Highs and Lows: This Is England: North South Cup 2013

9 May, 2013

The North South Cup, 6-9 May 2013 will go down in history as the biggest weekend in British paragliding. It saw the British Declared Record broken by 13 pilots, with numerous other 100+ km flights from the Milk Hill area of Wiltshire, UK. Cross Country’s Hugh Miller reports

'Flocks of seagulls at base, and a cloudstreet all the way to the coast'. Between 3 and 6pm, conditions were absolutely classic, with cloudbase at over 6200 ft. Despite light tailwinds, pilots managed to race hard towards goal. Photo: Al Wilson — ‘Flocks of seagulls at base, and a cloudstreet all the way to the coast’. Between 3 and 6pm, conditions were absolutely classic, with cloudbase at over 6200 ft. Despite light tailwinds, pilots managed to race hard towards goal. Photo: Al Wilson

Friday
Lots of pilots fly to the foot of Devil’s Dyke from Rybury (120 km). Steve Senior comes from France, wins the day going 122km flying a borrowed glider, sit-up-and-beg harness, red All Stars and his work overcoat. What a star. Meanwhile Mike Cavanagh and Alex Coltman push north of London airspace to show what’s possible that way. It’s a strong westerly, and several pilots struggle to get away properly. Steve Etherington gets a little too close to Terminal 5….

Saturday
Blown out.

Sunday
A 100km goal is set in Milton Keynes, and 12 pilots reach it, again from Milk Hill. With a 4,000ft base, light thermals, it’s classic English flying – very similar to Governador Valadares. Senor Steve Ham graces us with his presence. In the evening Jocky Sanderson comperes the XC League prize givings for the last two years – Mike Cavanagh and Barney Woodhead clean up.

Monday
This turns out to be the biggest day in UK paragliding history. An ambitious 170km UK record goal is set at Peterborough, and pilots launch in light winds and strong thermals at Golden Ball at 11.30am to give it a go. Thirteen pilots make it, arriving within 10 minutes of each other as long shadows are cast behind Peterborough cathedral in the evening. Several others go over 100km and set personal bests.

Photo gallery

Climbing out from Golden Ball, one of the UK's most sensitive sites – it's owned by Lady Rothschild who kindly gave us permission to fly both days. Photo: Mike Endacott — Climbing out from Golden Ball, one of the UK’s most sensitive sites – it’s owned by Lady Rothschild who kindly gave us permission to fly both days. Photo: Mike Endacott

On glide over the back - conditions were a little scrappy, with a lower base and weaker climbs, for the first 30-40 km. Goal at 170 km seemed a long, long way away. Photo: Al Wilson — On glide over the back – conditions were a little scrappy, with a lower base and weaker climbs, for the first 30-40 km. Goal at 170 km seemed a long, long way away. Photo: Al Wilson

Gaggle flying in the UK - farming out and finding the best lift makes for more efficient flying. Photo: Mike Endacott — Gaggle flying in the UK – farming out and finding the best lift makes for more efficient flying. Photo: Mike Endacott

Boom: at 1pm, the day switches on. Flying down the ridgeway, some 40km into the flight, base lifts to 5000ft. Photo: Al Wilson

Just as climbs got good and pilots started shifting up the gears, a big blue hole developed around Didcot power station. The lead gaggle pushed on hard, but the conditions took their casualties. Craig Morgan struggles to find a climb low down over the cooling towers. Photo: Colin Hawke

Half an hour later pilots arrived over Didcot at base and had an easier time of it. Photo: Mike Endacott

'Flocks of seagulls at base, and a cloudstreet all the way to the coast'. Between 3 and 6 pm, were conditions were absolutely classic, with cloudbase at over 6200 ft. Despite light tailwinds, pilots managed to race hard towards goal. Photo: Al Wilson — ‘Flocks of seagulls at base, and a cloudstreet all the way to the coast’. Between 3 and 6 pm, were conditions were absolutely classic, with cloudbase at over 6200 ft. Despite light tailwinds, pilots managed to race hard towards goal. Photo: Al Wilson

By 6.30pm, climbs slowed from 4-5 up down to 1-2 up, and patience was needed to crosswind slowly and gingerly towards the final goal at Peterborough. Photo: Hugh Miller

At 6.45pm, after one last top-up, 13 pilots crossed the line within 10 minutes of each other, led by Adrian Thomas. It was a surreal moment, after seven hours of flying. This photo is of Steve Etherington. Photo: Hugh Miller

Emile Van Wyk, Adrian Thomas and Jim Mallinson were among the first in

The lucky 13 in goal, setting a new British declared record… but it was only to last a day. From left to right: Phil Colbert, Jim Mallinson, Simon Twiss, Adrian Thomas, Steve Ham, Steve Etherington, Kirsty Cameron, Mike Cavanagh, Guy Anderson, Richard Bungay, Miha Razinger, Emile Van Wyk and Hugh Miller. Photo: Hugh Miller

The next day, Mike Cavanagh, Barney Woodhead and Steve Ham reset the goal record with a 177 km flight into Wales, also from Golden Ball. Barney and Mike went on to fly over 200 km! Photo: Barney Woodhead

Proof that they don't work in the north: Mike, Phil, Helen Gant and Barney with their haul of trophies from the XCLeague. Photo: Barney Woodhead — Proof that they don’t work in the north: Mike, Phil, Helen Gant and Barney with their haul of trophies from the XCLeague. Photo: Barney Woodhead

Postscript, 16 May 2013: Despite the record number in goal, and numerous 100km+ flights, Big Monday was marred by several pilots clipping airspace. The result was three goal pilots had their flights cancelled from the UK’s XC league. The day still scored an impressive 6,710 points overall, with the average flight scoring 108 points, the equivalent of a 108km straight-line flight.

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