"David Roberts" wrote in message
...
I was at HB last Saturday (6th) and witnessed the finishes
on the first competition day. The competition organisation
had set a control point about 10km from the airfield
so that the final leg was in direct line with the E-W
runway. Without exception all pilots made a 'straight-in'
finish and landing without a pull up and circuit. The
airfield's only grass runway is about 1 mile long.
I was very impressed with the airmanship of all junior
pilots in their straight-in approaches, using the radio
to agree who was landing on which side when two or
more gliders were in close proximity. It was also noticeable
that the vast majority did not have excessive speed,
over and above that which is prudent when making a
final glide from many miles out and leaving enough
energy in hand to deal with a situation of possibly
not reaching the airfield in the last mile or two.
The maturity of the junior pilots' airmanship was in
contrast to some of the competitors at less elevated
contests I have attended over many years.

I have been informed, informally, that the same procedure
occurred on Tuesday, and that there were no 'beat-ups'.
.. The loss of Neil has hit the gliding community in the UK, and much
further afield,
very severely. Our thoughts are with his family and
friends, as indeed they are with the pilot involved.

David Roberts
Chairman, British Gliding Association

Out thoughts should also be with the pilot who while performing one of these
sensible straight in approaches, hit a 12ft high obstruction that had not
been there on the previous 2 days and now has to live with the consequenses.

Basil