Hi All
My start to the 2012 F3F season was put on hold when on Saturday evening when putting my gear on charge I was just checking the charger when I bent over and felt my back go. At the time it didn't seem too bad but as the evening drew on it got progressively worse.
After scrambling out of bed on Sunday morning it usually takes me around twenty minutes to load the car, it took the best part of an hour. I was still being optimistic that I could fly, but stopping on the way up to the slope to get some supplies (Jaffa Cakes) getting from the car to shop and back, it was becoming blatantly obvious that walking back to land was going to be a real problem.
That possibly could have been manageable if we had been on the Ice Cream slope as forecast, but there was more west in the wind than had been expected putting us on the westerly of Mickey's. I have taken a tumble a few times walking up to land on this slope in the past so the idea of falling over riding around in pain and watch my last flying model plummet into ground sort of made my mind up to sit the centre for the day.
Thanks to everyone who jumped in to help out in my predicament and we soon had the course up and ready to go. Although there was quite a high wind speed averaging 45 mph with one gust hitting 57 mph where was quite a bit north in the wind which was always going to make it a very tricky day to master.
So strong winds and crossed conditions so it was no surprise that Mike Evans took the first round flying his Alliaj as they seem to handle these conditions so well with a 39:92. Joel West took second spot in the round with a 40:07 just pippin Martin Newnham who had a 40:70 both flying Freestylers.
Mark Southall was looking set to take round two with a 38:09 with his trusty Skropion until Joel came to the centre and found a 34:01 from absolutely nowhere to win the round and record the fast time of the day. Mike Even was third with a 40:38.
Round three again saw Mike Evens take control of the situation with his Alliaj to take the round with a 38:06. Joel was the only other person to go under 40 seconds in the round to take second place with a 39:87. Simon Thornton was third with a 40:06 also flying an Alliaj.
Round four saw the wind getting quite crossed by now and Martin carved out a very solid 40 seconds dead to win the round with Simon just behind him with a 40:14 and Mike Evans third with 42:47.
By round five the condition were becoming really crossed and very close to not being race legal. Simon took the round still flying his Alliaj with 41:30 just beating Joel who had a 41:36 and Mark who had 42:74.
By now everyone was feeling quite exhausted so we decided to stop for while. The wind was also swinging more to the north which really meant a move to the Ice Cream slope but there wasn't enough time to get over there and have another round so we called it day.
A big thanks again to everyone who helped out especially Martin, Simon and Joel.
Although it had been quite a mixed bag throughout the day there were a couple of pilots who had been very consistent.
However, it was Joel West sizzling 34 second run that sealed the day putting him into first place, with Simon Thornton second and Mike Evans third for the day. Martin Drewett also deserve a mention flying his first F3F in very difficult conditions got his PB down to 48:07 once he started to find the bases.
So that's the 2012 season underway for some of us then!
See you all in a month's time and all the best
Andrzej
Round 3
| ||
1
|
Joel West
|
3949.41
|
2
|
Simon Thornton
|
3861.55
|
3
|
Mike Evans
|
3807.13
|
4
|
Martin Newnham
|
3727.67
|
5
|
Mark Southall
|
3725.10
|
6
|
Ian Mason
|
3104.51
|
7
|
Martin Drewett
|
3025.54
|
8
|
Stuart Brooks
|
2761.58
|
9
|
Rob Runyeard
|
2225.36
|
10
|
Tony Robertson
|
2005.53
|
11
|
Roger Hillman
|
725.55
|
12
|
John Treble
|
595.82
|
League after two Rounds
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1
|
Simon Thornton
|
1952.16
|
2
|
Martin Newnham
|
1943.86
|
3
|
Mike Evan
|
1892.42
|
4
|
Ian Mason
|
1600.81
|
5
|
Rob Runyeard
|
1354.76
|
6
|
Joel West
|
1000.00
|
7
|
Mark Southall
|
943.21
|
8
|
Andrzej Tabero
|
898.22
|
9
|
Paul Stubley
|
771.65
|
10
|
Marin Drewett
|
766.08
|
11
|
Mike Place
|
731.76
|
12
|
Stuart Brookes
|
699.24
|
13
|
Tony Robertson
|
507.80
|
14
|
Roger Hillman
|
183.71
|
15
|
John Treble
|
150.86
|
