The Dan Smith Memorial Trophy - 2010

CD's Report
The winter season gave BAeA the opportunity to review the rules and operating requirements for the continued safe operation of our sport. With these for guidance some minor changes were made to the position of the aerobatic box and the positioning of the judges .... all was then ready for the first competition of the year.

The weather on Saturday was breezy, bright and changeable. Unfortunately cloud-base in the box area was never enough to launch our nine competitors, and the day was finally scrubbed at around mid afternoon. As a small compensation however almost 40 people enjoyed an extremely sociable if noisy dinner together in the club restaurant later in the evening.

Sunday briefing at 08.30 showed that everyone had managed to reset their clocks correctly - all present and correct! Large bright patches in the (otherwise dismal) local weather tempted us; CFI Andy Roch used his considerable experience of the effect of the Chiltern Hills on our local weather and forecast a stable 3,000ft cloud-base by 11.00 - although that did seem doubtful. Almost on cue however (well, give or take an hour ...) Maz Makari launched in 'FYF to test the situation and see just how many figures we could realistically expect to squeeze-in between the three-quarter launch height and a slightly lowered 1,250ft box base - the answer being eight of the eleven on the card. On completion of the nine first-round flights a short break in the warmth of the clubhouse helped to restore numb fingers, and we were off again to fly a 7 figure 'unknown'.

The glider fraternity's new scorer Sarah Turner, with a little help from Jen B., had all the results sorted by 17.30 so that CD yours-truly and Sarah could present the prizes to a happy band of pilots. In a clear 1st place David Morgan claimed the Gold medal and The Dan Smith Trophy, whilst not far behind the Silver gong went to Maz and the Bronze to a delighted Sally Cooper.

The CD closed by thanking everyone for another worthy and safe contest, Chief Judge Nick Buckenham and his band of judges and assistants for surviving the Dunstable shivers, Sarah for the scores, LGC for the facilities, and of course Geoff for the food, plus of course Mike Barrowman, Val and the small band of instructors and members who had helped to organise the competition.
Ray Stoward
Contest Director