There was a “certain je ne sais quoi” different for the Don Henry and Royal Air Squadron trophies in Compton Abbas this year. Being CD for the first time on a Friday 13th, I figured all should go well, though I don’t believe in those sorts of things and was wearing my lucky pants anyway. A decent entry list with 25 pilots, 21 having finally joined us for the first briefing at 1200h. The forecast was probable rain showers and the sky didn’t look more promising either. The first aircraft could take off shortly before 2pm to “open the show” with the Sports Known sequence and a cloud base around 3,000 fts. We managed to fly the nine Sports pilots before having to find shelter under the nearest wing. David Nichols had sorted his leak (or was it on his aircraft?) and made it to the airfield just to hear me announce to the Advanced pilots they would not fly that day due to the local curfew and no signs of rain stopping; sorry David. When it seemed to improve the first Intermediate pilot due to fly next (Anthony Walsh) acted as our weather scout, not once but twice, and got a free wash for his aircraft in the process. Some pesky clouds had decided to sit and pour their content above the valley north of the airfield, where incidentally the aerobatic box is located. Eventually, after nearly two hours of interruption, flying resumed and all Intermediate pilots could fly their Free Known sequence before we called it a day around 1730h.

Saturday 14th July, Bastille Day. I felt rather optimistic driving in shortly before 8am and seeing no fog in that valley. The sky was still 50 shades of blue during the 0830h briefing and I was hopeful to catch up with the competition program, with the Advanced pilots flying their Free Known sequence first to put us back on track by 10-ish…well that was the plan. Three contestants did it before scattered Cu’s came inside the box below 2,000 fts and grounded us until nearly 1300h, when reports from local pilots and our own scout (Trevor Dugan this time) confirmed cloud base had risen over 3,200 fts. Our single Club pilot also turned up in the meantime, so Jen used her magic to produce a new flying order which prioritised the Masters and Apprentices, with heart broken Sports pilots being relegated to fly their Unknown at the end, “maybe”. The three remaining Advanced Free Known sequences were completed by 1335h. Advanced pilots were eager to discover their Unknown sequence, but time was not on our side so we scrapped that off the flying program to concentrate on the Masters (at least those pilots flying it). The Club pilot performed his first Known sequence in a Pitts S-1S somewhere near Shaftesbury, making judges’ eyes sore before 5 Intermediate pilots took to the sky for the Apprentices program, followed by 4 of the 6 Advanced pilots competing for the Masters.

David Nichols kindly provided comments on the PA for the public, always present in good numbers at this excellent venue. Trevor Dugan also stayed on the ground and promoted British Aerobatics, leading to over 2,700 hits on our twitter account (https://twitter.com/BAerobatics). Thanks to both for this great PR exercise.

With things going smoothly (Masters were to be completed by 3pm), Sports pilots could fly their Unknown sequence after a well-deserved break for the judging team. There was somedemocratically agreed last minute changes to the flying order to accommodate “fly home times”, Jen and judges were informed and I was happy to oblige, relaxed (borderline complacent) by the knowledge we could award all trophies, there was time and nothing could go wrong at that stage... I know, famous last words. Never in the history of flying order was so much confusion created for so many by so few. Two minor incidents and “return to start” tested the judges’ and commentator’s improvisation skills (as well as my sanity).Unfortunately Simon Berkeljon and Yair Yaniv were denied a chance to increase their tallydue to their “newly convertible” Decathlon (must be the Mk II; situation coolly handled by Simon, well done). Eventually all the paperwork fell in order on Jen’s desk thanks to the professionalism of the judging team led by Nick, and Alan George flew his second Club Known sequence nearer the centre of box this time, to earn his Beginners plaque and conclude the competition flights shortly before 5pm.

Results speak for themselves. A very good standard on the podium. Alan Murphy beat MaciejKulaszewski by only 15.14 points and was handed the Gunpowder Trophy by Howard Fawkes (this was a Revolution anniversary after all). Jez Burgoin came first in the Intermediate Known, though Patrick Caruth bagged the Royal Air Squadron Trophy, which was handed over to him by Simon Johnson representing the Royal Air Squadron. David Thompson won both the Don Henry Trophy (Advanced Free Known) and Masters Trophy, which were presented to him by Emma and Jen, respectively. I believed “flying football” was rather appropriate but I was put right, it’s a Golden Snitch. 

Voilà! CD did not turn out to mean “crying desperately”. I learned it requires a third psychology, a third diplomacy, a third Voodoo powers for the weather and a third mathematical acumen to fit it all in. What?...

Many thanks to Clive, Emma, Graham, Peter and the unsung workforce at Compton Abbas for having us again, we all had a great time as usual. Also thanks to the solid officials team for making this a pleasant first for me, and to the pilots for flying safely.

Rod Hervé