Competition Enterprise 2008 North Hill  - Report & Photos

North Hill is undoubtedly the home of Competition Enterprise, a gliding competition devised by the late Phillip Wills and John Fielden to stretch the skills and minds of glider pilots.

The Devon and Somerset gliding club welcomed the pilots and organisation for the thirty fifth competition from 5th July to the 12th July 2008.

The weather was not kind with a low cloud base, torrential showers and a very brisk wind most of the week, seven club members entered flying five sailplanes, Simon Leeson and Mark Courtney flying the club’s own DG505 (JZK), Andrew Mugleston the club Junior (FZF), Martin Woolner his Cirrus (477), Phil Morrison and Malcolm Chant the ASH25b (711), Ron Johns his ASW20 (611) and Steve Westlake in his Discus (FER).

The total entry list composed of 32 gliders totalling about 100 pilots and crew with an ex world champion and many experienced competition pilots.

Five flying days where flown in conditions that would not normally have seen any cross country flying. During the first few days Simon & Mark in the DG 505 and Steve Westlake appeared to set the pace!   Launching early from the front of the grid they seemed to lead a somewhat reticent pack behind them.  As one pilot later said, “when the DG505 launched it shamed me into taking a launch myself , I would have otherwise missed what turned out to be a very interesting flight!” Frome that point onwards Simon & Mark were referred to as the Dukes of Hazard or Terrible Twins!

Day one saw the North Hill pilots accounting themselves well with Ron Johns coming first using his local knowledge of the sea breeze fronts, which are a feature of soaring from North Hill.

As each day passed the weather became even more challenging resulting in many field landings. Towards the final two days the lead was between Ron Johns and visiting Yorkshire Pilot Lindsay McLane Flying a Ventus BT (LM).  The penultimate day ended with Martin Woolner occupying 3^rd place with Simon Leeson & Mark Courtney snapping at his heals.

The final competition day on Saturday saw pilots attempting tasks to either the West or East with a 5.00pm cut off, to try and get all competitors backs to the club for the evening party!  Lindsay McLane produced an excellent flight on the last day while Ron’s luck seemed to run out!  The winners of the final day were Simon Leeson and Mark Courtney in the DG505 with a flight extending from Crediton to Poole and back – Martin Woolner landed near Compton Abbas which allowed the Duke Boys to steal the overall 3^rd place spot.  Ron was sitting proud in 2^nd place just 28 points behind the final winner Lindsay McLane.  Martin’s performance with a final 4^th position was particularly notable in a week which saw the weather as the main adversary!

What an excellent result for the club as a whole, who would have thought it at the beginning of the week.   The Enterprise Party saw the presentation of all the usual trophies.  A special mention should go to Ron Johns who was also presented with the John Cadman Trophy  for demonstrating exceptional “enterprise”!

The party and prize giving  was held in the hanger on the Saturday evening and we all had the chance to thank all the organisers from the Competition Enterprise Committee and the DSGC.

Looking forward to Enterprise 2009

Ron Johns