Hallo Alistair,

First off Werner let me congratulate you on your command of English.

thanks, but I think you should be glad only to read - and not to hear me
speak :-)

When writing, I have all time I need to use a dictionary, e.g.
http://dict.leo.org/ende was very helpful.

My input to this
discussion was mainly aimed at pointing out that HB is a 'difficult' site to
fly from.

But adding a handicap may have the positive and wished effect to make a
competition more interesting and / or to enlarge the challenge for the
competitors, isn't it?

Presumed there was an appropriate briefing, I don't see this must be a
dangerous problem.

The pundits whose flying I criticised made no allowances for this
in my view and by flying carelessly had the potential to cause an accident.
I felt as a responsible instructor at the club concerned that I had no
option but to bring these'experts' to an understanding of the risks they
imposed to fellow pilots. That's all I was trying to do.

Allright, if you see a potential risk and the possibility to avoid it
think I would do so either; err - perhaps a bit more reluctant,
according to my level of experience.

The people who
accused me of being power mad, and lumped all instructors in that category,
do not deserve to have the pleasure given by our wonderful sport. I have no
doubt that there are good instructors and not so good ones but sure as hell
we were all examined by the BGA Head Coach before we were turned loose to
teach other pilots.

Oh, I understand your anger, but I think we shouldn't expand the
discussion to this point - thread is big enough and this might just
burst it :-)

Werner