Francis Bustard Trophy

The Francis Bustard Trophy is awarded annually for the best gain of height.

"Francis Bustard, who died last autumn, remembered the club in his will.
I don't know when I met Francis; it just seems he was always there. Quietly, lovingly, Francis seemed to turn up whenever he was needed and caused things to be done "right."
His contributions to the club were continuous. He was a contributor to the North Hill purchase deposit and when we bought North Hill (in exchange for our gliders), he lent us a Capstan.
He and I collected it from Slingsby's, towed by Phil Jefferies in the Tiger Moth. Over the Mendips we got towed over the top of a fog layer which Phil decided to dive through. At 500ft, in thick cloud, diving steeply with the Moth dangling somewhere out of sight in front of us (the Capstan had very good brakes), Francis said: "I don't think the insurance starts till tomorrow!!" There wasn't the slightest tone of panic or fear in his voice. There should have been, but that was Francis.
Francis became chairman and then president, bringing that quiet confidence, which was his hallmark, to all club decisions. He will be remembered by the BGA Executive Committee members for his contribution from 1970 to 1980.
I had the good fortune to share a Dart and then a K-6E with him. He enjoyed the air so much, which was unusual for someone who discovered it late in life.
Those of us who had the honour of knowing and loving him as a dear friend, know that he was a one-off and an English gentleman of the best sort."
John Fielden S&G April 1993

In 2023, it was awarded to Pete Startup in 230 for a flight at Denbigh on 6 October 2023, with a height gain of 16,885ft.