THE FIRST UK aerobatic competition of the 2006 season, the Icicle Trophy at Sandtoft on 8 April, was won by Mark Jefferies flying his Exxon Elite-sponsored Extra 300. Runner-up was his team-mate Kester Scrope. Gary Ferriman took the bronze.

The event lived up to its name, with a cold, biting, 25 knot wind making conditions difficult. The competition was open to both unlimited and advanced pilots. The Intermediate contest was won by James Brown in a Laser 230.

Jefferies said afterwards, "The conditions were very testing for an early season contest. Having to compensate for strong crosswinds to maintain positioning in front of the judges became a crucial factor. This adds another layer of complexity and stress to that of flying the figures correctly."
Scrope added, "It is a good start to the year for us and Exxon, and we are looking forward to a busy year of both competitions and airshows."

LOOP's Alan Cassidy also took part as a non-competing pilot, scoring third highest points, and Clive Butler, whose Extra 230 was featured in our 'We Fly Our Ads' feature earlier this year, was 6th.
The following event was The John McLean Trophy at Breighton on 21/22 April, where Luke Goddard won the Standard level, John Cooper Beginners, and Etienne Verhellen just pipped Russian Yak specialist instructor Gennady Elfimov in the Yak finals.
W: www.aerobatics.org.uk

RESULTS

ICICLE TROPHY
8 April, Sandtoft
(Unlimited & advanced)
1 Mark Jefferies (Extra 300) 67.390%
2 Kester Scrope (Extra 300) 66.100%
HC Alan Cassidy (Extra 300) 64.940%
3 Gary Ferriman (Extra 300L) 63.010%
4 Steve Carver (Extra 260) 61.162%
5 Tim Jenkinson HC (Extra 300) 60.139%
6 Clive Butler (Extra 230) 55.852%
7 Cas Smith (Pitts S-2B) 50.820%  
8 Rob Howarth (Laser) 47.534%
9 Ron Allan (Pitts S-2B) 42.938%
10 Julian Murfitt (Laser) 41.270%
11 Tony Maxwell (Pitts S-2B) 39.325%
 
NEWBOLD TROPHY
(Intermediate)
1 James Brown (Laser) 66.111%
2 Paul Tomlinson (Pitts S-1T) 63.839%
3 Simon Abbott (Extra 300) 61.004%
4 Richard Buchan (Pitts S-1D) 59.889%
5 Stephen Madle (Pitts S-2A) 55.361%
6 Peter Rounce (Pitts S-2A) 50.602%
7 David Cowden (Pitts S-2C) 49.462%
8 Simon Janvrin (Pitts S-2A) 45.400%

JOHN MCLEAN TROPHY
21/22 April, Breighton
          
Beginners
1 Jon Cooper (Yak 52) 67.342%
2 Mike Rennoldson (T-67M) 63.271%
3 John Calverley (Yak 52) 46.663%
4 Edward Burbidge (Robin 2160) 40.860%
 
Standard
1 Luke Goddard (Pitts S-1F) 71.045%
HC David Jenkins (Laser Z-200) 71.040%
2 Olly Elmer (Pitts S-1SE) 69.595%
3 Chris Waddington (Pitts S-1S) 62.228%
HC Harry Mason (Pitts S-2B) 61.862%
4 David Cavell (Yak 52) 61.343%
5 Farrell McGee (Pitts S-1E) 58.436%
6 Martin Hill (Pitts S-2A) 58.330%
7 Ed Harding (Pitts S-1) 49.035%
8 Simon Hampton (Pitts S-1) 39.899%
9 Graham Huffen (Pitts S-1S) 35.339%
10 Adrian Willis (Su-29) 30.693%
11 John Wicks (CAP 10C) 29.882%
HC Stephen Hipwell (Pitts S-1S) 25.057%
HC John Teesdale (Skybolt) 21.812%
 
Yak 52 Finals
1 Etienne Verhellen (Yak 52) 50.912%
2 Gennady Elfimov (Yak 52) 48.979%

NEXT ROUNDS
28/30 April Nathaniel Alony Trophy, Elvington see news
2/3 June Golding-Barrett Trophy, Sleap