The Tiger Trophy - 2011

CD's Report

The Esso Tiger Trophy is the oldest of BAeA’s competition trophies, donated by The Esso (“put a tiger in your tank”) Petroleum Company in 1959. (The Elwyn McAully Trophy followed in 1962). For that reason it bears a LOT of names, most of them renowned (although the first was one John de Milt Severne?), and for that reason pilots covet the prospect of adding theirs. (The closest I came was second place in 1988…but as we know “the plaque for the alternates is in the ladies room”!). Criteria for winning have varied over the years: at one time it was the Standard Known sequence followed by a closed throttle spot landing. It duly became an open contest of all levels with the award going to the highest percentage score at whatever level, this adding the attraction of a Standard pilot thus beating an Unlimited pilot. We all like medals, so “class” winners asked that they be awarded distinctions in their own categories, so that now the event has evolved to embrace four sub-contests: Standard, Intermediate, Advanced and Unlimited.

Which brings us to Sherburn in Elmet in 2011, with 32 entrants albeit only 25 challengers. Statutory briefings were conducted by Eric Marsh as CD and Nick Buckenham as CJ; the Airfield Operator briefed later. It is always good to have Peter Macintosh at a contest, for he has a remarkable ability to source uncannily accurate met reports wherever he happens to be. Today it included high cloud with showers, which is just what we got. A false start at 0940 by number one Paul Stanley was repeated successfully at 1050, and after that it was a clearish run throughout the day until Gerald Cooper finished at around 1630. In order not to interrupt the contest it had been agreed that hors concours entrants fly last, and they completed around 1730.

Contest Director Eric Marsh conducted the brief de-brief and awards ceremony (with due appreciation to the many who contribute to the success of BAeA events), with locally volunteered Anne Mansell making the presentations to the several winners.

On a personal note, the highlight of my day was a revalidation flight in Cas Smith’s immaculate S2B. It had been over 18 months since I had last flown but, like riding a bike, it is amazing how everything just comes back. Amazing too how aeroplanes vary: a previous revalidation had been in a glass cockpit DA 42 Diamond Twinstar (VERY nice!), but most recently I had been flying my Vans RV4: after those a Pitts is VERY different, with lots of wings in all the wrong places!

The Tiger was the final contest of 2011, so now it’s a winter break with a welcome easing of the cash flow, then hopefully back for more next year.

Eric Marsh

Contest Director