Leinster Scale Champs, June 26, 2011
Photos from this event can be viewed in the gallery -- click here.
The weather has been less than forgiving for the months of May and June, what’s new, and so it was a welcome change when the sun finally made its debut appearance at the Leinster Scale Championships held at Clondouglas, Portlaoise on Sunday the 26th June 2011. Undoubtedly the forecast of something other than showers, occasional sunny spells and more prolonged rain encouraged scale pilots to make the trip to Portlaoise, and so they did with seventeen flyers who arrived on field for the start of the all-important pilot briefing. All were truly welcome.
The seventeen scale pilots were divided into their respective classes, four pilots in Novice, ten pilots in Clubman and three pilots in F4C. First off the blocks was Clubman judged by the eminent and venerable Eamonn Keenan and equally worthy Walter Renno. All three rounds were completed on the day, it was a long day, but a thoroughly enjoyable one. Thank you Eamonn and Walter for doing the necessary and enduring some thirty separate flights from 10am to 6pm. We salute you.
The aircraft types flown in Clubman varied from the military to civilian designs. The military wing of Clubman was represented by an impressive B26 Invader with twin glow engines piloted by Melvyn Inwood and a winning Spitfire piloted by Martin Sweeney. In the civilian Hangar, the type of aircraft flown ranged from a Gypsy Moth, Sam Kirkpatrick, triplet of PC9’s, Brian Foran, Kieran McEvoy and Ciaran Elster, Yak 54, Liam Butler and a Stearman by Steve Quigley. Welcome back to Liam Butler who will liven up the competition scene.
The competition in Clubman is more often than not of the gladiator kind, albeit without the severed limbs, but also plain and simple good sport, never taken over seriously, just enough to make it an enjoyable and memorable. The usual challenger for first place, Kieran McEvoy CD, suffered an eye irritation from floating bog dust or other debris, a complaint well reported by another scale pilot who has made it known that repeated glow engine failures are symptomatic not of poor tuning or old methane, but the dreaded floating dust. Seemingly it’s everywhere.
In the events, the accolade of first place deservedly went to Martin Sweeney who scored 3297 points, second place to Steve Quigley with 3128 points and third place to Brian Foran with 2944.50 points.
The class of F4C comprised three competitors, Dave O’Flaherty, Paul Byrne and Paul Fetherstonhaugh, and which class as with Clubman were obliged to endure the blustery conditions which prevailed in the morning rounds. This wasn’t a problem for Paul Byrne with his gas powered Cap, the aircraft sliced through the stiff breeze, unlike the Cherokee and Beaver of the other two pilots, who found it bit of a struggle with strong blowback on the downwind leg. Paul Byrne topped the chart and deservedly came first, followed by Dave in second place.
The Novice class presented some interesting aircraft types, from a Cosmic Wind flown by Graham Dwyer, a Piper Cub in WW2 markings by Philip Bowes, a Pitts Python by Ger Kilbey and a Stearman by Joe O’Sullivan. The Cosmic Wind represented the only electric aircraft in the competition and which stood and endured the pace of ten manoeuvres.
The debate continues around the longevity of li-po or other cell powered aircraft, compared against the power source of glow and petrol powered aircraft. Undoubtedly some diehard members feel the only place for a cell motor is in your washing machine with your missus at the wheel. This is a bit unfair, and those same be grudgers who are reminded of the reliability and precision of the cell motor are keen to respond with surprising alacrity such words as – “ You’d never hear a bleedin Spitfire go like that mate, no smoke, no nothing, nothing at all but a whoosh. Get on with your electric nonsense”.
The novice pilots are really not novice, but expert flyers who have taken the plunge into competition flying, and are categorised as such novice pilots for a two year stint and then fast tracked to Clubman. This doesn’t augur well for existing Clubman pilots who will be aware some very high scoring advanced novice pilots are coming their way to claim the coveted gold, silver and bronze. The scores tell it all. Joe O’Sullivan came in first place with his Stearman and achieved the second highest score in the competition at 3256.50 points, Graham Dwyer in second place at 3065.50 points and Ger Kilbey in third place with 3021.50 points.
A special thanks to all pilots who travelled and participated in a great day of scale flying, our CD Mr Kieran McEvoy who organised and ran the event with panache and flair, Judges Eamonn Keenan, Walter Renno, Steve Quigley, Steve Elster and Martin Sweeney, Denis Lowry our excellent scorekeeper, Seamus Foy who expertly cut and prepared the runways, Aoife Elster for her traditional first class burgers, salads and finger food – the BBq aromas wafting the air are always a wonderful magnet for hungry pilots, Mick Murphy for supplies of fresh water, milk, snacks, tea and coffee, Paul Byrne for photography and video work (See our gallery at Laois for some ) and to all Club members of Laois MAC who gave a hand. A very big and well earned thank you for another brilliant day.
| PILOT | CLASS | ROUND 1 | ROUND 2 | ROUND 3 | STATIC | FINAL SCORE | PLACE |
| MARTIN SWEENEY | CLUBMAN | 1521.0 | 1641.0 | 1656.0 | 3297.0 | 1st | |
| STEVE QUIGLEY | CLUBMAN | 1512.5 | 1574.0 | 1554.0 | 3128.0 | 2nd | |
| BRIAN FORAN | CLUBMAN | 1324.0 | 1418.0 | 1526.5 | 2944.5 | 3rd | |
| STEVE ELSTER | CLUBMAN | 1422.5 | 1331.0 | 1510.5 | 2933.0 | 4th | |
| LIAM BUTLER | CLUBMAN | 1200.5 | 1253.0 | 1476.5 | 2729.5 | 5th | |
| SAM KIRKPATRICK | CLUBMAN | 1197.0 | 1234.5 | 1202.0 | 2436.5 | 6th | |
| PAUL FETHERSTONHAUGH | CLUBMAN | 1138.5 | 1183.5 | 667.5 | 2322.0 | 7th | |
| CIARAN ELSTER | CLUBMAN | 968.5 | 1114.0 | 1028.5 | 2142.5 | 8th | |
| KIERAN McEVOY | CLUBMAN | 1574.0 | 563.0 | 2137.0 | 9th | ||
| MELVYN INWOOD | CLUBMAN | 1193.0 | 1193.0 | 10th | |||
| PAUL BYRNE | F4C | 1614.5 | 1527.5 | 1602 | 4743.5 | 1st | |
| DAVE O'FLAHERTY | F4C | 761.0 | 687 | 1448.0 | 2nd | ||
| PAUL FETHERSTONHAUGH | F4C | 1211.5 | 156 | 1367.5 | 3rd | ||
| JOE O'SULLIVAN | NOVICE | 1638.0 | 1618.5 | 1567.5 | 3256.5 | 1st | |
| GRAHAM DWYER | NOVICE | 1550.0 | 1495.5 | 1515.5 | 3065.5 | 2nd | |
| GER KILBEY | NOVICE | 1277.0 | 1485.0 | 1536.3 | 3021.5 | 3rd | |
| PHILIP BOWES | NOVICE | 804.0 | 1266.0 | 2070.0 | 4th |
Photos from this event can be viewed in the gallery -- click here.