changes to the xc league and scoring for prizes

[colin keightley]

I think we are straying a bit here.

It hasnt been said that pilots who fly other sites cant have any trophies.

What is being said is maybe those who mainly fly other sites shouldnt get ALL the trophies.

Dont know how ive got myself so involved in this as i couldnt give a t*ss, but my personal opinion is that at least part of our league should be a leveller playing field.

Might i ask Jim if you or any of the top flyers where to come away with the overall champion trophy, would you also think it necessary that you should take the xc trophy aswell, or might it be an idea to let someone else take it. For making the best out of what the cheviots has to offer.

[gary stenhouse]

flying the furthest does not make you the best pilot as this is seen in many bbpc comps. it is managing to do it on the same site on the same day not that you can have weeks on end off work and fly southern sites and tow sites. still it does not bother me as i am quite happy to compete on any level as the xc league is my only log so i put the flights on no matter what.

xc flying is a slow apprenticeship and it takes a long time to be a realy good one and this i will perservere on, as for me the rewards are worth it. but because you can fly a big xc does not say your are a good pilot, only a xc pilot.

it takes more than a big xc to be good pilot however given i think 90% clubs of club trophies and the rest is nxl i was not suggesting a massive change.

this has only come about as for one ali keeps on threatning to retract his flights from are leugue as he feels winning is hollow, though i have always thought he should keep them on. we all know that ali and now miskin have proved themselves as top xc pilots as they have always managed bigger xc flights on the same day as other pilots. however ian decided not to rejoin when he moved away as he felt t was not fair to compete against the club when he never flew any of the sites.

so what would be a good compromise would be 3 flights from northumbria sites and the rest from anywhere in the country

cheers gary

[brian day]

I, for one am not interested in any competition

How can you be interested, you're not even flying, get the porn tash out,,,,,the sheep are missing you.

Not excluding anyone, just including the ones that fly on our club sites

Oh, and I'm not interested either!

[Chris L]

If you want members to fly in the Cheviots then why not organise coaching days up there or give some talks at the meetings about the quality of flying in the Cheviots and possible XC routes and the like.
This will get a bit enthusiasm for flying our own sites.
Chris Scamells talk of flying in the Lakes was great but it doesn't encourage us to fly in Northumberland.
I think this is a better approach if this is what you want to achieve.
We've got so many trophies so give one to flying in the Cheviots like we do at X-fell.

[bill-scott]

my brain hurts

[Jan L]

speaking with the penine crew they all are on radio togeather and try and climb tageather, then once at base they leave and fan out to give the best chance of a climb

Ah so other clubs use their radios! what a good idea

[gary stenhouse]

i am not doing this to make people fly the cheviots, only to make those members who decide to fly only club sites are then not penalised for doing so. as today me and brian i think flew one of the biggest out and returns to skirwith. not bad as i had no vario though i think the lift was rather strong at times, as when you spial and loose no height you know things are going up canny

cheers gary

[John Wallis]

I, for one am not interested in any competition

Hi Brian that was Jim's quote I should have put it in brackets.

[brian day]

I, for one am not interested in any competition


Hi Brian that was Jim's quote I should have put it in brackets.

So you are interested then!!!!!!!!!

Come on John, you know you want to teach us young upstarts a lesson!!!

Or you afarid you can't get half way up the stack?

[gary stenhouse]

miller has a spare submarine wing that would be perfect for you a nice sport 3 95-115

cheers gary

[Fingers]

If tin cups is what your after then just join all the UK clubs (that alow flights from anywhere) and spend two weeks down long mynd during a good forcast, I am sure you'll win something.

Getting all puffed up about doing one of the many milk runs around the UK is comical. If you want your name down in history you need to do something never done before.

Wonder how many of the "best pilots in the club" might turn up if a prize of 2 grand was put down for a;

6k triangle at East Hill.
or
40k straight line from anywhere in the Cheviots.

For eg !!

Wonder how many might turn up from anywhere for that matter, the "best pilots" tend to be potless as thay aint got time for work so 2k could buy alot of beans to eat.

[gary stenhouse]

steve i allready have a 100 on for 50 k in the cheviots that doubles if done after 5 weekday or on a weekend.

so are are you going to get your kit out steve

cheers gary

[ron freeman]

John Wallis... now you are saying a 'hollow victory' when someone manages to fly XC from as you say crap & difficult sites for XC...

Everybody knows including me ! that XC's from small sites are much more difficult than big sites like Xfell and thats why the rewards should be more

Sp please make your mind up mate and let the club get this sorted.

[brian day]

Ah so other clubs use their radios! what a good idea

That's because they can,,,,,,the airways aren't blocked by matramonial drivvle!

Wonder how many of the "best pilots in the club" might turn up when Iput down a prize of 2 grand for a;

6k triangle at East Hill.
or
40k straight line from anywhere in the Cheviots.

Now we're talking, never mind a measly £50 or £100, there's a real business man with balls offering a pize. Nice one Steve,,,,the race is on!!
If I declair it will you double the money?

[chrisfozz]

Unlike some of the contributors to this thread I am interested.
I think we could do with some sorting out of what the club recognises and awards trophies for; having been to a few presentation nights now, it seems to me that sometimes several prizes are awarded for the same flight, I cant be precise about the details but for example, if you do a good flight an a hanglider at the weekend form a Northumbria site then you collect a couple of armfuls.
I don't want to knock the past achievements of anyone or the sentiment behind what the trophies stand for but I think we could allocate them more appropriately, rewarding both people who fly locally and further afield.
For my twoppenarth:-
I think we should have a PG champion and a HG champion, comparing the two for an overall club champion seems daft, HG vs PG - its not a level playing field.
A separate League for only flights done from Northumbria sites would be good but someone would have to put together the results which would take some time.
Top prize to remain for flights on a national basis as is reflected in our on-line xc league, introducing this as the basis for our league was the best decision we ever made. Another good move was introduction of the 1/2 league, keep this too.
Hows about a rethink on some of the others to more closely reflect the flying that goes on in the club nowadays?

[John Wallis]

Having flown for these trophies and looked after them for several years can I suggest what I see as a compromise. I really feel there is little interest in hanggliding competition indeed many of the hang glider pilots are now flying paragliders, those that aren't don't seem that keen on competition any more. If I'm wrong let me know who's still interested and when was the last time you attended an NHPC HG Competition.

The Silver Lady trophy which is for the club XC champion could be for the paragliding champion.

The Phil Trotter Trophy could be for the best XC out of the Cheviots (P.G) or (HG)

The Mike Smith trophy could be awarded to a member for an outstanding contribution to the club or best flight (Not necessary the longest flight)
(HG or PG) To be decided by the committee.

The weekender could be made for PG only

The HG annual competition shield could be changed to the HG XC champion

The Graeme Thirlwell trophy to stay as it is

The winter (HG and PG) to stay as they are

The Gary Porter trophy to stay as it is

The Cross Fell Trophy to stay as it is

Possibly this way the Cheviots still have a shield to fly for and in my opinion one of the best and the XC miles would not have to be counted up it would merely be the longest flight.

Just my thoughts

JW

[gary stenhouse]

The Silver Lady trophy which is for the club XC champion could be for the paragliding champion. (and hangliding)

The Phil Trotter Trophy could be for the best XC out of the Cheviots (P.G) or (HG)

The Mike Smith trophy could be awarded to a member for an outstanding contribution to the club or best flight (Not necessary the longest flight)
(HG or PG) To be decided by the committee.

The weekender could be made for PG only

and hanglider

The HG annual competition shield could be changed to the HG XC champion

The Graeme Thirlwell trophy to stay as it is

The winter (HG and PG) to stay as they are

The Gary Porter trophy to stay as it is

The Cross Fell Trophy to stay as it is

Possibly this way the Cheviots still have a shield to fly for and in my opinion one of the best and the XC miles would not have to be counted up it would merely be the longest flight.

Just my thoughts

agrea with all above but put a few bits underlined

[ron freeman]

The silver lady is actually 'Golden' representing 1st place. Ali Guthrie has won this four times (PG) & Gary Wirdman once (HG) hanggliders are on the comeback so give them a chance !

Hanggliders & Paragliders should always be able to compete for this covetted trophy, it should not matter wether you fly HG's or Pg's

XC flying has many variables sometimes its easy.. then very frustrating & difficult on another day.. this should be the pilots choice when & where they choose to fly, keep it simple for all to enjoy.

[chrisfozz]

Golden, silver or otherwise, the hang gliders can keep it.
I’ve never coveted any trophies I just want to beat Ali Guthrie.

[John Wallis]

Ronnie I don't need a lesson on how hard/easy XC flying is I was merely suggesting a way of updating what awards we have. It's pointless trying to flog a dead horse look how much interest you got trying to run a hanggliding competition last year, one pilot turned up. It's more than obvious HG pilots are no longer interesting in what was once our premier club event of the year. In fact I think the competitive heart of the NHPC has gone people aren't bothered anymore.

[brian day]

Oh no, I'm going to have to be serious, the atmosphere of the post has changed.

In fact I think the competitive heart of the NHPC has gone people aren't bothered anymore.

Not sure John, I think many pilots, me in particular, have seen the accidents over the past few years and realise that competition does some silly things to pepole. It has made me a more dangerous pilot when I compete. So I don't want to become involved.
This is probably because new pilots haven't been entered to the competitions scene with a person with a good head leading them.

I think this is reflected in our club competitions as well as others we have attended.

I intentionally keep away from the league on our board and shy away from comps. Because I want to enjoy my flying and not feel compelled to push my self to things I would not normally do.

Fly safe is the number one concideration for me, enjoy the moment and if it happens, then fly far, but still within the safety and enjoyment factors.

Peoples perceptions of competitions and safety need changing before we can expect them to have 'interest'

[ron freeman]

Come on Brian we are all grown ups ! its not the competitions that does things to pilots its 'ego' learn to control this a fly within your abilities and you will be OK, we have all been there including me.

There are far more accidents with casual flying and thats a fact ! also remember that the wings we fly are developed through the competition scene
which makes them safer & easier to fly

Hanggliding is without doubt on a comeback and this year and I will prove it with a cracking NHPC Club competition on Club sites

Come on Gary S get your battens out !

[Fingers]

Oh no, I'm going to have to be serious, the atmosphere of the post has changed.

In fact I think the competitive heart of the NHPC has gone people aren't bothered anymore.

Not sure John, I think many pilots, me in particular, have seen the accidents over the past few years and realise that competition does some silly things to pepole. It has made me a more dangerous pilot when I compete. So I don't want to become involved.
This is probably because new pilots haven't been entered to the competitions scene with a person with a good head leading them.

I think this is reflected in our club competitions as well as others we have attended.

I intentionally keep away from the league on our board and shy away from comps. Because I want to enjoy my flying and not feel compelled to push my self to things I would not normally do.

Fly safe is the number one concideration for me, enjoy the moment and if it happens, then fly far, but still within the safety and enjoyment factors.

Peoples perceptions of competitions and safety need changing before we can expect them to have 'interest'

I agree 100% this is very true and very possibly the most profound statement I have read from you Brian! Bloody hell what a shocker, what you been smoking? AND very nearly emoticon use free!