Events

Saturday - June 26th 2010 - Competition Day

The day started well, it was glorious weather and the wind wasn't too bad.

Ok, the lettuce pickers were out, but not too intrusive.

The Normal group at the field

There was a good selection of members turned up for the days sport and thanks to Phil and Aaron the flight area was just like the sheep - Shaun, and shawn well short, so no excuses today.

Aaron and Phil ready to duck from Stuart's Onslaught

First things first was a spotting of selling by Keith gaining some more funds for the club from Mick's Revenge! Phil adding the receipts to the account. Thanks to all who have bought the plans so far. The rest of you, get your dosh out! we've put £30 in the kitty so far, that's nearly half a member - let's get at least a full one.

Chris, willingly handing over money for the plan.

It was a good turn out with 7 competitors taking part in the proceedings.

Ian starting off on the very first flight of the day

The first event was the Power & Glide. Ian started well with a cloud bursting power and then a leisurely saunter across the estuary. He posted a good target for everyone to follow. Then somehow he beat his first target by pulling on his glider skills and taking advantage of the lift from the bank. Stuart provided stiff competition by beatings Ian's first time, but couldn't really gain on the total.

Keith & Pete share the Mereside Modellers mating Dance whilst the twitchers spy over the hedge in amazement

Alan in deep concentration for the Power and Glide

Pete's Panic biplane was suffering a little from power but couldn't match the times set earlier. Phil's opener was amazing and we all thought he had the event in the bag but the second attempt wasn't able to make it back to the field unaided and so didn't manage to maximise his points. Alan's Wot4 kept to the landing area, as opposed to last year's cabbage patch version. His second flight was a really good time, but not quite enough to get the leaders sweating. Chris was flying his trainer and did exceptionally well, but it just wouldn't penetrate the win and the times reflected that. Keith was using Mick's Revenge on it's 2nd outing with a changed prop to try to tweak a but more power. well that didn't work did it? After a full length run the plane just climbed out over the grass and managed to reach the bank but not to use the lift ending in a down wind landing after almost landing on the fence and hedge. Not a winning score!

The overall placings for the event are :-

Power & Glide

Contestant	Attempt 1	Attempt 2	Total	Position

Ian	1'50"	2'30"	4'20"	1
Phil	2'15"	1'54"	4'09"	2
Stuart	1'42"	1'58"	3'40"	3
Alan	1'23"	1'59"	3'22"	4
Pete	1'05	1'13	2'18"	5
Chris	0'49"	0'59"	1'47"	6
Keith	0'54"	0'45"	1'39"	7

How many modellers does it take to start and engine? Answer- none but lots of experts

A circle was painted on the field to provide the target for the spot landings, well away from cars and any other targets!

Ian managed a 4 pace landing which seemed pretty good, then he pulled out all the stops and raised chalk on his next PERFECT landing!

Ian's perfect "0"

Pete's not Panicking Mr Mainwaring

A definite target to beat. Stuart started with a 8 pacer and then equaled Ian's first of 4. Pete started really well with a 2 pace opener, the same or better to equal Ian. unfortunately Pete's 2nd attempt was a very good 5, but didn't help him into the lead. Phil's opener matched Pete's and put the pressure on Ian. Phil's 2nd was a fantastic and consistent 3.5 which put him into 2nd place at that point. Chris scored an excellent 9 for his first and improved with a 5 an overall good score. Alan just couldn't get the Wot4 down as it floated on and on past the spot landing 21 paces away. He then pulled a 2 pacer out of the bag. Keith followed on with Ian measuring and trying to take doll's house steps to ensure his lead. Keith's first attempt was 2.5 paces, but didn't manage the same on the 2nd which was 4, although there was a little undercarriage damage.

Keith on the measure for Cabbage Patch King - Alan

Chris very close with this spot landing

Phil skilfully negotiates his plane towards the spot

Phi's plane on finals

Mick's Revenge showing how good the plan is - £5

The final standings showed that Ian had in fact sneaked through using a some special homing device attached to his AcroWot which homed into the spot. This resulted in him gaining the top position again! Fix I hear you say and I totally agree, but how did he do it? Phil was a very good 2nd with me and Mick's Revenge coming in 3rd. Are we interested in the also rans? No ok let's get on to the next section then!

Spot Landing

Contestant	Attempt 1	Attempt 2	Total	Position

Ian	4	0	4	1
Phil	2	3.5	5.5	2
Keith	2.5	4	6.5	3
Pete	2	5	7	4
Stuart	8	4	12	5
Chris	9	5	14	6
Alan	21	2	23	7

Leading us on well to the last session of the day - the Touch 'n' Go Stuart miraculously had engine trouble and after lots of moaning had taken place convinced the Judge that he was going to take his ball home if he couldn't be allowed to be the main striker. Should have been Sunday and South Africa, but Saturday and the flying field will suffice and he magiced another plane with more than enough power to reach Southport in 23 seconds flat. Of course he did complain he had never seen it before and wasn't sure it would actually fly. Yes Stuart, we're all getting used to that one.

Stuart's 2nd plane coming in nice and low

Ian started the ball rolling and provided a very good start score of 7. Stuart (which is my plane?) went next and after a wide circuit for the first touch, then proceeded to almost loop and some touches being wingtip and wheel. It was like watching someone on the dodgems! Some how, Stuart returned a phenomenal 13 in the allotted 2 minutes. That's one complete circuit and land in less than every 9 seconds, amazing. How could Pete follow that? Well in fact very well, and had he not started off so tentatively he would have been knocking on the door. He returned 11. Phil was still dazed and dizzy watching the shenanigans when he started and still scored a good 7. Chris was next and that trainer didn't want to sink down but he managed a magnificent 6. Alan followed and the Wot4 just floated on and wouldn't touch on a couple of circuits but still managed 3. Keith, your host, followed, but due to real issues, from undercarriage problems (as opposed to someone else's - poorly engine) was allowed, by the Judge (me) to use the AcroWot. Of course I have never seen an AcroWot before let alone flown one, so I was starting from way back in the pit lane. The first unsure circuit was ok and did land, just past Tarleton I think. I then got the hang, but as I was coming in for a perfect Touch and Go, the fence jumped up and claimed my AcroWot. there was some comment about "Did I normally drive on the Continent" and other such facetious remarks. I calmly walked over to pluck the plane from a very skillful landing, and flicked the prop over. Ian was amazed - "How have you started that without a glow?" he questioned. "Because it's petrol!" was my very subservient response. He was scoring my round, you need to understand - the scorer is all important! As The AcroWot continued it's circles and touches to make an astonishing 7. Well it astonished me that it was in one piece. The results was that as expected Stuart with his turbo-charged whatever it is came in 1st, followed very closely by Pete. Third place was shared by Phil, Ian and myself with Chris beating off Alan.

Touch 'n' Go's

Contestant	Number	Position

Stuart	13	1
Pete	11	2
Keith	7	3
Phil	7	3
Ian	7	3
Chris	6	6
Alan	3	7

Mick's revenge was sweet

....and I got this badge for retrieving this plane from a field of lettuce pickers

The final positions of the overall Event was calculated by Sue (the Vauderman) Whitham, who had performed a wonderful job all day score keeping and taking photographs. Each person was allocated the number of points relating to their position and therefore the lowest points total was the winner the next 2nd and so forth. It was a very close competition with everyone performing well in at least on of the categories. the table below shows the final standings, but congratulations to Ian for a very consistent day's flying with Phil being runner-up and Stuart coming in third.

The announcement of the final placings

Congratulations to Ian for a well deserved First Place

Overall

Contestant	Position

Ian	1
Phil	2
Stuart	3
Pete	4
Keith	5
Chris	6
Alan	6