Inter-club League 2023
Wolds Gliding Club (Pocklington) 29th April - 1st May
York Gliding Centre (Rufforth) 26th May - 29th May
What is the Inter Club League?
The interclub league is a fun and friendly cross-country competition run between different clubs in a region. In our region there is Burn, Rufforth, Sutton Bank and Camphill. There can be up to 1 round per club with scores allocated to teams from each club. The winning club can go on to the national competition to represent the region.
The league is intended to introduce pilots to competition flying in a low stakes environment, meaning that when pilots move onto regional competitions, they have some experience of competition flying.
What constitutes a team?
There are 3 classes in the competition. Novice, Intermediate and Pundit. Anyone can be a pundit, the others are based on what you’ve achieved so far in your flying.
Novice – not flown a 300km flight OR finished about the bottom 10% of a rated competition.
Intermediate - Anyone not flown a 500k flight qualifying for Diamond or finished in the top 40% of a rated comp.
Pundit – Anyone can be a pundit.
A team is made up of a glider from each class. The first glider from each club in each class (each day) will be classed as the team’s glider and this will be the way that the scoring is done. If we have enough gliders to have a second club team then this will be listed as a B team. This way more than one glider can take part and will enter the class of the pilot flying on the day. So it doesn’t matter if a novice and a pundit are in the same glider during the weekend.
We have decided to allow 2 seat gliders to fly with an experienced P1 in a coaching role so bring on the next generation of cross country pilots. It is hoped that these will compete in a separate additional class and take part in the club competition too by scoring points.
Who can take part?
Any club member can take part.
If you have your own glider, then you’re welcome to take part.
We will have the club 2 seat gliders available for flying with an instructor if you aren’t yet qualified to fly cross country.
Club single seat gliders will also be available to use with CFI permission.
How much experience should I have?
For the 2 seat flying, we would suggest that those who are close to going solo or who have recently gone solo with limited cross-country experience will get the most from flying with an instructor. The more proficient you are, the more you will get to do – especially if it is a challenging day.
If you have gained at least your cross-country qualification, you may be able to use a club single seat glider to take part subject to CFI approval. Naturally, if you have your own glider, you’re welcome to take part.
How often may I fly?
If you have your own glider, there is no need to commit to fly every day. We would obviously love it if you can, but we understand that people have other commitments.
If you wish to use a club single seater, we will organise a rota to fly in the gliders. A small group of pilots will form a syndicate for a glider for the weekend. The exact amount of flying will be subject to the number of people interested and how a syndicate agrees to share it out. It is likely that you will have an allocated day to fly over the weekend and we would ask that you be on hand to help with retrieves if necessary on other days.
If you are interested in more than 1 weekend, we will try to involved you in both but this is subject to numbers.
Club 2 seat gliders for coaching will work in a similar way to the single seater gliders.
What will the tasks look like?
The tasks will be set dependent on the weather on the day. They will be around a selection of turn points aiming to land back at Pocklington. They will most likely be different sized tasks for different classes and will hopefully be challenging but achievable.
Unlike the Two Seater Competition, you will have a set task to fly and cannot change task during the flight.
Novice will have the least challenging tasks set and pundits the most challenging. This may be achieved by altering the start time or by setting different length tasks, or both.
How much will it cost?
The standard club rates for glider hire will apply and be shared out between those flying. You will have hired the glider for the day so minutes are not charged and once landed, others from your syndicate are able to fly to get the most out of the day’s hire fee. Different syndicates may choose to work the costs out differently but that is their choice.
Launches are charged at club rates. As standard, launches will be aerotow to a set height of 2000’ but if you want to take a winch launch then that’s fine too.
We are asking for a contribution of no more than £10 per pilot (exact amount TBC) to offset any costs incurred. Any surplus will be reinvested into the competition and its competitors.
What if the weather is rubbish?
Unfortunately the one thing we can’t guarantee is the weather. If it is not a day for cross country flying then we will try to offer some form of alternative. This may be in the form of some talks/briefings from more experienced pilots or the possibility of learning something different while flying locally.
Daily hire won’t be charged on a day that isn’t tasked.
What if I land out?
This happens and is part of the fun of gliding. You won’t be left stuck out in a field but it may cost you a few beers if you need some friendly faces to come rescue you.
Other pilots will be grateful of a hand too if you make it back and they don’t. Start storing up those favours for when you don’t make it back!
Learning to rig and derig a glider is also an essential skill so why not learn it the fun way too.
How to I join in?
If you’ve read this and want to take part (it’s really not as complicated as it sounds), then fill in the form at the link below or scan this QR code and we’ll sort out the rest.
