Grand National day but thankfully no protesters on the Dunstable course, and not forty but a more manageable eight runners. As usual, the competition was for Sports level aerobatic sequences, (one Known sequence, one Unknown) flown in K21 gliders, open to all for the medals but the lovely trophy to go to the top-scoring Sports competitor.

The field was made up of five old hands, two first-timers and last years' winner Jack Jenner-Hall, who could only be there for the Saturday and therefore flew (very nicely!) H/C.

Day one started with rain, turned to low grey clag, then very gradually improved. We had the usual delayed briefing and hourly updates until huzzah!...three o'clock and off went the first launch.

The northerly wind was light enough to allow us to use our west run, and the judges' view of the flights in the box was with the wind from right to left.

The Known sequence contained a typical mix of Sports figures but with a bit of a "gotcha" in the middle where quarter-clovers come before and after a cross-box stall turn...the first Clover can go either way but the second definitely needs to come out in the right direction. The sufferer of that Homer Simpson "doh!" moment, (and the subsequent hard zeros for the figures entered the wrong way) was Dave Gethin. A shame because he flew beautifully otherwise and still managed an overall 66% despite that handicap...we all sympathise!

The weather was kind and even improved later so everybody finished the Known, but too late to start flying the unknown.

At the end of day one the surprise leader was debutant Alex Phillips, whose first ever competition sequence scored 80%...outstanding! Close behind were Szymon Bartuś, Steve Hardy, Sally Walker and Rolph Overvliet. Merlin Ohta, our other newbie, made a re-start, losing enough height to have to miss some figures, but flew safely in a good position and stayed smiling.

A good evening at the Old Farm Inn and Sunday morning, miraculously, was flyable straight away! The forecast overcast turned out to be well above the box and we had tons of time. Anxiety-free, for a change.

The standard of aerobatic flying was impressively high, as reflected in the winning score of 82% and all the top five over 70%. A brilliant sequence by Szymon and a minor lapse by Alex led to them swapping top and second places and Szymon Bartuś coming out winner...well done, Polish team soon!

Sally had an excellent second flight, just beating Rolph into bronze position, and Steve must have found some sink because he suffered low penalties and dropped to fifth. Alex Phillips got the silver, but also the truly well-deserved Dan Smith Memorial Trophy. A wonderful competition and we hope the first of many....Nationals coming up in September!

Allen Kefford, our LGC stalwart of aerobatics, very kindly came to present the medals and trophy....and we were able to hold the ceremony outside, in the sunshine...not in the rain..huzzah again! Many thanks, as always, to the judges who gave their time and endurance to make the event possible. Charles Baker (chief) Martin Sandford on the Saturday, Rod Hervé and Paul Conran ...and to all at London Gliding Club who helped to make it run so smoothly.

Andy C