To many people the Shropshire Aero Club airfield at Sleap represents some sort of nirvana, which my dictionary defines as “a place or state characterized by freedom from or oblivion to pain, worry, and the external world”. Well maybe that’s a bit strong … there certainly was a bit of pain dished out to the Advanced pilots on Sunday, but then nobody said that this stuff was easy and we all take our medicine like good aerobatic pilots should.

Anyway – there was a good fine array of entrants until quite close to the event, when one of the Beginners and a couple of Advanced pilots withdrew for one reason or another. Those that remained raring to go included first-timer Pablo Martinez fresh from Adrian Willis’ training system plus a few at Standard who were either similarly first-timing or renewing their acquaintance after time out from our niche in the motor-sporting arena. The Golding-Barrett event has also been one of the few where the originating family still makes an annual pilgrimage to award the silverware, but sadly Veryan Golding-Barrett joined the great majority in February and so arrangements had been made for Bryher and the extended family to attend.

The great British weather had something to say about that however, all those present on the Saturday morning thus enduring several hours of frigid / enforced inactivity until we deemed that the cloud-base was acceptable, and despite low temperature and occasional cloud-bashing moments by some we ran right through until well after 7pm to get Pablo and all the Standard pilots flown twice and the Advanced crowd once with their Free.

After their Known sequence it was Paul Murphy heading the Standard brigade by a few percent with Stephen Evans back in third slot striving to get to grips with his newly acquired Laser, but by the time the Unknown was flown his efforts were making all the difference and a swift jump to the head of the queue resulted. Pablo’s second running of the Beginners Known sported a pretty wriggly stall turn which had the judges scratching their pencils a bit, but then of course he still won / came last … delete whichever is appropriate. Most of the judges and pilots managed to collect themselves together to take over a local restaurant for Saturday eve’s meal, and by all accounts quite a few tall tales were told. Quite right too.

Sunday morning did start very well, the early JB dog-walk being in fine and clear weather, but of course by briefing time it was showing the usual signs of change – no doubt all those tonnes of water so cheerfully sloshed about the Shropshire countryside on Friday afternoon driving much of that. Delay, delay … maybe by midday, then maybe by 1300, then miraculously when 1400 arrived we were all good to go. Unfortunately a few competitors had other plans or places to be at by then, so just a half dozen stalwarts braved the rather daunting Advanced Unknown. It didn’t look that awkward, but the mid-sequence roller caught one or two napping and the final multi-roll figs 8 to 9 top line leading to a push-down half loop and 540° roll into the 8 of 8 required proper planning to prevent the prospect of pretty poor performances. Again – nobody said that this was easy, but for sure one or two lessons were learned the hard way. Smiles all round however, and our oh-so-experienced chairman was still in the box seat.

Lovely place, excellent hosts, b**dy cold weather, and in pilot land when the going got tough the tough did indeed get going. Many thanks to everyone who braved the elephants and provided the essential support to those who flew, and a similar number to pilots who tackled their tasks with all the usual panache and charm. Well done particularly to Pablo, Stephen and Alan for worthy performances at this treasured event and in such pleasant surroundings. See you all next time!