CD's
Report
 I
awake to the sound of raindrops on glass and watch low cloud scudding past
the window. Not a day for aerobatics. I pinch myself. Was it only yesterday
that we sat for ten long hours in glorious sunshine on a beautiful late
spring day, on a perfect English airfield in Shropshire?
A good competition is one where you achieve a
result and all go home happy. A really great one is where everyone at the
host airfield goes that little bit further to make sure that we are not only
welcome, but that everything is as clockwork for the event. This was just so
and it is appropriate on this occasion that we start with the thanks. Chris,
Nathan, Jenny, Jim, John, Mark and the Restaurant team, Fire Crew,
 Shropshire
Aero Club members and visitors - you all were the real stars of the show.
Thank you each and every one of you. Ron, your invitation as Chairman to
return next year is gladly accepted on behalf of all who attended this
weekend. We had a fabulous time.
You know that you are on to a winner when
most of the country is smothered in low cloud and rain, yet the two BAeA
venues for the day are dry, have a decent cloud-base and light winds. So it
was on Friday morning, as we put the last pieces of the organisational
jigsaw into place and sat back awaiting the arrival of the competitors. On
the dot of the first briefing, sole Beginner Dan Seagrave in his T67 arrived
with cheerleader Rhiannan, having left Boscombe Down as the clag was
lifting. Treated to a most thorough personal briefing by CD, Ian Scott as CJ
and Chris Jones and Nathan Cross f or
the airfield, Dan launched from Rwy 36 into his very own aerobatic heaven.
Despite succumbing to the siren seductions of Sleap’s 23/05 as an axis for a
couple of figures, he flew a sweet sequence and was rightly judged as Number
1. Well done, Dan!
Standard pilots then started to appear, to
add to those who had arrived early on Thursday or by road. Tales of low
cloud bases, scud running and pessimism for the competition quickly
evaporated as the briefing was completed to schedule and the judging line
assembled. Yorkshire’s finest, Yankee Charlie, sent Richard Jones to set the
bar and we were off. After 14 flights and a few more excursions down the 05
axis, we had the Known in the bag. SAC’s fine hangar was filled to the brim
and we set off in search of refreshment and rest. For those who enjoyed the
fantastic hospitality of the Burlton Inn, it was a memorable night of
banter, superb food and the camaraderie that fuels our sport. For the
record, Jungmistress Annabelle Burroughes clearly defeated Decathlon driver
David Thomson in the battle of the tents.
Saturday dawned fair. Then cloudy. Then
fair again, all before 07.00 breakfast. We rattled the briefing through to
set the scene for the Advanced pilots who had now joined the party, some
following a very successful training camp with Wakers in darkest
Herefordshire. With 56 flights to complete, the first Standard Unknown
needed to be away for 09.00 and it duly was. And again at 09.30, 09.45… low
cloud in the box threatened to spoil things for a number of early
competitors, but they stood their ground and we reached the fourteenth
flight by mid-day. Straight into the Advanced Known without delay and the
growing crowd warmed to the spectacle of some high quality aerobatics. A
free break was scorned by some, but quickly proved its value to others and
challenged the CJ to determine fair break from foul.
Judges and their assistants are hardy folk
and the bonus of being adjacent to facilities was offset by the lack of time
to actually benefit from them. They were permitted a short interlude for a
superb Sleap picnic, but
 then
straight back to frying in the by now quite glorious sunshine. At this point
we were also joined by our delightful VVIP guests Veryan, Bryher and Charlie
Golding-Barrett to bring a little poignancy to the Standard trophy.
Advanced completed by 14.00 we were now
looking likely to achieve a full programme. David Keane led Standard with
two superb scores, followed by a gaggle of potentials, while the
International competitor, Eddie Goggins, threatened once again to make off
with the goods at Advanced. All down to the afternoon unknowns. While the
Standard sequence could be described as tricky, the Advanced brought out
those perplexed frowns that delight our leaders from time-to-time. It had
been prepared so as to challenge in preparation for an international
competition the previous year and it served its purpose admirably. 05 struck
again several times, some disappeared almost out of view and Space actually
caused the Tower to call an infringement to the box until they realised it
was him trying to get back into it. Even poor old Ronnie Allan looked like
he would have preferred his usual role of CD.
Finally to the honours. David Kean was a
most deserving winner of the Golding-Barrett trophy, presented by Veryan in
memory of her husband. Any one of the following four could have won on
another day with excellent scores in the mid-70’s. At Advanced Mr ‘G’
prevailed and collected Gold along with the Icicle trophy he won earlier in
the year. Gary Ferriman was in excellent form just behind and Stephen Madle
pipped Dave Kaberry and both his stable mate and Uncle to the Bronze.
My personal thanks to Ian Scott and to Jen and Nick for making this an easy
show to direct. To the judges and their assistants, your patience and
endurance were essential and appreciated. In the end I think everyone who
attended this competition in any capacity was a winner this weekend.....
Steve Todd
Contest Director |
