2015 BMFA F3F Nationals, Bwlch. 16-17 May 2015

The weather looked really quite good for day one of the 2015 edition of the BMFA F3F Nats, the mountain weather forecast for the Brecon Beacons was estimating winds of 25 -35mph from the NW which is awesome for the Icecream Slope at the Bwlch. Unfortunately the Bwlch is quite a way from the Brecons and the wind speed and direction were more like the forecast for Bridgend which was 10-15mph form the WNW which is a bit pants for the Bwlch. A challenging first day was in order in beautiful sunshine and no need for coats, scarves and Bobble-Hats!

It was fantastic to be able to take part in a competition on my home slopes whilst not filling an official role. As league co-ordinator (event organiser), Martin got us underway with a welcome and handed us over to our overall CD John Philips. John was assisted by Jon Edison and Pete Burgess. Stuart Wallace volunteered for the un-envied task of Buzzer Supremo and we also had a jury in place consisting of Mark Redsell, Peter Gunning and John Treble. The organisation and running of the entire event was brilliant.

I’d really like to organise a competition overlooking Blaengarw. It would be fantastic when the wind is W to WNW, but that is a discussion for another time….. Day one was to begin on the Icecream Slope.

The Rabble and the view of and from the Icecream Slope at the Bwlch for the F3F Nats 2015 from Clayton Landells on Vimeo.

The first five rounds were flown in varying conditions with thermals effecting the wind direction, strength and buoyancy. Some pilots coped better than others. I flew like a trollop.

Tony Livingston, Stuart Wallace, Martin Newnham, Mike Shellim and Joel West took the first five rounds, making the most of the air they received. Mike’s 37.68 with his Sting was a highlight for me from our time at the Icecream slope.

Here are a few videos of runs from the icecream slope.

Mark Redsell and Freestyler. F3F Nats 2015 from Clayton Landells on Vimeo.

Martin Newnham with Freestyler F3F at the Nats 2015 from Clayton Landells on Vimeo.

John Treble with his Rotmilan from Clayton Landells on Vimeo.

The conditions had become a bit too variable and the decision was made to move to the Westerly Mickeys slope at around 3.30pm. The move was extremely slick and enabled us to get two more rounds in before a suitably exhausted and well-spent group of pilots made their way off the slope.

Rounds 6 and 7 were won by Martin Newnham and Mark Redsell. I flew a little bit better but must have been standing with a limp because I couldn’t hit the right hand base with any confidence and nearly cut on every flight.

Most of the lads went out for a meal on the Saturday night to sample the unique delights Bridgend has to offer. I was half way through a cleanse/detox so stayed at home and missed the eye-opening fun and frivolity!

Day 2 saw us set up the course on Mickeys Westerly slope and get underway sharpish with Paul Stubley leading the way and Mark Redsell taking the round.

I had received some tungsten on Saturday and really wanted to play with my new ‘toys’ so consequently flew too heavy for the conditions all day and my times suffered. I was ‘all in’ and flying at the legal FAI weight limit of 75g/dm2! This I only realised when I got home and weighed everything! I was gambling on having at least one flight in buoyant air.

That gamble was about to pay off in the final round of the day. My pumps were gaining some significant height and energy and as I zoomed of course with my eyes wide in anticipation the shattering words “you have to re-fly” filled my ears and brought me back to earth with a thud………. I felt a bit deflated after that and found out the the SWSA timing gear had let me down. My reflight was in less inspiring air and that completed the 15^th round.

The other thing that let me down all weekend was a combination of failing to decisively hit base B and in the wise words of JP, “Fannying around on the bases”. I don’t think there was a flight where I didn’t run straight out along the sight line and have to make a correction to cross it and I had a massive, proper CUT too!

I had the pleasure of flying directly after Mark Redsell and Simon Thornton. Although they have different styles of flying, they both do two things extremely well. They make sure they aren’t going to cut and they manage the energy they accumulate very well. I’ve been learning a lot from them both and will hopefully be able to put it into practice soon!

The conditions were quite variable on Sunday which lead to some very exciting flights! Keith Wood managed to score the fastest time of competition with a fantastic 33.48 and then followed it up two rounds later with another round win and 33.64! John Phillips was a bit dejected with his 33.73 in the same round after that! 
John had a fantastic second day of the Nats and rocketed through the field from his overnight position of 11^th to finish the comp in a very well deserved 4^th!

 Martin Newnham with his Freestyler made the most of every bit of air (good or bad) and took the first podium step from the very consistent Simon Thornton who steered his Shinto expertly around the course all weekend. Simon almost took the top spot from our overall winner and I think he might have taken the title if we had flown one less round and only had one discard!

That wasn’t to be and our National champion of 2015 is Mark Redsell! Massive congrats! A brilliant display with his Freestyler all weekend.

 Keith Wood took the previously mentioned fastest time of the comp and also took the Senior National championship in a high quality battle with Mike Shellim and John Treble who both won a round each.

 

Joel West F3F Nats 2015 from Clayton Landells on Vimeo.

Graeme Mahoney. F3F Nats 2015 from Clayton Landells on Vimeo.

After having named my markers as Tony, Graeme and Martin, I was suitable obliterated by all of them and am really looking forward to seeing how I go in Scotland in June for the next leg of the F3F circus with my newly completed and maidened Willow2.