06-01-2009
16 - 21st August 2005, Rouen
42 crews, 7 nations and 8 different helicopter types gathered at Rouen-Boos airport in Northern France for the 12th World Helicopter Championships, hosted by the Federation Francais de Giraviation.
Led by Chief delegate John Matchett and Arno Glover, Team Manager the British team arrived well prepared and in a confident mood on Monday 15th August, directly from a final training weekend. In the team were pilots who had competed previously at World Championships as well as first time competitors and new pairings.
After registration and welcoming ceremonies on Tuesday, the competition began in earnest on early on Wednesday with the precision flying event. Nick Pugh and Marc Condon flying a British Army Gazelle started the entire competition.
The precision flying event involves manoeuvring the helicopter at a constant height around a square pattern over the ground. The helicopter must always fly facing forward and are requires both sideways and backwards flight. Finally the aircraft must land precisely on a finish line. Points are deducted for failing to maintain the correct height, navigated the course and the landing.
With over 40 crews to compete there was plenty of time for each crew to rehearse the course in their minds and to watch other crews as they took their turns.
The first day of any competition is often tense as each team tries to transfer the skills learnt in practice into a competitive performance. It is also the first time to see the quality of the competition and to assess the challenges of the week ahead.
Appeals and challenges to various rules also contributed to a stop-start day that all team members were pleased to have behind them, although the dinner was overshadowed by the publication of the provisional crew placings, which caused further disagreements and protests.
For the Precision, Slalom and Fender events, the Hayward Aviation / HeliAir Limited hospitality trailer was sited directly in front of the competition area, giving the team members a perfect base from which to watch all the competitors; to cheer on team mates and to relax before and after their competition slots; to discuss timings, course layouts, penalties, appeals and tactics with fellow crews and team coach Tony Johnson.
Running the hospitality trailer was a team, led by George Heritage and supported by a team of loyal partners, families and friends who had come along to support the British Team.
With the large number of crews only the scores of the top 3 crews in each country's team are counted towards the final result, but British team crews were only told at the end of the 4 days if they were actually a member of the scoring team. Because of this team competition and support was excellent throughout the entire championships as the team strove to do its best every day.
The following morning the crews were up early to attend a pre-Navex briefing, in hazy sunlight. Once again, the army crew of Nick and Marc were again the first crew away on this demanding exercise.
The Navex exercise requires excellent navigational skills (modern navigational aids are not allowed), accurate timings and complete concentration as each crew must complete a number of tasks en route, including entering a designated search box where the crew must identify 10 random symbols marked on the ground.
At every checkpoint and at the finish line each crew must arrive at their exact pre-determined time or incur time penalties. Finally, having crossed the finish line the co-pilot must drop a skittle through a small target on the ground.
When each crew was completed their run, they were taken to a nearby chateau and kept in quarantine, unable to communicate with other team members until the event was completed.
John Jackson ("JJ") and Gary Cooper posted an excellent result coming 5th overall in this discipline with a score of 394.3 out of maximum score of 400. The top 5 teams in this event were separated by only 2.4 points. In 6th place Caroline Gough-Cooper and Imogen Asker continued to impress, in defence of their 2003 Ladies World Champion title.
The day was rounded off with a reception at the Civic Centre in Rouen, as guests of the Major of Rouen and dinner in a local restaurant.
For the British judges Pat and John Richardson, Nick Hawes, Julian Darker and Roy Harford, the Navex was a particularly demanding day, as they were deposited around the local countryside at various marker points before the first competitor set off and were only collected once the last team had flown by.
After 2 days of fine weather, conditions deteriorated on Friday with the Slalom event at Rouen-Boos airport. The Hayward/HeliAir hospitality trailer became a vital refuge from various cloud bursts during the day.
The Slalom event comprises two elements; manoeuvring a bucket of water, suspended on a rope between 12 gates fixed to the ground and the "landing" of the bucket on a target table once the course is completed. Points are deducted for each missed gate, time delays and the positioning of the bucket on the target table. Points are also lost for any water spilt.
With the running order of the crews reversed it was a chance to see Kevin Cinnamon and Geoff Weighell and Russell Harrison and Paul Sanderson lead the way for the British team around the gates.
Strong performances from the Army Gazelle piloted by Ron Watkins and Jeff James saw the British team continue to challenge for second team place with the French and German teams. By now the dominant Russian team were already pulling clear of the other teams, displaying great skill in manoeuvring the enormous MI-2 helicopters.
With just the final day to go all the teams were entertained at a chateau west of Rouen. A very long coach journey, there and back, overshadowed the evening's entertainment although at midnight the entire GB team sang Happy Birthday to our team doctor, Dr Gill Jenkins.
The final team event on Saturday was the Fender event, where the co-pilot has to drop 3 external loads (boat fenders) into 3 barrel shaped containers within a limited time period.
Once again delays in setting up the course and disputes at the crew briefing delayed the start until 11 am but with the overall positions beginning to become clear it was important that all GB teams continued to perform.
Excellent performances from David Monks and Jonathon Penny and Martin Rutty and Simon Lichenstein, along with good runs from other team crews were rounded off by the final British crew Andrew Taee and Mike Buckland.
With nothing to do but wait for the judges final scores and result, the GB team enjoyed the afternoon watching the freestyle competition.
As the teams relaxed it was also a chance for all the crews to mingle with old friends and new acquaintances. Mingling with the smell of jet fuel and the noise of the crowd the team, supporters and guests enjoyed a traditional British BBQ between the heavy rain showers. Throughout the week Mick Peake had taken on the role of GB team Chef producing an endless supply of food, drinks, wine and beer, cocktails and Pimms to all who joined the GB team in the hospitality trailer. If there was an award for the best team Support team, the GB team would have been the clear winner.
On Saturday night a Championship dinner was held in another chateau and during the course of the meal the results were announced.
As was expected the Russian team successfully retained their World Championship title. Caroline Gough-Cooper and Imogen Asker retained their title of Ladies World Champions, beating the Russian ladies team for the second championships in a row. Overall, more GB teams (6) were placed in the top 20 than from any other nation.
As the evening ended and the teams dispersed the mood of the team was one of both disappointment and satisfaction. The 2008 Championships is already the next challenge.
As the team sponsors Hayward Aviation Limited was delighted to be able to support the British team by providing the hospitality unit, a team minibus and a financial contribution. It was undoubtedly the case that these back-up resources greatly enhanced the team's overall performance and while it was a disappointment for all that the team only finished 4th, Hayward Aviation Limited is proud to have helped both Caroline and Imogen retain their title and the whole GB team.
For further information regarding the 2005 World Helicopter Championships and the British team visit: www.whc2005.info or www.whc2005.com.
Results
Team Results
- Russia - 3,640.2
- France - 3,421.3
- Germany - 3,281.8
- GB - 3,213.3
- Switzerland - 1,754.0
- Belarussia - 1,673.3
- Austria - 1,644.2
GB team positions
- Caroline Gough-Cooper / Imogen Asker - 1,133.64 6th overall
- David Monks / Jonathon Penny - 1,042.59 11th
- John Jackson / Gary Cooper - 1,037.11 12th
- Martin Rutty / Simon Lichenstein - 1,016.19 13th
- Russell Harrison / Paul Sanderson - 980.88 14th
- Nick Pugh / Marc Condon - 969.73 15th
- Ron Watkins / Jeff James - 884.49 22nd
- Kevin Cinnamon / Geoff Weighell - 882.39 23rd
- Andrew Taee / Mike Buckland - 821.70 30th