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The John McLean Trophy - 2011 |
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CD's Report Well with 5 days to go it wasn’t looking promising….only two entries for the Special Beginner’s Day, six for the John McLean and a long-range weather forecast suggesting cloud and poor vis would spoil play. Four day’s to go and the two entries for Beginners became one! After a few phone calls/text messages/emails, we had a combination of an aeroplane, an instructor and an amenable girlfriend (the pilot’s not the instructor’s!) to enable the sole beginner to fly on Saturday….so we cancelled the Friday…and I have to say I wondered if it was an omen for the event. However, Saturday dawned cool, clear and bright and the forecast was excellent,…but would anyone come?
The first aeroplane (Adrian Francis in the Extra 230) was in the circuit just after 8 am and by 8.30 am the radio was crackling with the calls of inbound aircraft and the excitement started to build…we were going to have a contest. Then the first ‘gotcha’ reared it’s ugly head. It turns out that those who had read the contest format properly (mostly judges!) had come prepared for a two-day contest….the rest (me included!) had planned for a one-day contest with the Sunday as the weather reserve, and since we had such wonderful weather, most people were expecting to complete the contest in one day! So with the pragmatism, flexibility and good humour that turned out to be a mark of the day, we made the decision to fly the first two sequences (known and 1st unknown) and then re-group to decide whether we would fly the second unknown. With a bit more flexibility we also managed to merge the formats and gave Martin Owen two ‘Loop’ format sequences, topping and tailing the Standard Known.
Martin produced some commendable flying, and perhaps better than the scores were some of the flattering comments from the judges. With a field of 6 for the John McLean, each sequence took only an hour so we could have an hour between sequences to help the judging teams refresh from their stint in the sun and the pilots to prepare for the sequences, but the pace was still brisk and everyone kept impressively to time. Three sequences in one day is tough going for the pilots (especially since two sequences were unknowns), but the enthusiasm, hard work and sheer ability of the competitors produced a unanimous vote for the second unknown.
What we lacked in quantity at this event was compensated for in quality. We were treated to some very impressive flying. The high standard of flying wasn’t restricted to the aerobatic box. The competitors demonstrated a level of airmanship that was a pleasure to witness. I saw examples of consideration and courtesy to other airfield users from competitors at times when you might expect them to be under significant competition pressure…..very impressive. The fact that we didn’t have a single complaint from either the local residents (some of whom aren’t slow to pick up the phone!) or any other airfield users is a reflection of the adherence of the competitors to procedural matters and their general courtesy. So a big well done and thank you to all the competitors, you were great ambassadors for the British Aerobatic Association.
With regard to the results, Andy Hill lead the first two sequences, and while Andy flirted with the judges PZs, he kept it all together to make it three out of three and take home the John McLean trophy. Very well done to Andy in what promises to be his last outing at Standard level…….look out for him biting a few ankles at Intermediate at Elvington! Paul Elvidge in his Slingsby T67M won the silver medal. Paul showed what can be done in a slow-rolling aeroplane that is difficult to stop spins accurately. A very impressive display indeed. Adrian Mardlin was just pipped in to third place for the bronze in what was probably his last competition in the Pitts. I’m sure we’ll see more of Adrian’s talent in his new mount at future competitions.
The third sequence took it’s toll. Not surprisingly, a combination of fatigue and the multiple disused runways surrounding the box resulted in some picking up the wrong reference and suffering the penalty….ouch! And so ended a very busy, varied and impressive day of flying in lovely weather at an atmospheric airfield. Medals and ‘thank-you’s’ completed, everyone eventually departed and left me with my thoughts. My overwhelming impression is one of awe at the talent in the BAeA. If you have never been involved in organising/running one of these events you would not believe the amount of work that goes on behind the scenes (by others, by the way…not me!). The ability to juggle changing circumstances and calmly and swiftly implement contingency plans only comes with extensive experience, and Nick and Jen B have it in spades. The contest administration arrives in a box that is as close as you could possibly get to a ‘plug and play’ competition. Pre-loaded software and everything you could possibly need (with straightforward instructions).
Thank you for all the thought and hard work that went in to that. With regard to the judges, I’m always amazed that anyone is prepared to judge at competitions!…..it is really hard work. Relentless concentration, hundreds of real-time decisions on the fine details of transient events usually in freezing cold or baking sun. The fact that it was done so well is a reflection of the dedication and experience of an outstanding judging team headed up by Gary Ferriman. Every judge at this event is a seasoned competition pilot and the breaks were characterised by the judges sharing advice and experience with the competitors. And of course the judges can only do their thing if volunteers are prepared to sit and write it all down! So another big ‘thank you’ to the judges and volunteers who made this all possible (and to David Jenkins in absentia for pulling it all together behind the scenes).
Lastly a few individuals whose quiet careful application kept everything all running smoothly. Corinne Dennis quickly got to grips with the scoring computer, adapted it to our changed programme and turned the results around with impressive speed and competence. I would have been a gibbering wreck without her. Charles Kirk not only helped out on the judging line, but when he could have been resting between stints on the line, he spotted a job that needed to be done and applied himself diligently (checking the computer score sheets against the judging sheets). This was the sort of initiative that made the day. The unsung heroism of a thousand thoughtful deeds. Ian Scott was the calm reassuring voice of experience that was always available when help was needed with unfamiliar tasks and key decision points. A steady hand on the tiller! I’ve heard a few people use the expression that the BAeA ‘punches above its weight’. With the talent, expertise, experience and dedication I saw this weekend I can see why that is the case. Thank you to you all, it was a privilege and a pleasure to be part of it……..Oh, and I was only joking about Yorkshiremen taking the p155 by the way! See for yourself next year :^)
Contest Director
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