The Big One - The Scale Nationals
Photos from this event can be viewed in the gallery -- click here.
Overall the Summer of 2010 has been kind to Scale enthusiasts, with few cancellations if any, leaving it down to the Scale Nationals which didn't fare as well as it did in previous years from a weather perspective. What we lost in a downgrading of the weather was gained in a good turnout for all classes, six entrants to F4C, nine to Clubmans and four in Novice, some fifty seven rounds to complete in a sky painted grey with brushstrokes of different rain, which varied from perpetual drizzle to bouts of torrential downpour. This all on a Saturday morning, which cleared about mid-day, leaving open a gateway for the first flight of the day by Mick Murphy in Clubmans, and then it rained again, back to the clubhouse, and a short while later out again and Mick was airborne.
This was the pattern of the day, fly when dry and rest up in rain, and evey available moment was harnessed by our CD Mr Steve Elster who kept the contest on rails to complete one round of Clubmans, F4C and two rounds in Novice by 6pm.
The Elster family are a diligent, reliable and resourceful force, and while Steve ordered us about, his wife Aoife pampered us with hot and delicious burgers, his daughter Naoimi taking charge of the laptop for number crunching and score results. Should there be a model aeroplane heaven, then the Elsters will certainly be there, albeit Aoife and Naoimi might ask the great propeller Lord for a ticket home.
Sunday morning fared no better and rain persisted until late morning, but which then cleared up with a pleasantly warm breeze from the south west. This enabled the completion of two further rounds in Clubmans and one in in F4C and Novice. Flying continued on a constant cycle of back to back flights from late morning until 5.30 pm, and the week-end was turned around from a potential washout to a very successful and enjoyable two days of flying.
A hearty congratulations to the winners and all pilots who took part, it is you who make it what it is and should be whatever your score, a truly memorable two days, an association of like minded souls who pitched their skills against each other in a kindred spirit, and most importantly enjoyed the two days. The photographs of pilots taking their prizes from our Judge Walter Reno tell it all, it was just great, great fun. The way to go.
A word about Walter. An easy going and chatty fellow, gregarious and generous with his time, and truly scientific in his approach and advice in all matters relating to aircraft, aero modelling, techniques and practical application. Walter is without doubt one of our leading Judges, and who has highlighted from experience shortcomings in the interpretation of rules, and whose recommendations have been noted with a view to continuing improvements. By the way, Walter is not averse to the occasional bit of banter and smut, and who on reading a profane article with the dreaded word shag, duly consulted his dictionary to conclude this was coarse tobacco.
A deserved congratulations to Eamonn Keenan who with his superbly finished Piper Cub took first place in F4C, Gold and a very fine trophy, Steve Elster who in between his role as CD took second place in Silver with his Battle of Britain Spitfire and Sam Kirkpatrick who took the Bronze with a very fine Cessna. All prize winners in all classes also took home prizes of either a model stand, charger, park flyer and other aircraft and accessory goods.
A worthy trophy to a worthy pilot, the Sam Maguire of Scale went to Mr Kieran McEvoy who scored to a consistently high standard in Scale competitions throughout 2010, a trophy well deserved and well earned. Of course it doesn't stop there, Kieran took first place in Clubmans with his enduring PC9, and to polish it all off won a sturdy aluminium case in the competition raffle. Congratulations to Martin Sweeney who came in second place with his equally enduring PC9 and to Steve Quigley with his Zenoah powered Stearman.
Our future pool of scale pilots are in the Novice class, a very promising group of four rising stars, and who flew a varied line of aircraft, Graham Dwyer with a streamlined Edge in striking black and yellow colours, Pat Marnane a popular choice in a PC9, Gary Brahon with an imposing Trojan and the well known Joe O'Sullivan with a very fine Stearman. Graham came first with his electric powered Edge which cut through the afternoon winds with ease, Pat second in a fine display, Gary third with a very close score to Pat and Joe following with a spirited performance. It is always encouraging to know another team of able pilots who enjoy scale are in and on the way up.
It is customary to say thanks to all who participated, helped out and came to the Nationals, and to name but some, three cheers to our best CD ever, all ground helpers, Judges, Aoife and Naoimi Elster, John Molloy for the MACI medallions, Denis Lowry who arranged our signage, Seamus Foy and Denis for trimming the runways, Mick Murphy, Fergus O'Reilly and others who painted the clubhouse for this two day competition, Eamonn Keenan for the safe delivery of trophies, Paul Byrne for his publication of the Scale Nationals and other scale fixtures in the Laois MAC webpage and to all others whom I should have mentioned and omitted.
Lastly, should there be a gold medal for work behind the scenes, then let it be three large gold medallions, the first and second of which must go to Steve Quigley and Mark Quigley who with professional dedication and expertise judged all F4C aircraft for static evaluation and this to a high and international standard. The last gold medallion without any hesitation must then go to Finbar Constant, who has with unfailing punctuality posted on the MACI webpage all notices, articles and reminders regarding scale events and which he has done generously and with good humour throughout the year. The Scale Association and MACI are truly appreciative of all your support and work throughout, in what has been a very successful and wonderful year thus far for scale enthusiasts.
| Pilot | Class | Round 1 | Round 2 | Round 3 | Static | Final Score | Place |
| Eamonn Keenan | F4C | 1599.50 | 1663.00 | 0.00 | 1405 | 3036.25 | 1st |
| Steve Elster | F4C | 1620.50 | 1588.00 | 0.00 | 725.00 | 2329.25 | 2nd |
| Sam Kirkpatrick | F4C | 1599.50 | 1654.50 | 0.00 | 458.00 | 2085.00 | 3rd |
| Dave O'Flaherty | F4C | 838.00 | 1392.50 | 0.00 | 687.00 | 1802.25 | 4th |
| Paul Fetherstonhaugh | F4C | 1540.00 | 1688.50 | 0.00 | 156.00 | 1770.25 | 5th |
| Paul Byrne | F4C | 1625.00 | 0.00 | 0.00 | 0.00 | 812.50 | 6th |
| Kieran McEvoy | Clubman | 1657.00 | 1766.50 | 1631.00 | 1711.75 | 1st | |
| Martin Sweeney | Clubman | 1557.50 | 1587.50 | 1665.50 | 0.00 | 1626.50 | 2nd |
| Steve Quigley | Clubman | 1567.00 | 1513.00 | 1455.50 | 1540.00 | 3rd | |
| Robert Kirkpatrick | Clubman | 1474.00 | 1315.00 | 1481.50 | 0.00 | 1477.75 | 4th |
| Mark Quigley | Clubman | 1328.00 | 1449.50 | 1408.50 | 1429.00 | 5th | |
| Mike Murphy | Clubman | 1472.50 | 1367.50 | 0.00 | 1365.75 | 6th | |
| Paul Fetherstonhaugh | Clubman | 1299.50 | 1287.50 | 1432.00 | 1365.75 | 7th | |
| John Byrne | Clubman | 442.00 | 0.00 | 0.00 | 221.00 | 8th | |
| Melvyn Inwood | Clubman | 0.00 | 0.00 | 0.00 | 0.00 | 9th | |
| Graham Dyer | Novice | 1466.00 | 1508.00 | 1596.5 | 1552.25 | 1st | |
| Pat Marnane | Novice | 1530.00 | 1428.00 | 0.00 | 1479.00 | 2nd | |
| Gary Brahon | Novice | 1475.00 | 1461.50 | 0.00 | 1468.25 | 3rd | |
| Joe O'Sullivan | Novice | 1326.50 | 1452.00 | 0.00 | 1389.25 | 4th |