A hot blue day forecast and the brief started warning about the importance of safety and human factors in the heat. Chris Gill in his met brief missed the obvious reason why the solar heating might drop off early evening but a club local did mention that the pin holes in the hangar roof were great for eclipse viewing!
The task sheet was called East Coast Mainline with TPs north and south but the feeling was survival in the blue and bonus points for sea crossings/countries would be more important.
A very long, hot, grid squat encouraged DD3 to pull out but Team Hender on row 2 were determined as was Chris Gill in the Eagle with his lead to defend.
When launching proper started at 1:30 the sky was rapidly filled with gaggles as the first climbs were sought. As things settled down there was a general split between those chasing sea points and those heading inland.
Dan with the bit between his teeth had Wales in his sights and whilst struggling with numerous lows pressed on and on giving Rob a thrilling ride south!
Chris Gill and JB ground themselves into wind with Chris starting to appreciate how the lack of “legs” in old gliders makes blue conditions very hard with fewer thermals sampled. An epic scratch round the bridges and 118k OLC with some bonus TPs eventually gave him enough for 3rd on the day. A field only 30 mins away was a simple retrieve for Team Eagle.
Hender and Hender were out to test family loyalty by continuing SW… Just as the Eagle trailer was leaving Sally got news that a road trip to Long Mynd was required! The Morrisons kindly jumped in the car with her and all were safely back by 2am.
Robs account of Dan’s emotional highs and lows as they got close to but not quite to the bonus point scoring Welsh border was great and testament to Dan’s potential to be a real future Enterprise contender. – John Pursey
Results
BBB 3rd
JZK 8th
