The Icicle and Nigel Newbold Trophies - 2010

CD's Report
It's called The Icicle because, being the first contest of the year, it's expected to be cold. The first hint this would not apply was a week before, when the forecasters spoke of an unseasonal warm spell. They were right. High pressure over UK provided Sandtoft with an extraordinarily warm day for BAeA's first power comp of 2010. Many other pilots must have read the same prediction, for a welcome 13 hopefuls enrolled at both the Advanced and Intermediate levels.

Over the winter BAeA management has introduced additional regulations to further ensure the safety of British aerobatics. At Sandtoft this required that all proposed boxes be carefully assessed, which was done first via Google Earth, then in person on site. Two options were selected, and on the day the north box was found to be best and, it transpired, so comfortable for judges that they remained at their posts for the entire day ... as you can see! For the pilots it was ideal, as the M180 identified the east-west axis, and a field of plastic the B axis and pointed to the judges.

CD Eric Marsh conducted the principal briefing which, under new regulations, was more extensive than in the past. It is possible that in due course much of this will be conveyed in writing to pilots before the event, thus minimising briefing time and thereby increasing flying time.

The weather was perfect, so by 0935 Simon Cattlin had warmed his Yak oil and took off, with the rest of his group finishing just 2 1/4 hours later. Ten minutes later Phil Burgess departed in his Rihn DR107 and the Intermediates continued with no break - other than 15 minutes for a picnic lunch for the judges in situ - so they completed soon after 2pm.

Off went Simon for his second go in his Yak, at which point a decision had to be taken on whether or not to we had time to run a second intermediate flight. Pilots were polled, when many expressed concern about deadlines and withdrew, which in fact would have made a second flight viable - but only just, so on balance it was cancelled. Thus the contest finished at 1640 as it had started, with a Yak flight.

And about the flying, what can I say? There was no evidence of anything but exemplary airmanship by all pilots, and skills varied as reflected in the results. On the ground there were no reportable crises, and everyone knew and did what was required of them. That being so one should not really mention individuals, but two do deserve it: one was the very professional commentary by Corinne Dennis, and the other was the extraordinary hospitality extended to the judges by Keith and Margaret Patterson at their Woodcar Farm, which included use of the judges' own en suite lavatory and certainly facilitated their remaining on site all day!

Awards were due to be presented by Airfield Manager Nikki Evans, but busy in the tower she was represented by local Corinne Dennis. Recipients are listed elsewhere, but include Alan Cassidy of the Icicle and Phil Burgess of the Newbold. The CD thanked all who had contributed to the day's success, specifically Graham Hill and his crew of judges, Nikki Evans and her crew of airfield operators, Jen Buckenham and her crew of scorers, but most of all - THE PILOTS!
Eric Marsh
Contest Director