Cambridge University Gliding Club

27-28 June saw members of CUGC flying at Bicester Airfield home of Oxford University Gliding Club in our annual varsity match. The weather was good, in fact it was almost too warm. Having got our site checks out of the way we started flying the competition. After a couple of failed get-aways from the launch we all had a good flights. However scoring that evening showed that Oxford were already significantly in the lead. The weather on Sunday wasn't quite as good and we were unable to close the gap.

It was a very enjoyable weekend gliding and I would like to thank OUGC for making us feel so welcome.

On Saturday 20th September, one of the most hard fought competitions of the summer was finally completed. Gliding varsity happened at last!

The competition was due to happen way back in June, when a full team from Oxford came up to Gransden to join us for a weekend of flying. However, the weather was against us and we sat in the clubhouse watching the rain and low clouds. A few members of each team were able to stay and fly on the Monday, with 2 scoring flights made by each team. Current scores; Oxford 213, Cambridge 261.

Further attempts were made to organise a rematch throughout the summer vacation, but weather or availability let us down. And so, the teams reconvened on this bright, sunny Saturday, with not a cloud in the sky (not so great for thermals!). However, the forecast looked promising, so we all rigged and towed out, then sat around wondering who would be first to go. The Oxford team, Seb and Philippa, had their check flights, and Graham took a launch in CU, but nobody stayed up for very long.

 Adam launched in the Discus, and somehow managed to find the weak lift in the blue. He was soon climbing away, and so I decided to follow him in CU. We both made respectable scoring flights, though the day was still young. next to fly were Seb, and then Philippa in CU. Seb did very well, with a height gain of over 3000ft, and at that point in time had the highest scoring flight....

Never fear, silver C pilots are here! Graham in the Discus, and then Peter B in the Pegase out-soared us all, putting Cambridge firmly back in the lead. Peter had a particularly spectacular flight, with an overall height gain of almost 6000ft! Well done to all the team, with special thanks to our trusty reserves Kate and Brendan.

Overall scores: Oxford 396, Cambridge 558

Yey, we won!!! Thanks to everyone for all your efforts.

Becca 

"Rise above the rest" - RAF Advertising slogan, and the League's new motto.

About the League-Ladder

This year brings an exciting new competition to the world of CUGC: a Cuppers League! Flights are made in accordance with the Varsity rules, plus a few additions, given below.

Each college's scores are summed throughout the season, and the college with the highest total by the summer vacation wins! As does the pilot with the highest single score...

Results

Congratulations to Graham Bell (Jesus College) for pretty much destroying the competition.

The league is now closed. Last updated 04/08/2008 

Five Top Scoring Flights:

• 17/04/2008: Graham Bell - 142pts
• 23/05/2008: Martin Hughes - 83pts
  
• 22/04/2008: Martin Hughes - 62pts (incl. time penalty)
  
• 14/03/2008: Graham Bell - 45pts (time only)
  
• 27/02/2008: Graham Bell - 44pts (time only)

College Scores: 

1. Jesus College: 324pts
2. St. Catharine's College: 234pts
3. Wolfson College: 92pts
4. Trinity College: 26pts
5. Fitzwilliam College: 17pts
   
6. Trinity Hall: 13pts

Cautions:

• Peter Buchlovsky (29/05/2008) - For thermalling over the final turn. Kudos for optimism (after a mighty 15 minutes of flying), but not a great example to set to us peons ;-)
  

Rules

1. For the purposes of scoring the rules shall be as the Varsity match, more details here.
2. Flights may be made at any time during the 'season', which shall end at the summer vacation
3. Flights must be made from the winch
4. Flights must land at the starting airfield
5. Flights less than 10 minutes shall be unscored
6. Circuits and approaches shall be flown as normal

Breaches of the rules will be dealt with by disqualification of the affected flight, with the exception of rule #6, which may result in disqualification for the whole season (at the discretion of the adjudicator)

Scoring

Submit logger traces to mch46 for scoring. Someday, an automated system might appear here.

After a false start in May Week due to weather we finally made it down to RAF Bicester yesterday to fly our annual competition. After suffering through a morning's weather so bad the temptation was to shift to a spot-landings comp the clouds eventually broke and it became soarable (just) at about 2pm. With very difficult conditions both teams found it extremely hard to make significant height gains and most flights fell well short of 35 minutes (our set flight time for the day) let alone the 50 required by the original rules! In the end though, a trio of strong performances from Nick Laux (flying a K8), Adam Spikings (K13) and Peter Buchlovsky (K8) sealed the day, with us eventually winning by 112 points to 85.

A special mention to Nick who took the longest flight of the day and also the largest height gain (26 minutes and 800 feet) but thanks to everyone on the team for competing, to everyone at WGC for letting us turn up and fly, and last but not least to the OUGC team who provided good competition and good company!

The 2007 Varsity Team was:

• Martin Hughes (Capt)
• Nick Laux
• Adam Spikings
• Peter Buchlovsky
• Rebecca Ward 

We're going to Bicester to (hopefully) beat Oxford in our annual Varsity match. Let Martin (mch46) know if you're keen to fly or you might be missed off of the team list! More details nearer the time.