CD's Report
Late September usually presents problems for a Contest Director and
Tigger 2006 was destined to be such an occasion. It would perhaps be more
accurate to say that the problems are really presented to the competitors,
who are faced with making transit flights and, in some cases, contest
flights, in marginal VMC.I am sure
that the least stressed on the day were newbie Simon Trimmer and not-so John
Wicks, both of whom had the foresight (and spare time) to position from
balmy southern climes on Thursday afternoon. Simon posted the better score
in the foreshortened Friday Beginners, and went on to post a creditable 5th
out of 15 in the Tigger standard class while Jan van de Wix, the current Low
Countries Sportsman Champion went on to do rather well in the main event.
Those who stressfully sat out slowly-improving conditions and airfields
throughout the country on Saturday morning might want to take note of this
correlation of result and travel date.
 Inevitably,
however, the weather took its toll and the max possible Tiger Trophy entry
of 42 power pilots was reduced to 33 attendees of whom 30 chose to fly. Just
three Advanced pilots elected to leave at around 6pm to ensure getting home
Saturday evening and thus opted themselves out of the contest. As it was, we
finished in grand style with Steve Jarvis flying a stiffish Glider Unlimited
sequence at almost exactly 6.30.... but I am getting ahead of myself.
The contest admin staff (Jen, Alan) and
judges (Nick, Ian et al) mostly arrived by road and in good time to ensure
all went pretty smoothly and unruffled above the surface. The hosts at
Sherburn Aero Club were considerate enough to more-or-less just let us get
on with it as we wished and I'm pleased to say that there appeared no
apparent conflict between SAC, its visitors and the BAeA throughout the day
and a half that we
 almost
monopolised the clubhouse. Thanks indeed to Adrian White, his staff and
members for such easy co-operation.
Three Beginners arrived on time on Friday
for their event. This was started as soon as possible after the 1300
briefing, and two successfully flew in
slight drizzle before the rain and viz deteriorated enough to cause Mike
Rennoldson to make a wise tactical withdrawal. The clag persisted almost
until sunset, when a brief clearance allowed Paul Tomlinson to be the sole
arriviste of the afternoon. Not only did this short gap allow Paul in to
Sherburn, but it also gave us a memorable sunset and an amazing rainbow that
completely encircled the "box" to the East of the field.
 Saturday's
weather clearance was mercilessly slow, but eventually arrived along with a
host of migrating mechanical birds, drifting down through the scud from
locations as varied as Fenland, Leicester, Barton and Liverpool.
Eventually enough blue appeared and a
brave start was made by Harry Mason, flying with Cas in order to keep the
CofG well aft, who set a fine standard as wind dummy. A brisk pace was
established by most of the Standard pilots, using an airborne hold to keep
things moving along, despite a number of shared mounts. The Intermediate
pilots set a cracking pace and were interrupted briefly at 5.15 by the
on-time arrival of the first of the day's novelties: Ron Jubb flying a
Tigger-like Sports Unknown in the Fox glider from just down the road at
Burn. The glider was recycled as quickly as possible using runway 19 as a
just-long-enough and out-of -the-way-of-everything-else strip, and then Paul
Watson slipped into the Programme to show us an Intermediate glider
sequence. Tugged aloft once again, Steve Jarvis heroically closed the show,
as mentioned earlier, and is today probably kicking himself for being
bamboozled for a split-second by the sequence designer (guess who...).
Of course, the necessary post-contest
departure flights reduced those still there to hear the results finally
announced at 7pm. I think everyone shared in the delight of seeing Wixi at
the top of a long list and we all shared in cheering over the phone when I
raised him at home during the presentations. Well done John - the Tiger is
clearly getting into a habit of surprising its recipients in the most happy
way.
Alan |
