SPORTING north-easterly wind and less than ideal visibility gave competitors a stiff test at the Fenland Airfield aerobatic event on 27-28 April.

First time competitor Richard Verrall in his Extra 300L not only bagged the Beginners plaque but also posted a fine 70% to take third place in the Standard level Elwyn McAully Trophy too. Richard finished just behind behind on-form 70-year-old John Wicks in his CAP-10C and Adrian Willis in his Extra-200.

In the Intermediate class Fenland Trophy, Paul Tomlinson's excellent second and third sequence performances ultimately secured him the gold medal after an early lead from Chris Burkett. Simon Johnson eventually ousted Chris to take the silver medal in an all-Pitts S1 finale when the three sequences scores were  combined.

RESULTS
FENLAND 27-28 APRIL

FENLAND TROPHY Intermediate
1 Paul Tomlinson, Pitts S-1T 78.11%
2 Simon Johnson, Pitts S-1T 74.38%
3 Chris Burkett, Pitts S-1S 74.22%  
4 Luke Goddard, Pitts S-2A 71.07%
5 Richard Buchan, Laser 62.98%
6 Simon Janvrin, Pitts S-2A 61.43%

MCAULLY TROPHY Standard
1 John Wicks, CAP-10C 77.88%
2 Adrian Willis, Extra 200 74.82%
3 Richard Verrall, Extra 300L  70.30%
4 John Calverley, Yak-52 69.52%
5 James Hallam, Laser 68.71%
6 John Teesdale, Skybolt 67.17%
7 Simon Hampton, Pitts S-2A 64.81%
8 Arnd Schweisthal, Yak-55M 63.84%
9 Chas Lister, Decathlon 62.47%
10 Elise Mason, Decathlon 61.96%
11 Ed Harding, Yak-52 41.94%

BEGINNERS
1 Richard Verrall, Extra-300L 76.86%
2 David Thomson, Decathlon 70.67%
3 Paul Jones, Bulldog 53.97%
4 Mike Rennoldson, Slingsby T-67M 47.86%

WORDS: Nick Buckenham
PIC: L to R: Simon Johnson, John Wicks, Adrian Willis, Paul Tomlinson and Chris Burkett
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TOM'S BACK!

A STAR-studded line-up competed at the opening aerobatics event of the season for powered aircraft, held at Sandtoft Aerodrome on 14 April.

Fresh from early season training sessions, Tom Cassells won the Icicle Trophy for Unlimited and Advanced, proving that last season's enforced lay-off with wing spar problems on his CAP-232 hasn't blunted his skills.

Second went to fellow world championship competitor Gerald Cooper, with LOOP columnist Alan Cassidy taking third. Current British champion Mark Jefferies was a close fourth.
Paul Tomlinson won the Newbold Intermediate class after dealing with morning engine problems on his Pitts.

W: www.aerobatics.org.uk


RESULTS
SANDTOFT, 14 APRIL

ICICLE TROPHY Unlimited & Advanced
1 Tom Cassells, CAP-232 79.57%         
2 Gerald Cooper, CAP-232 75.36%
3 Alan Cassidy, Extra 300 74.75%
4 Mark Jefferies, Extra 300S 73.73%
5 Kester Scrope, Extra 300S 70.59%   
6 Gary Ferriman, Extra 300L 69.69%  
7 Julian Murfitt, Extra 230 65.00%
8 Ron Allan, Pitts S-2B 60.86%
9 Cas Smith, Pitts S-2B 57.22%   
10 Tony Maxwell, Pitts S-2B 53.24%
11 Simon Abbott, Extra 300 51.28%
12 James Brown, Extra 230 49.40%
13 Stephen Madle, Laser 47.10%
14 Tim Jenkinson, Extra 300 28.96%  

NIGEL NEWBOLD TROPHY Intermediate
1 Paul Tomlinson, Pitts S-1T 78.74%   
2 David Jenkins, Laser Z200 72.11%   
3 Richard Buchan, Laser 43.94%
4 Mark Stewart, Extra 300L 32.38%