2007 LGC After Dinner Speech ably given by our Chairman, Roger Copley.

 

Ladies, & Gentlemen….

 

Once again, it falls to me to attempt to make you all nod off after your nose bag! – Seriously though it’s just great to see everyone once again this year! 

I must say for some of us this is the only chance we get to see each other each year, so its real nice to have a chill out,  bit of a guzzle, a nosh, & a chin-wag.

 

Casting my eye round the room I see we have a good turn out, & once again I would like to welcome everyone & especially our honoured guests. Thanks for coming.

 

I see young Mike Fox is back….Last year you knew him as Assistant National Coach….runner up….bridesmaid… or what you will. But now he is THE National Coach! The big cheese, the head honcho!

But I can't help but respect Mike, as he is the only person I know who has ever made Dave North scream in a glider (flying inverted). Seriously though I would like to offer many congratulations Mike on your appointment as BGA National Coach…well done mate!

 

When I last stood before you, I think I said that we were looking forward to some great winter soaring, but unfortunately the weather had a different idea & put the kiss of death on that particular aspiration. We ended up not flying at all for the best part of 4 months!  …………………….Me & my big mouth.

 

     Fortunately the summer (although not brilliant) perked everyone up a bit, & some half decent flying was to be enjoyed – especially by those not hide-bound with having to work for a living (mentioning no names). If you were lucky enough to be in the right place at the right time though, there was some half decent flying to be had.

 

As far as the club goes, there isn't a great deal to report. We have a number of new members (but more are required). Our glider fleet is still going strong, so not there’s not much to report on that score either – But we now have a couple of new private gliders.

 

Jan Eldem has procured a Pegasus, which he is now in the process of fettling – it will be good to see him flying it in the coming year, rather than just tinkering around with it.

 

Rose Saunders is now the proud owner of a beautiful little K6 CR, and she has been using it to great effect this year, as we might be hearing from Dave a little later.

 

Now, I might be spilling the beans here, but did a little bird tell me that Neil Frost has bought himself rather splendid Pilatus B4? ….Bargain that at £1259 quid including trailer!

Neil - for god’s sake don’t tell Kate, or you’ll never see the blessed thing again! I hope you will bring her up & show her off [- and the glider!]

 

       We were well represented again this year at the Pocklington 2 seat Competition by ‘Team Capstan’.       I think Pete Redshaw felt that he had to live up to my reference to him last year as ‘Obi Wan Kabobe’, because his ‘Team Capstan’ uniform this year consisted of a fairly dazzling fluorescent orange gillet – I assume the tactics were to blind the opposition into submission. In spite of this sartorial assault on the senses, the team started modestly by coaxing the Capstan down track, but the flight came to an ignominious end after just 2km…who was navigating on that flight?                                                                                                        ..….   But by day 5 though, he had just about started to get the hang of things.

A change of tactic was required, so he quickly coaxed the best looking co-pilot (!)  into the cockpit, and suitably motivated,  he set forth with the aim of using machismo, experience, & guile to pull off an unparalleled demonstration of  competitive soaring. (what?)

Well believe it or not – it worked!  They pair succeeded in wiping the floor with the entire field!

 

They completed the most challenging of tasks – 230km - in a very respectable average speed of 49kph.  This flight scored nearly twice as many points as the next placed ‘hot ships’ – a Janus & a DG500!   Who said women can’t navigate?

At the risk of making him (even more) insufferable, that really is quite some achievement ladies & gents, & deserves a round of applause.

 

Rumour has it that next season, he is thinking about setting up some ‘idiots guide to soaring’ seminars for jaded hot ship pilots – previous applicants need not apply, & new applicants to provide their own plentiful supplies of Bombay Sapphire.

 

       On a more sobering note, during this epic flight he very nearly snatched defeat from the jaws of victory.       Their task was almost curtailed by a challenge of the ‘weak bladder’ variety….. yes … I'm sorry to say that the occasionally forgetful ‘Obi Wan’ had forgotten to don his incontinence pants under his Jedi robes….. but un-deterred  he (remarkably for a geezer) managed to multi-task sufficiently well to fly, navigate, re-ballast the aircraft AND expedite some blessed relief,…. All without plummeting to earth in a flurry of wind & piss. ….. quite amazing.

 

That said, he was ably assisted in this endeavour, by his trusty co-pilot (Kate), who willingly volunteered to grasp his joy-stick firmly with both hands, (!) & then to steady things until he had finished. (the picture clearly shows concern about the ballast dump arrangements prior to take off)

 

It is thought that during the ensuing struggle, the ‘push to talk’ button was accidentally pressed, because, back at Pocklington Competition Control, a surprised cry was heard over the airwaves.

“…goodness me Peter........ I’ve never seen one that long before……it’s just amazing!” 

When further interrogated about this appalling RT transgression, you will be relieved to know that Kate was only talking about the length of Peter’s final glide to the finish line.

 

I will leave you now …with that tale of triumph over adversity, and trust that it will inspire you all to greater feats of endeavour in the coming year.

 

Finally I would like to thank Andy Tebay our master of ceremonies, for organising this little soiree.

 

And what about the staff at Abbey House, for laying on such a great evening. (We won't mention the puddings eh?)

 

As is the tradition, I will now hand you over to our CFI – Dave North - who will say a few words…

 

Cheers.