Welcome to the British Hang Gliding Competitions web site.
Within these pages you will find information, Competition News, results and various other pieces of useful information relating to the BHPA hang gliding competitions
Its Primary role is to keep UK hang glider pilots informed about what is happening where, when, and keeping a historical record of those events, both home and abroad.
Who?
The comps-panel are responsible for organising national championships in their discipline, selecting national teams and overseeing all other competitions.
What?
From results from the UKNXCL, inter club competitions, and various other means, pilots are encouraged to take part in National Competitions. From these results pilots are then selected and encouraged to participate in international competitions
Where?
There are usually four competitions run by the Hang Gliding Competitions Panel annually; three of these form the British Open Series . occasionally we also apply for one of the BOS meets to be sanctioned by the FAI.
These comps normally take place in the dales, Mid wales, and sounth wales areas.
The other is our National Championships which is also run as an international open championship under FAI (Federation Aeronautique Internationale) rules. Our nationals are always sanctioned as an FAI Category 2 competition and the results are used in the FAI WPRS (World Pilot Ranking Scheme) rankingsThis Comp is always abroad in Europe somewhere.
Favorite places are Larange and Les Alps in france, Ager in Spain, and Monte Cucco in Italy.
Why?
By the processes involved in encouraging Pilots to fly in these competitions, and the exchange of knowledge in advanced flying techniques, pilots learn to get the best out of their gliders, and themselves. Due to these training techniques employed, the British team has, over the years been rather successful in International Competitions. 2007 was a prime example of the success that can be achieved
2007 World Champions
Back row left to right: Gary Wirdnam; Richard Lovelace; Dave Matthews; Robin Hamilton
Front row left to right: Carl Wallbank; Bruce Kavanagh
The British Hang Gliding League was conceived by Brian Milton, not just as a competition series to decide the national champion but as a training ground for world beating pilots. It was not long before the results began to justify his vision.
It was 1977 when the first UK Hang Gliding League took place and it was a close run event. At the final in Wales the pilots had flown in poor conditions for three days, including fog, to complete slalom, 360 and spot landing tasks. Johnny Carr led going into the final round, but Brian Wood emerged as the winner after miraculously completing an astonishing fourteen 360s in a thermal! In an earlier round, Bob Calvert had flown 17 miles from Llandinam on a Hiway Scorpion, marking the beginning of XC competition tasks in this country. The pilot list from 1977 was impressive.
The League went on to become the model for other countries' national championships, the springboard for many internationally respected pilots' careers and the breeding ground for several victorious British teams. Once described by John Pendry as 'the hardest competition in the world' to win, the League, though changed almost out of recognition over the years, remained a tough, demanding and respected competition. Eventually the demands of the international competition scene made attendance at such a series difficult to achieve and the league split into a single meet national championships and the British Hang Gliding Series - which retains many elements of the original League concept.
A full list of national champions appears on the Alvin Russell trophy
Mike Atkinson, Robert Bailey, Paul Baker, Roger Black, Tony Beresford, Bob Calvert, Johnny Carr, Dale Clothier, Chris Coleman, Lester Cruse, Peter Day, Ashley Doubtfire, Graham Driscoll, Bob England, Mick Evans, Jeremy Fack, John Fack, Tony Fuell, Steve Goad, Dave Goepal, Miles Handley, G. Headon, Graham Hobson, John Hudson, Chris Johnson, M. Leader, Graham Leason, Dave Lyne, Mick Maher, Paul Maritos, Ken Messenger, Roger Middleton, Norman Millhouse, Mike Roberts, Mike Robertson, Paul Robinson, Ray Sigrist, Graham Slater, Mark Southall, Frank Tarjanyi, Julian Thomas, Roger Wates, Richard Ware, Dave Weedon, Brian Wood, Simon Wootton, Dave Worth.
Sponsors
Sponsorship is constantly sought after to assist in the costs involved in competitions, all of whom have to dig deep into their own pockets to take part in the competitions; this is more important than ever for the 2009 season.
Last year we were suported by:
We are extremely grateful to them but do need support for the coming season.
If You would like to support UK hang gliding competitions by way of sponsorship, please contact our ku.oc.aphb|snoititepmoc#.rotanidro-oc pihsrosnops
