SHPF Blog

Just to advise that the above page has been updated with some more detail on what is happening over the coming week. Various media organisations have also been advised of what is happening with a short press release etc copied below...

Flying high over Tibbieshiels

Have you ever fancied flying high in the sky like a bird, well this week (9th - 16th May) you may well see some world class paragliding pilots doing just this. They will be up in the air just above Tibbieshiels by St Mary's Loch and maybe flying 50Km or more over the Borders. The British Paragliding Cup/Scottish Open and British Open Championships will be taking place from 9th -16th May. These top championships are weather dependent and so if the wind is too strong then these human birds may not fly. However here is hoping that there will be a very competitive and enjoyable event, with some spectacular flying. The Borders will be well represented with some excellent pilots who hope to do well in these competitions. You never know you may well be inspired to join these top fliers in the future.


For more information

What:
British Paragliding Cup (BPC) and Scottish Open 9-12th May, followed by the British Open Paragliding Championships13-16th May 09

Where:
Based at the Tibbieshiels Inn at the end of St Mary`s Loch

More detail :
The BPC is held at various locations throughout the UK during the year but this is the only round being held in Scotland this year. For more details please see http://www.bpcup.co.uk/borders.php or http://www.shpf.co.uk/shpf-British-Championships-09.php Scottish pilots competing in this competition can also opt to be considered for the Scottish Open. Currently there are 104 pilots registered for this event http://www.bpcup.co.uk/pilotlist.php

Some photos and links from last year :-
http://groups.google.co.uk/group/LLSC/browse_thread/thread/93817c7ee02b9b5e/cad783b2abc45b29?lnk=gst&q=scottish+open#cad783b2abc45b29
http://picasaweb.google.com/BobVeitch/BPCBordersRoundScottishOpenJuly13th2008#
http://picasaweb.google.com/BobVeitch/ByRikMcHargBPCScottishOpenParaglidingBroughton13thJuly08#
http://picasaweb.google.com/BobVeitch/BPCBordersRoundScottishOpenJuly12th2008#

British Open Paragliding Championships
This is the highest level free flying competition to come to Scotland for 12 years - (a FAI Category II competition) where pilots are competing for World ranking points. A competition of 3 rounds with the other rounds being held this year in July: Piedrahita - Spain and in August: St Jean de Montclar in France.
Currently there are over 50 pilots registered for this event.
http://www.pgcomps.org.uk/

There are a number of Scottish Pilots from the Borders area - perhaps one of the most significant being David Thomson who will be heavily involved in both events especially with respect to weather and flying site choice each day.

As paragliding is such a weather dependent activity if it is bad then all these people will be looking for other activities to do in the Tibbieshiels area - if you have a website to which you might want a link then please feel free to email it to webmaster@shpf.co.uk

To learn to paraglide in Scotland there are 2 schools to choose from - Cloudbusters and Flying Fever links here :-
http://www.cloudbusters.co.uk/
http://www.flyingfever.net/index.html

A Borders pilot who will be heavily involved in the site selection and or weather related decision making activities during these competitions will be David Thomson at http://www.bordercrossings.co.uk/

Regards,

Robert Veitch for the SHPF

Labels: 2009, borders, BPC, championship, May, paragliding, SHPF, St Marys, Tibbieshiels