The Dan Smith Memorial Trophy - 2009

Following a pleasant evening meal together most people had an early night, in anticipation of losing an hours' sleep as the clocks went forward overnight to make it seemingly an even earlier 0830 briefing on Sunday morning. It was however beautifully clear and with little wind, allowing the main competition to get under way by 0900. The first four pilots had completed their sequences by the time the inevitable scattered cloud formed in the box, as the day began to warm up. A quick re-think to split the programme after fig-4 soon got it all back under way again, this time to use the 2,500ft cloud-base and box lower limit of 1,200ft. All pilots had flown by mid-afternoon, and a quick calculation indicated that at a launch-rate of 6/hr - and with the extra hour of daylight - we should be able to complete the 2nd set of 6 figures to complete the full programme. We were also able to raise the box to 3,000ft, a welcome bonus.

During one of the (fortunately few) judging line post-flight discussions Caroline Bois managed to sneak through her sequence unnoticed .... but with due determination she flew again to close the competition at 1910. After an unexpected scoring kerfuffle concerning the inclusion/exclusion of the two trainee judges in some early flights was resolved, the results you see below were published. Phew!

Gold, silver and bronze medals for the top three pilots - Guy Westgate, David Gibbs and Ian Gallacher - were presented by Mike Barrowman and Val Enstone, the latter having worked hard all weekend in support of the CD. Finally the Dan Smith Memorial Trophy was presented to David Gibbs, the highest placed Sport level pilot.

The CD closed by thanking all pilots for a safe and good humoured contest, and Phil Atley and his band of judges and assistants for producing the goods in the chilly March conditions. As ever the London Gliding Club facilities, restaurant and equipment were first class. Whilst the final results were being produced your humble CD was taken completely by surprise with a presentation in recognition of his efforts as CD at this event for more than 10 years. The items given reflected just about everyone who has been involved, and included a specially engraved gold medal plus a montage of photographs and good wishes, the beautiful bouquet of flowers for my wife Pam reducing me almost to a speechless state!

Thank you all,
Ray Stoward