CD's Report
The 2004 Senior National Championships were described at the time as
"the best ever". Conversely, an unfortunate sequence of events caused the
2005 Championship to be one of the less good BAeA events. As if the loss of
Mark Walden in an aerobatic accident was not bad enough, fellow aerobatic
pilot Jean-Michel Delorme died equally tragically in another CAP a few weeks
later. These disasters were compounded by the consequential grounding of all
similar CAP types only 2 weeks before the 2005 UK National Aerobatic
Championships. With the great majority of the Unlimited pilots therefore
unable to fly, the committee of BAeA decided ~ not without considerable
consultation ~ to cancel the contesting of the Neil Williams Telegraph
Trophy and to proceed only with the David Perrin Trophy contested by a 4
minute free style flight. In the light of the considerable support provided
in 2005 by Michael Bletsoe-Brown of Sywell Aerodrome, and Sywells
expectations for 2006, an additional contest for Intermediate pilots was
created at short notice. Eventually 6 Intermediate, 13 Advanced and 4
Unlimited pilots entered to compete and simultaneously entertain any
visitors whom it was hoped might watch.
As Contest Director I briefed the Advanced
pilots on Thursday 8th September at 1300 sharp in the Aviator Hotel. My
briefings
have changed little in the many years I have been doing them, for
they simply outline the rules of play. On this occasion however I took the
opportunity to address the Advanced pilots on three issues: 1) that the
spirit of BAeA rules is more important than their precise wording, 2) that
all pilots are in the same British team and factions must not develop, and
3) the referees' word is final and harassing him is likely to result in a red
card !
Under a rising cloud-base all 13 pilots
then flew the 'Q'. Alan Cassidy in his Extra scored highest with 70.82% but
flying hors de concours was not placed; Gary Ferriman scored 70.01%, Tim
Jenkinson 66.75% and Simon Cattlin 66.37%, the final order at close of play
on Thursday.
Fridays met. conditions were so good that
it was agreed to fly the next two groups consecutively without a break, as a
result of which flying had ceased by mid-afternoon. In the 'Free' Gary
scored 76.64%, Tim 76.51%, Clive Butler 73.13%, and in the First Unknown
Alan scored 70.82%, Gary 70.01%, Tim 67.75% and Simon 66.36%. The remainder
of the afternoon was then taken in compiling the second and third Advanced
Unknowns from the pilot-supplied figures. It was good also to see Robert
Tinkler up and about again.
Saturday was scheduled to be a busy day
with two flights each for every group, but alas the weather gods spoilt it
again with weather so poor as to prevent even a weather check. Nevertheless
the opportunity was taken to convene an impromptu BAeA committee meeting, at
which a date in November was set for a full end of season committee meeting
in anticipation of the AGM in January 2006. At the meeting ideas were mooted
to enable the BAeA to move forward, but it seemed this would best be
facilitated by some new blood on the committee. Most amateur sporting clubs
find that their members only get as much out of their Association as they
put into it, which means that BAeA will need more voluntary work from its
membership if it is to progress.
By 1500 on Saturday it was agreed to be
not feasible to start even if the weather cleared, and the contest was
abandoned for the day. Sundays forecast was equally pessimistic, but we were
not, for we hoped that Met. might again be wrong but in our favour.
Alas they were right and we were wrong! On
Sunday gloom prevailed both over the airfield and in the hotel. A
preliminary briefing at 0900 agreed a review at 1000, but conditions were
such that continuation was patently impossible. Chairman Ben Ellis therefore
presented the Advanced National Championship salver to Gary Ferriman and
silver and bronze medals to Clive Butler and Tim Jenkinson respectively.
Those flying home were reminded yet again that if you have time to spare, go
by air, and did so five hours later, filling the wait by, inter alia,
collecting the box markers so precisely located by the judges Steve Green
and Graham Hill.
Thanks are due to a team now so large it
is impossible to list for fear of omitting any, but ALL of whom are not only
appreciated but indispensable. At least one consolation of a wet weekend
is that it enabled us to watch England regain the Ashes.
ERIC MARSH
Contest Director |