The final BMFA league event of the year was in danger of being a complete washout, the weather was about to take no prisoners, and we had added to our potential misery by making the Saturday a ‘Clinic’ day. 2 days of rain - surely not?

We approached Horcum with a degree of trepidation, the climb from Pickering often changes from sunshine to showers, or worse still, mist! Saturday started of the worst still way. A thick layer of mist making visibility nil. Nothing more to do, but sit it out.

Well, the weather Gods must have felt pity on us, as the mist slowly lifted and the sun came out, a south wind came up, let there be flight!

The course was set up and the Clinic duly started. The format of the day was to be based on our normal practice day, each Pilot getting 3 flights from one launch. In theory ‘crowing’ through between each flight That was soon abandoned, and maximum height gain between rounds being the aim, come on, it’s a practice day after all.

Andy Ellison had brought some walkie talkies, and with the buzzer men armed with this means of communication, critical comment soon flowed. Hopefully everybody gained some benefit from the banter, and after 9 rounds ( yep no rain, or none to cause any serious hold-ups ), the serious bit was to follow.

For the final round each pilot had to nominate the time they would get, and the pilot nearest his nominated time would win. Great fun, Pete Bailey taking the honours, with Graham Reed second and Andy Ellison Third.

Could we repeat the weather trick for Sunday? Well nearly, the rain stayed away most of the day, but that superb South wind we enjoyed on Saturday, turned a little stronger with a tad too much west in it, giving rise to some bumpy conditions.

Still as always the best Pilots coped well with the difficult conditions, and apart from a break for rain in round five, the day ran smoothly into the setting sun with 7 rounds completed. For Results Click here

Looking forward to our Winter league series, and hope to see you all there.

Pictures at Knewts place and rc-soar