This event clearly demonstrated the adage of “be careful what you ask for – you might get it”.  We had around 30 pre-registered contestants in all classes except advanced this year.  

Basic was the largest with 16 pre-registered, followed by a great showing in Sportsman with 10, Intermediate had three and we had the pleasure of two Unlimited entries (Thanks Mike and Don).  

Lee and I really appreciate all the advice we received from Mike and the other experienced fliers that helped the event run as smoothly as it did. Two flight lines were operated for both days with little problems.

The weather was totally fantastic for Saturday’s rounds and we only suffered two mishaps to a couple of the Basic competitors. Sunday was another matter though, we started out with an hour rain delay. Due to the weather and low ceiling the unknowns for intermediate and Unlimited were not flown Sunday as planned. The safety of the aircraft was of utmost importance to all. We did have a few moments of anxiety when one of the Sportsman competitors lost sight and orientation of his aircraft when it broke into the cloud cover. After a few harrowing minutes and the expert assistance of Don McLellan, control of the aircraft was regained and returned to Kevin.  

We flew three rounds of knowns all four classes Saturday, another round of knowns in basic and Sportsman and a round of unknowns in Sportsman Sunday. 

A few “thank you’s” are in order here –

• Steve Dew Jr. was our intrepid pc operator spending the entire weekend in a cramped trailer tabulating the results and keeping everyone up to speed on the standings

• Cody Moss helped immensely running score sheets and general gopher stuff for me and Lee

• Grant MacKay for the use of his trailer and keeping the bears away from the flying site – Grant only spent one night alone at the field, even though he is not an small person himself, Yogi and friends are a formidable foe. (and Grant’s dad – the venerable DB – is no slouch)

• The folks of the Cambrian club who kept us well fed and watered and took very good care of the frequency controls.