Great Day - Great Location
It is glad tidings to report and welcome the attendance of new candidates who qualified as scale judges following this day event, Alan Humphries and Ger Curran of the Midland Club (Offaly), Michael Brophy and Kim Leahy of the Vertigo Club (Waterford).
While it is well known the Midland Club have previously participated in scale events and competition, it is most encouraging they now have two home grown judges of worthy calibre, putting Offaly firmly on the scale map with Waterford, Kildare, Wicklow, Laois and Wexford, a good nucleus in the eastern part of the country, which let's hope will extend into other counties throughout every province.
Steve Quigley and Eamonn Keenan gave a truly memorable exposition of the art in scale competition, which they do in every year, and the Scale Association and MACI are indebted to both of them for their skill, expertise and vastness of knowledge in all matters scale. Just out for the assistance of scale judges is the newly published handbook, which is straightforward and to the point, a valuable reference guide, and thanks to the scale technical committee for putting this together, and primarily the duo of Eamonn and Steve.
I don't propose to detail what was covered at the Judges course, which was touched on in previous articles, but rather wish to focus on why you the reader as a hobbyist might consider scale in competition form.
Firstly, I have no great shine for the word competition or it's associate words, which for me conjure up thoughts of homework and other forms of hardship, and or championships which is another way of articulating the concept of a competition to become the one and only scale champ. Instead of turning you on, the opposite for many is a big turn off. Undoubtedly there are hobbyists out there who are of the competition mould, and have but one motive, they fly to win and do.
In truth, the scale competitions shouldn't be perceived as a gladiator duel, and the great unspoken majority participate for a day out, get your flying slot, complete the manoeuvres as best you can, give about or blame the weather for your pear shaped loop, pray for light winds, harry the judges, check your score, denounce the reliability of your useless glow engine, watch the other folks make a mess of it, and most importantly enjoy the fun of the day, and if you place well or ok or not at all, give yourself a pat on the back and say - I'll be back.
Many thanks to the Laois Club for their help on the day, and a special thanks to our participating demo flyers, Brian Foran, Kieran McEvoy and Steve Elster. See you at the next scale event.