Pilots and Crew
The Results HEREPete - our 'new' Meet Head
The 2nd round of the British Open Series took place over the Bank Holiday Weekend in the Yorkshire Dales 22 - 26 May 2009.
Unfortunately due to not so good weather there were only 3 tasks - which was lucky for me as they happened to be on the days I was able to be there!
There were 4 flyable days out of the 5 – but only 3 were taskable. Task’s 1 and 3 were hampered by the fact that it was so windy.
Task 2 was one not to miss!!Tailbridge
The first task was from a SW site called Tailbridge which is a very easy top landable but small site with boonies over the back for miles so we had a small turn point which dragged us slightly crosswind before heading downwind in almost total grey sky – 1 up climbs, 2 if you were lucky to around ‘not very high’ ft asl. Gordon and I were together for the first climb. All I intended to do was get the turnpoint and land as it really did look pants but I got a weak one en route and stayed with it, then a wee glide to a ridge with another weak climb and then an amazingly fast glide toward the goal overtaking cars on the A66. When I turned to land I was still heading towards the goal!! It was windy but all got back on the deck ok albeit with wet feet as it was on the top of the Pennines and bog land.
Shedsy won the day flying 22.9km of the 29km task.
Task 2. Weather fell take off. WNW site but flyable round to WSW which was the 'wave' direction. A few guys took off and it did not look too inspiring as the wind was 45’ off to the hill, windy and they were not high in the blue sky. After a while a few were getting to 2000+ but then back down to low again so this was a sign that something was starting to happen.....
It was time to commit to aviation.After flying around in odd and sometimes bumpy conditions I noticed a few guys starting to speck out pointing 90’ to the hill at the N end of the valley where it opens out. Bar in and get there and low and behold a climb of 200ft-250ft pm that didn’t stop until 8200ft was reading on the alti. The views were amazing with both coastlines in view and the few cu 3-4000 ft below BUT and NO camera!
Photos by Justin Needham
After being so drunk on the view I almost forgot we were on a task and the last clock was coming up so off I went following the edge of the valley in super smooth air then a little down air to 5000ft then the next bar. I couldn’t make out if it was thermal or wave at first as it was a little choppy compared to what we had. You could see small rotor clouds forming then disappearing just as quick below so maybe I wasn’t in it proper? This went on for another 3 climbs and then I had company with Gary Wirdnam and Dave Shields (Shedsy). We glided together up to the A1 where we were now into thermal flying with very little cloud. It was amazing to see the fields of young green crop swirling away below and the air steaming in on all sides as the lift kicked off. I can’t remember ever seeing this so frequently in this country? We got a climb to 4500ft and started a glide over the top of Leeming airspace but for some reason Shedsy decided to go S following the A1. Maybe he thought he could not get over the airspace? Gary and I carried on and by now I was higher and in front by a couple of km or so heading toward my local SW site, Sutton Bank where I knew it would be working. As it turned out I didn’t even stop to ridge soar as I was 2000+ above the top so searched around down wind and found a crappy little climb which I tried to stay with but the ground falls away for a few miles and pulls the air down with it so I had a glide in very sinky air and in need of a climb I went and was rewarded just short of Helmsley with a 4up where the land once again goes flat and things start to go back to normal. This I took to 3000 and then it was an easy glide into Goal at Wombelton airfield which was built during the 2nd world war. Gary came in a few mins after followed by Shedsy. A super super day only ruined by a speeding ticket on the way back to score.
T2 - Goalfield
Bruce
Myles
Justin
Gordon and Dave
Task 3 was a frustrating day!! We couldn’t use the preferred nice hill as the club forbid more than 6 'things' flying at any one time so we went to a redundant flying site down the valley with a not too bad carry up but a crappy cliff launch with another cliff out front! The forecast was for light wind but we had strong wind. We even had to lay our gliders flat as there was so much rotor!
Graham Phipps won the day flying 34.8km of the 81.1km task.
Nappa Scar
Task 1 – Tailbridge to Eccleston Abbey – 29km
1 – Shedsy
2 – Tony Stephens
3 – Graham Phipps
4 – Rich Lovelace
5 – Paul Harvey
6 – Bruce Kavanagh
7 – Dave Matthews
7 – Gary Wirdnam
9 – Grant Crossingham
10 – Neil Atkinson
Task 2 – Wether Fell to Wombleton – 79.5km
1 – Rich Lovelace
2 – Gary Wirdnam
3 – Shedsy
4 – Justin Needham
5 – Bruce Kavanagh
6 – Myles Kynaston
7 – Tony Stephens
8 – Dave Matthews
9 – Graham Phipps
9 – Gordon Rigg
9 – Paul Harvey
Task 3 – Nappa Scar to Colywell – 81.1km
1 – Graham Phipps
2 – Steve Penfold
3 – Wayne Thompson
4 – Stewart Reid
5 – Dave Matthews
6 – Rich Lovelace
7 – Gordon Rigg
7 – Tony Stephens
9 – Bruce Kavanagh
10 – Tim King
Overall
1 – Rich Lovelace – 1869
2 – Gary Wirdnam – 1795
3 – Graham Phipps – 1602
3 – Bruce Kavanagh – 1602
5 – Tony Stephens – 1568
6 – Dave Matthews – 1533
7 – Gordon Rigg – 1449
8 – Grant Crossingham – 1355
9 – Shedsy – 1305
10 – Stewart Reid - 1264
Cheers to Gordon - Why is Gordon happy? He's going to Laragne!
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