, pilots with thoughts of long flights
to make home and dire predictions of dodgy weather on the morrow reluctantly
topped off their ferry tanks and bade their farewells. Of course, as 6pm
came and went, the cloud parted sufficiently for a start to be made. Max
Gardner making a welcome return made a valiant effort but was denied enough
space to start and eventually had to give up in the Gloucester T67.
Eventually 2 pilots managed to produce scoring flights although Colwyn
Darlow in the One Design did zero one figure inside a cloud.
So, on to Sunday. Fortunately, seven pilots and 3 judges
were able to stay over to give closure to the weekend. A beautiful morning
enabled the knowns and unknowns to be completed in good order. In the end,
Colwyn was able to pip John Wicks to the post at Standard and Phil Soper
carried away the Kernow Trophy in his Cap10.
Our special thanks must go to Julie Wood and John Paulson
for sticking it out with me on the judging line and to John for compiling
the scores so promptly to enable a prize giving to take place in front of
the assembled locals. Lastly, thanks must also go to Howard Hawkes for
persuading us to bring the Kernow Trophy home (Kernow is the local word for
'Cornwall') After all the weather-related trials and tribulations we've had
this year, it's great to have some sort of conclusion, even with a
minimalist field. No doubt we'll return to this interesting venue.
Ben Ellis, CD |
