Final Results

Yes, today scrubbed and yesterday's winners declared champions. Tim Scott had a poor start but flew a blinder through the rest of the task to come home with the fastest time. Unfortunately he took a 50 point airspace penalty which handed the prize to the team entry of Dave Watt and Derren Francis as joint winners.

I flew really well for the first half of the task but made a tactical error when out on my own which spoiled the performance...if only I had stuck to my game plan! Lesson learned?

Overall a really disappointing week due to the weather. Let's hope for better at the Dunstable Regionals in August.

Day 1 Saturday

Well, we did fly. Director set the 15s and the opens a 350 first down to the S Downs then up to Olney via Hungerford. I thought that it would be poor North of the M40 so wanted to leave 4 hours for the task.

Started nicely at 13:21 and had a good run down to TRY where the cloudbase was down 1000ft lower. Round and back but low and scrabbly into the 23kt wind to AND and up towards GBE. Had a bit of save but able to clip the GBE sector and work downwind back up to cloudbase. Had a good run up to Brill but no good climbs available. Now faced with a decison...downwind to Aylesbury and risking the line going into Luton or North under an unpromising sky.

I chose wrong and ended up under 8/8 near BUC and low. Decided to back track to the sun but didn't connect so landed at BIC. Doh!!

Relight at BIC and had an interesting and tricky run home with all the pilots who made the right decisions and rounded OLN! Well done those guys.

Tomorrow??? Don't know. Trace will go on the ladder when the web site is back.

Day 1 Saturday

Looks like we may fly tomorrow, Saturday, so back to Lasham for crack-o-sparrow's. I'll bet they set a big one to justify launching the 15s early.....

Day 1 Wednesday

Scrubbed after gridding! Director also told us to pack up and go home where he will txt us if he wants to brief on Thursday and Friday as gales and more rain is expected. Don't think I have ever been to a comp where the first 7 days were scrubbed. Maybe we will fly Saturday. On the up side, the shorter the competition the more likely I can win with a flukey day! Watch this space in case something happens.

Day 1 Tuesday

Scrubbed at 11:00. Pissing down by 13:00. More fun tomorrow!

Day 1 Monday

Hugh Brookes was very bullish but it wasn't to be. Little sun, lots of cloud, and showers delayed the launch whatever the Director said!!!

Gridded before briefing. My mum always said I was special! I had row 13 all to myself.

15Ms was set 274k then rebriefed for 158k but then finally scrubbed at 16:30. I took a launch at about 17:30 and flew for about an hour up and down a squall line that went up towards Newbury. Good climbs and runs to 3500ft. Gave me an opportunity to test my loggers and look for fields in the final glide area.

J1M on the grid

Curry and bed. Director says we WILL fly tomorrow. Many thanks to Steve Williams for his help today.

Day 1 Sunday

Another scrub. Only trouble is that today it took them till 13:15 to decide so I had a 120 mile round trip for nothing. Oh well, there is always tomorrow. Gave me a chance to sort my bug wipers out which can now be fitted properly.

More tomorrow.

Day 1 Saturday

Arrived last night, rigged, and pitched the tent.Lasham seems to have doubled in size since I was last here (at least the number of caravans has!). Dinner at The Fur and Feathers (highly recommended) with Dave Byass and Tracey then to the B&B.

Today briefing was delayed whilst the organisers pondered the weather. Despite the pondering they delayed all decisions until Midday. Then they scrubbed the 15s hoping to launch one class later. I am afraid that there is little hope of flying before Tuesday now. Will keep you posted.

Back home now.

Jim