CD's
Report
This was my 3rd attempt as CD to actually do some flying at Compton over the
years and the Gods were not looking favourably on us with various weather
forecasts showing dismal to appalling possibilities – an abortive attempt to
fly down myself on Friday morning resulted in a 3 hour drive in the end with
the prospect of another W/X comp. How wrong. At the briefing the expectations was
wait and see for Saturday – and over the next few hours several Pilots
phoned and either cancelled or updated me on their W/X problems. We had 2
beginners, 10 Advanced and up to 13 Intermediates – a possible 68 flights in
all.And then the cloud base started to “sort
of lift” and someone reported “really good weather elsewhere” ……. and moving
our way ……… after looking out of the window I spied a little raised base and
blue bit and asked Gary Ferriman to go give it a go …… after 4 requests
later (and it has to be said he had a fair point when looking up at it from
the ground) ….. Gary got airborne for advanced …. …. and when once up his
call over the
 radio
basically said “well maybe it can be done but don’t look north or ahead or
down as there is no horizon or ground – just South is sort of any good”. He
came down describing the flight as challenging and not one for the Boys,
just the Men – fortunately for us this Politically Correct (or Incorrect is
it, not sure?) statement did not matter as Corrine’s mount had not arrived.
One after the other each of the advanced boys … sorry men ….. went aloft
with a few breaks and restarts – Ron Allen felt that IMC aerobatics was an
interesting test to deal with and Steve Madle, was it, debated whether he
really was a man or boy and where WAS that cheese anyway? – and with the viz
improving for the latter few; by 19.00 Simon Abbott and Paul Tomlinson had
finished the last flights – and at this point who was in the lead? – none
other than the gallant Gary F who had the worst cloud base and horizon to
deal with!
A quiet night down the Pub with Ben Ellis
and Rachel Worth (well until the Rock band came on at 21.00) was followed by
a beautiful dawn at 05.00 which held during the briefing – and by
commencement of flying at about 09.30 with an acceptable stable cloud base.
The pace was kept up all day with a couple of breaks and
 concerns
over build up of cloud – someone gave me a lecture on cloud formations which
was fascinating at the time but can I remember it now? We worked our way
through the Frees at both levels. Unfortunately the 2 beginners
cancelled-out (cloud base not up to their minimum) and flying finished with
the Intermediate Apprentices, a couple of which were carried out over London
at the remarkably respectable time of 17.00 with bluey skies.
The final positioning is fully listed
below – but the Don Henry was carried away by old man Cassidy with Paul T
and Gary F taking 2nd and 3rd place. Given that yours truly had failed in
ensuring the medals were at Compton the winners made do with motorised model
aeroplanes (which actually went down quite well – Gary was using his before
the presentations were over). The intermediate Free was won by David Jenkins
with Randall Hockey and Stephen Hipwell following on for Silver and Bronze
medals – sorry aeroplanes – and the Air Squadron Trophy had the same 3 but
with Randall pipping David at the post. We were fortunate enough to have
representatives from the Air Squadron on hand to present the awards – they
added a bonus with a little cash promised for the lucky 3.
A big thank you to Phil Atley as Chief
Judge, Rachel Worth for scoring and numerous other Judges and scribes.
Special thanks to Ian Scott & Ben E for their advice during the day and last
but certainly not least to all the Pilots who took part …… I had fun ….. see
you all next year.
Patrick Margetson-Rushmore
BAeA Contest Director |
