1st Round of the British Open Series 2010 & The British Open

Start : 30 April Finishes 4 May Venue: S. E. Wales

The Venue:

The competition headquarters is TBC but will be in Crickhowell or Llangattock

This will be the British Open and the first round of the British Open Series, with scores counting towards the overall 2010 Series. In addition to the main event there will be a Sport Class competition for pilots of lower experience. A BHPA rating of Pilot will still be the minimum entry requirement but the tasks will be simpler, a retrieve system will be in place plus other benefits to assist pilots who wish to have their first taste of national level competition without any pressure to have the latest wings or equipment. More details on this will be published in Skywings and this site will be updated as the information becomes available.

Programme

This will be a five day competition based in Crickhowell. Waypoint upload and registration will be?????? during the evening of Thursday 29th April and briefing in the village car park (behind the Fire Station) at 9:30 a.m. on Friday 30th April ; latecomers can also register at this time. Tasks will be set (weather permitting) from Friday 30th April through until, and including, Tuesday 4th May.
Saturday onward we will aim for the following routine:

• 09:30 Provisional results available
• De-brief previous days task
• Met brief for the day
• Announcements
• Site for the day decided
• Time for the next Task Briefing on the hill.

Other Info

The cost will be £50 for those who have not already entered the whole series and payment should be sent (with a cheque payable to BHPA Hang Gliding Competitions) to Pete Coad at the address given on the entry form. All pilots should be prepared to present their BHPA card at registration and this is essential for any pilot who has not flown in the series so far this year. There will be a meal for all pilots, probably on Sunday evening. Venue TBC.

A number of South East Wales sites will be available for the competition including the following:

• Nant-y-Moel (SW)
• Rhigos (N)
• Merthyr (W)
• Abertysswg (NW)
• Pontlottyn (NE)
• Pandy (E)
• Blorenge (SE, NE, NW)
• Forest Farm

The SE Wales club web site guide is at http://www.sewhgpgc.co.uk/
Essential maps are the latest Southern England and Wales half mil air chart (latest edition), plus OS Travelmaster 7, Wales & West Midlands. Appropriate OS 1:50,000 maps of the area may also be useful.
The competition panel members responsible for this competition are:
Local Organiser: Bruce Kavanagh, mobile 07525 147348
Meet Director: Pete Coad , tele 01209 716522

FAI Sanction

As well as being a standalone comp in the British Open Series and counting for the overall 2009 Series scores, this is a FAI Category 2 competition for both Class 1 (flexwing) and Class 5 (rigids). This means that if you have a current FAI Sporting Licence you can earn World Pilot Ranking Scheme (WPRS) points and you may also meet the entry requirements for a Category 1 (World or continental championship) if you place in the top 2/3rds of this meet. A minimum of 2 tasks are required to validate a Category 2 competition and there is also a minimum number of competing pilots; this is 15 for the flexwing comp (not a problem) and 6 for the rigids - and we do not always get this number.

Accommodation Info

Those seeking accommodation may find the following links useful or lists can be obtained from the Tourist Information and National Park Centre in Abergavenny (01873) 857588 :
http://www.bedandbreakfast-directory.co.uk/default.htm
http://www.smoothhound.co.uk/
http://www.crickhowell.org.uk/intro.htm
http://www.britinfo.net/bed-and-breakfasts/TAYCS10000.htm
http://www.oakview-cottages.co.uk/index.php
http://www.pyscodlyncaravanpark.com/
http://www.selfcatering-directory.co.uk/
http://www.sewhgpgc.co.uk/
http://www.abergavenny.co.uk/