The Icicle and Newbold Trophies - 2011

CD’s Report

Icicles can be hot, but not very often. Last year at Sandtoft it was (very), and although that was rare (very) it looked like it might repeat this year. But alas no: temps in mid-teens were forecast but a strong wind-chill kept it traditionally chilly.

And it was that wind which caused the inevitable problems associated with aerobatics: upto 35 knots was anticipated, but fortuitously from the west. Whilst this might have been untenable on the old north-south main axis, in the current east-west box it was manageable.

It might be said that such weather was also the cause of the reduced entry, for at the last moment three withdrew, leaving a field of only seven at Advanced (of which none were Unlimited pilots) and six at Intermediate. That weather then prevented any flying in the morning, which limited flying to the afternoon, but given the small field it facilitated a valuable two Unknowns per pilot.

Those Unknowns were issued by Chief Judge Nick Buckenham on registration at 0800; a comprehensive briefing by CD Eric Marsh at 0830 sharp incorporated a section headed “risk assessment”, which relates to the specification of the designated box. That at Sandhoft is rare in that it is remote from the airfield but has a perfect axis marker and border (M180), with all fields running north-south or east-west. The judging position, although equally remote from the airfield, is in the garden of a private home, which incorporates its own gardener’s lavatory: such luxury!

Wind dummy Ron Allan patiently provided a few false starts, but Peter Macintosh - who seems to have a forecaster in every town – ascertained from one at Waddington that the low cloud would disperse into blue sky at 1300L.. It did and we flew 26 sorties non-stop until 1720.

Interestingly the same plane won both contests, and Airfield Manager Nikki Evans presented the Newbold and Icicle Trophies to Ed Cyster and Alan Cassidy respectively.

Thanks are due as always to everyone, not only to the pilots themselves, but even more to the many volunteers who donate so much of their time and effort to facilitate the challenge enjoyed by those pilots. Most of the volunteers are listed within the results attached, but particular mention must be made of Honorary Members and principal officers of BAeA, Nick and Jen Buckenham (CJ and scorer respectively), and to new Sandtoft owner Shaun Eagle (whose wife and family provided a quite extra-ordinary lunch for the contest officials), Airfield Manager Nikki Evans, assisted by BAeA member Corinne Dennis (she of the pink jeans...), the conspicuity-coated ground crew, and Keith and Margaret Patterson who again provided a perfect location for the judges.

Eric Marsh

Contest Director