SHPF Blog

Apologies for the delay in getting this information relayed out - however...
Sundays brilliant task to Hawick 46km was won by Chris Harland with another 15 pilots getting into goal. Full results and track logs etc should all be available in due course here.

Monday - no task set as winds too strong for local hills though. Group decision made to not travel further North where it would have been epic.

Labels: 2009, 9th May, BPC, paragliding, status, Tibbieshiels

Well there was a quick briefing and advised leaving from here at Tibbieshiels base camp at 08:45 heading for Broughton.

Labels: 2009, BPC, May, status, Tibbieshiels

Well the rain has stopped and the wind has eased markedly - so much so that kite flying has become difficult. Dinners have been ordered and the beer is now flowing very nicely ...!


As an aside there are quite a few other attractions in the area that you should probably need to know about ..

http://www.roxburghe.net - Floors Castle South of Kelso

http://www.teviotwatergardens.co.uk and http://www.teviotgamefaresmokery.co.uk - for a tranquil garden and fine smoked food - located about half way between Kelso and Jedburgh on the A698

http://www.rbge.org.uk/dawyk - These lovely Botanical Gardens located 8 miles SouthWest of Peebles and near Stobo are well worth a visit.

For a multiplicity of other links the try http://www.visittweedvalley.co.uk

Labels: 9th May, BPC, links, paragliding, status, Tibbieshiels

Well over 50 pilots already arrived and registered with lots of waypoints downloaded. Campsite filling up and Dave Thomson gave a talk on general flying points in the Scottish Borders. Imaginery task set and GPS button pressing session followed. Current weather close to attrocious with rain and strong winds ... but the forecast is looking very good for flying on Sunday and Monday 10th and 11th May 09. Live music by "Closer than you Think" scheduled for 9pm.

Labels: BPC, paragliding, St Marys, status, Tibbieshiels

Well by the previous messages you might think that pilots are ready to be picked up by now - not so. Just a few minutes before the window opening was scheduled the wind picked up, result the task was delayed.
Quite a few paragliding pilots went free flying as there is apparently going to be quite some time before the task is started. There had been some discussion about moving site because the wind had veered a bit West but the decision was made to stay put.

Labels: 2008, BPC, open, paragliding, Scottish, status, whiteside

Gareth and Dave briefed everyone - decision to meet at T07, Abington asap.

Labels: 10am, 2008, borders, BPC, open, Scottisn, status

Well things are essentially set up, breakfasts eaten, sore heads nursed, and the first briefing occurred about an hour ago - result come back at 10am. Initial forecast looking a tad windy ut possibly flyable. Weather being discussed with great vigour and plans being set in preparation for the briefing commencing in half an hour. Rainfall forecast looking good.

Labels: 2008, borders, BPC, open, Scottish, status

Status -
4 Bob M No reports last seen in Killin boozing
5 John N In Lochearnhead heading for Ben Vorlich at 12:15
7 Paul M - on Tarmachan 1 hour ago
8 Helen G 2km 2 Killin heading North 3 hours ago.
10 Dave T Just landed North of Lix Toll
11 Adrian S - 579346 at 0917 this morning
13 Johan 590365 near Killin 9am
14 Dave H heading towards Killin at 9am 548310
25 Andy M at 10am at top of pipeline at Tarmachan
21 Scott R With Jitka - through Lochearnhead heading for Loch Vorlich
24 Peter W at 917am at 579346
28 Patrick A - heading for Ben More Hotel
30 Jitka P - 2 turnpoints done currently heading up Ben Vorlich
31 Ian W - with Paddy A also heading for the Ben More Hotel.
35 Gordon S - about to launch from lower down on the Tarmachan

Finished
Steve Nash - unofficially reached goal First
Paul Myerscough - " 2nd
Mark Leyland - " 3rd
Julian Robinson - equal 5th?
Nick Ogden - "

Retirements.
Mark Harrison, Chris Miles, Peter Shields, Billy Casson, Crawford Coulson

Labels: paragliding, position, results, scotland, status, x-scotia

Well whilst I was asleep the blog entries faded out but now it is time to catch up from roughly midnight...

06:25 Mark Leyland landed in the finishing field coming third. This was after having walked up Ben Vorlich during the night and flying down at first light. Luckily although unexpected he was spotted and the cameras caught the action - pictures soon...

Julian Robinson and Nick Ogden landed equal fourth - with lots of stories to tell- video to come.

Peter Shields and Billy Casson retired near the Killin Land Rover garage at 1:15am. Other retirements Mark Harrison, Crawford Coulson,

Loads of people staying in Killin at B+Bs.

Labels: 2008, paragliding, results, scotland, status, x-scotia

Well a few hours have passed now and it is fairly clear how the tactics are resolving for the evening.
Fist Steve Nash who is awesome - having completed all 3 turnpoints and he is expected to complete before midnight. This is an estimate after he just reported his position as just North of Killin a few minutes ago and he is still running ...

Second place - an interesting situation is becoming apparent between Julian Robinson and Nick Ogden - both have completed 2 turn points but in different directions. Julian having gone clockwise to Ben More / Tarmachan and Nick has gone anti-clockwise Tarmachan - Ben More and both have very similar distances to go and the final climb of Ben Vorlich - this will go down to the wire.....
Fourth contenders include - Paul Myrescough currently on Ben Vorlich having done Ben More.
John Newton - on Tarmachan, and a few others.....

Ladies - Both Jitka and Helen are about the same distance from the finish though both have followed completely different routes it will be very interesting to see how this pans out as well ...

Everyone else - well basically a lot of people near Killin with a few staying out on the hills overnight ...

Retirements - Matt Church, Mark Harrison, Crawford Coulson.

Labels: 2008, May, paragliding, scotland, status, x-scotia

X-Scotia 2008 Weekend of 10th + 11th May 2008 Status - GREEN

Labels: 2008, events, green, paragliding, scotland, SHPF, status, x-scotia