CROOKHAM GALA 2011

Middle Wallop Sunday 8th May

After having to abandon the Gala in February due to very bad weather it was a bitter pill to swallow when we awoke to 20+mph winds on Sunday. However over 50 people, including the sport and RC flyers, turned up (thanks to all of them) and some 8 brave men entered the contest.

The sight of a fragile coupe being launched backwards in the conditions was quite breathtaking, and may I say so was the sight of Andrew Longhurst retrieving his model the length of the airfield with it behind his back flapping in the wind!! The usual "hardened" coupe flyers flew, 3 flights (there was talk of 5!, then common sense prevailed). Andrew Longhurst came close to maxing out only dropping 5 seconds and took the spoils but the two Peters gave him a good run for his trophy and bottle of wine.

Mini Vintage was keenly fought out between Ken Taylor and Chris Redrup, Chris only dropped 4 seconds in the final flight to end up in second place. Somewhat amazing was a "sport" flyer who entertained us all day with a Senator and an Ace, one or the other seemed to be airborne every time you looked up and both maxed on every flight that I saw.  He arrived at control and humorously asked" I don't suppose I can enter retrospectively can I", well no but he did receive a bottle of wine at the prize giving and encouraged to put his name down next time!

Glider was another 3 horse race between Dave Cox and the father and son team of the Ould's family. Only 10 seconds separated the trio which considering the conditions was quite amazing, but Dave took the bottle trophy and bottle of wine (that's for the wife!!).

Well the weather next year must be better (how many years I have I said that?), but we will do it all again in 2012.

RESULTS

MINI VINTAGE 

COUPE 

 COMBINED GLIDER