Dates: 19th -22nd May Duration: 4 days Cost: £ 70.00 (Newcomers £60) Max Pilots: 60 Location: Green Dragon Inn Hardraw, approx 30k east of J37 on the M6 FAI Category: 2

The first round of the BPC held in the Dales, based at the welcoming Green Dragon at Hardraw Force Hawes, was faced with a marginal forecast for the opening day. The familiar routine of brief and re-brief set in but the sky looked promising and anticipation was high. For those new to the Comp scene a mentoring programme was organised and the waiting time was used to good effect with Cris Miles and Pat Dower briefing on setting up for Comps and Simon Ford sorting out GPS issues.

A late call was made for Brantside, and 40 or so pilots were quickly briefed with a 40k task to Richmond. The window opened shortly after 4pm, and a lead gaggle climbed out within minutes. The usual suspects were up there, Tony Blacker, Pat Dower, Richard Butterworth (last years BPC champion), but joined by first time Comp Pilot, Adam Ladd and Pete Logan (fresh from his first 100k). The first crux of the task was always going to be crossing Wensleydale, with the pace being forced by Tony Bradley on his Axis Venus, whose aggressive approach would lead to an earlier than planned landing at 21k. As the gaggle started to get strung out, the XC guru Phil Wallbank from the Pennines opted for a solitary route crossing Swaledale that would cost him time getting to goal. Meanwhile a second gaggle had sorted itself out including the ever consistent Tony Spirling Neil Furnidge and the talented John Murphy. The obvious route to goal across the high ground was blocked at the eastern end by Feldom firing range forcing the lead group of Miles, Logan, Dower and Butterworth into the valley. A game of chicken ensued as the required glide ratio crept down, Cris Miles took the lead and hit the bar, closely followed by Richard Butterworth. In true racing style reminiscent of Alpine tasks the final 5k glide was a test of glider and nerve on full bar, Butterworth crept past Miles to take goal honours closely followed by Dower, Ladd and Logan. The task however was elapsed time and the arrival in goal of Graham Cummins, Spirling and Murphy meant that the result wouldn’t be known until download. With 11 pilots in goal and the unlucky Ed Cleasby landing short by just 200m it was certain to be a high scoring day, a credit to the organisation and Meet Director Calvo.

Report by Cris Miles. Photos by Barbara St Aubyn and Pete Logan

See more photos from Barbara St Aubyn and Pete Logan