UHPC

UHPC AGM 2013

The Annual General Meeting of the Ulster Hang Gliding and Paragliding Club, took place at The Dunsilly Hotel, Antrim on 17^th November 2013.

Committee for 2013/14 was elected as follows:

Chairman: Ian Cross

Secretary : Ian Fraser

Sites Officer: Bertie Kennedy

Treasurer: Maurice McBride

Safety Officer: Steve Hill

Air Liaison Officer: Mark Piggott

Chief Coach: Tony Conway

In addition:

Ian Haslett and Phil Barron volunteered to help with sites issues;

Dave Tweedie agreed to cover coaching matters in the absence of Tony Conway;

David Wiggins agreed to act as accounts auditor;

Maurice McBride is to continue production of the club magazine; and

Walter Hoy and Willie Kane to look after paramotoring issues.

Subsequently Colin Dowey kindly agreed to source presents for landowners; Donal Hamilton volunteered to deliver presents to landowners at Mayobridge site as last year; and Alastair McMaster volunteered to arrange the club annual dinner.

Amendments to the club constitution as agreed at the AGM have now been incorporated in a revised UHPC Constitution now available in the members' area of the website.

FIRST KNOWN CIRCUMNAVIGATION of the MOURNES by PARAGLIDER

Leading "parapensioner" Danny Young flew from the Carmeen, Mayobridge site to Newcastle, Co.Down on 19 June 2013, thus making the first known unpowered flight between these points via a southerly route over and round the Mourne mountains. Details of this impressive flight are at http://uhpc.co.uk/leonardo/index.php?name=leonardo&op=show_flight&flightID=59.

Successful UHPC 2013 XC Ulster Open Sat 25th and Sun 26th May2013

Some cracking flying by the brave souls who were happy (I think!) to take off in strong and blustery conditions. All who chose to fly got airborne - and back - safely and given the less than ideal conditions, flights from Boviel, Dungiven to the north coast, or near it, were achieved. Those who appeared to be waiting for the perfect thermal had impressive flights without leaving the hill, but congratulations to the pilots who fought with every scrap of lift all the way over the back.

Thanks are due to Tony Conway for directing operations; to Donna his wife for the first class food - best we've ever had at the Open; to Ian Cross for heading up the organisation of the event and to all who went on retrieve journeys, especially Drew McLaughlin. It was good to see so many turning up for the event, including Rafal and the boys from the South of Ireland and individuals are to be congratulated for making their own decisions about whether to fly or not.

Results - courtesy of the worthy winner, Mark Piggott:

 Many thanks to our sponsors of the Ulster Open - we really appreciate your generosity:

Also known as: Simon Murphy's Flying Circus

UHPC Annual Dinner - 29th March 2013 @ 6:30pm

The craic was mighty at the Annual (Christmas!) Dinner at the Dunsilly Hotel, Antrim, which was faultlessly organised by Gary McKie who seems to have secured the job for next time and was rewarded with a bottle of appropriate medicine along with the appreciation of everyone for his efforts.

It was good to see the ladies well represented, with newly qualified Club Pilot Alastair McMaster's wife Eveleen along to keep an eye on him!

It was also good to see Alan and Katya de Tourtoulon who had made the pilgrimage from Dublin to spend the evening with us. Alan managed to sneak a couple of hours' sub-zero airtime at Shane's Hill the following day as reward.

 
 Club Chairman Ian Cross paid tribute to Davy Smyth, one of our most enthusiastic members who recently passed away.

Club trophies were awarded to deserving recipients Tony Conway and Michael Knight, with Best Newcomer Gavin Rabbett unable to be present to collect his.

As the bar was closing, the last few stragglers adjourned to the foyer for a final chinwag before drifting off home.