CD's Report
"Sun-loungers at Sleap"
As the multitude of judges baked in the unbroken sunshine, requests for tea gradually became gasps for water and the temperature rose unrelentingly. Mercifully the Contest Director took note and unshackled them for a brief lunch break, then it was on with more sun-block and the sport continued… Actually as CD I became aware that if you are as well supported as I was by experienced and hardworking contest veterans, with luck the most important job you will have is to keep them fed and watered. And so it proved.

But to the start… On Friday afternoon stalwarts Ben Ellis and Lynn Westnage arrived first and together we decided that a single beginner would not overtax our resources for the day. Andy Wilson flew very nicely in the growling Yak 52 and thoroughly deserved the BAeA plaque to mark his first contest.

Saturday’s competition commenced in spectacular fashion with a truly inspiring, majestic tail-slide from Chas Lister in the Decathlon. The man is obviously destined for greatness (not this time, however… but he and his son camped in the corner of the field and had a fine weekend, and isn’t that what it’s all about?). Throughout the morning pilots fought the confusion of Sleap’s runways, with varying success. In the afternoon one unfortunate soul flew a very pretty sequence unanimously deemed exactly 50 degrees off axis, but at least the framing mark remained valid!

But the sun shone, and shone. By 4pm our new scorer Lynn, ably tutored by Nick Buckenham, was completing her task and we were delighted to invite Mrs Veryan Golding-Barrett (Arthur’s widow) to award the medals and the Standard Level Trophy.

Occasionally everything falls into place and this was one of those times. Ian Scott ran the judging line with a fine high quality team, backed by an encouraging number of enthusiastic assistants. Shropshire Aero Club could not have been more friendly and helpful, and even the pilots behaved themselves. Long live Sleap, see you next year.

Ron Allan