Dales event at risk!

[Gary Jackson]

It is now just a little over 4 weeks before the first event in the Dales. The number of pilots registered for this event, as of 10^th March, is only 12 and so we have to make a decision about the viability of this round very soon.

 

As it stands we can’t run this competition series with the pilots numbers currently registered, as the expenses will eat into the reserves to a point where next year’s organisers will have nothing left in the kitty.

 

We appreciate that times are hard for many people and the expense of the travelling to and from the events is considerably more than the event cost. The weather has not been very kind to us in recent years and as a contributing factor we are not surprised by the number of registrations.

 

In an effort to keep this event viable we are going to make a decision concerning the Dales event next weekend and another decision, for the SE Wales event, at the beginning of June. We will have to cancel these events if pilot numbers don’t swell considerably in the next few days (months for SEW).

 

We need to make the Dales decision earlier rather than later, as we need to let the owners of the Dalesbridge know of our decision.

 

At this stage we want to keep the Peaks event as a going concern and hopefully a better summer will swell the registrations.

 

Gary & Simon.

[Anthony Pickering]

Gary, unfortunately the date clashes with a DHPC club trip to Algodonales which was arranged prior to the BPCup dates.  Even so that would have added. I guess,  only 3 or 4 more to the enttrants list
 

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From: gaza...@gmail.com
Date: Sun, 11 Mar 2012 09:03:17 +0000
Subject: [BPCup] Dales event at risk!
To: bp...@googlegroups.com

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[Gary Jackson]

It was changed to these dates because of the LCC.

[TOM KANE]

Agreed on all points!.

 

Tom.

 

 

----- Original Message -----

From: aeros

To: bp...@googlegroups.com

Sent: Wednesday, June 13, 2012 11:11 PM

Subject: [BPCup] Re: Dales event at risk!

I posted this on pgforum. I'm posting it here too to widen the audience; it may also go to Skywings. The net result of continued inaction is zilch!

 

This posting is an attempt at a partial resurrection of the BPC …… before it dies with barely a whimper of support. It’s been on the UK comps Calendar for a lot of years and is one of the last remaining and only UK based major series. It has merit, potential and deserves better …… I don’t feel it should be allowed to fade away with little comment and no effort made to revive it.

Putting aside the underlying issues – and weather is only one of a number of fundamental reasons why the support isn’t there. I’m suggesting the following to try and salvage at least one of the two remaining rounds.

• A cut off date for paid entry to each round. If there’s a cut-off date for cancellation it has to precede that. (If the LCC had had no cut off date this year the numbers would have reduced by 50%).
• Some promotion to ‘big’ it up. It may be too late for the SE Wales round but not the Derbyshire round. Make it an attractive proposition.
• The Derbyshire round is a 7 day camp. That would make it a major event and almost equal to half of the previous year's possible flying days. Go for that round whatever the numbers. Commit openly to it now and have a cut off date 10 days before the round.
• Get rid of the food element; have a proper retrieve system.
• Reduce the entry cost slightly
• If necessary run at a loss and eat into reserves if it means the BPC can be sustained this year in some form.


I’ve had some good times over recent years at the BPC. Not everything is measured in flying days and sunny skies ……… admittedly they help a lot. My own view is that seven days in the Peaks in late summer could be memorable ….. one of the best and longest flying comps ever held in the UK. Our great British weather drives me demented too ……… it also provides some great days; and why shouldn’t they occasionally co-incide with a flying comp? I suspect (some I know) have, like me, held off payment because we have no idea what’s happening ….. if anything. I would appreciate clear exec decisions.

My main proposal is (again and briefly):

• cut off date on the SE wales round
• Commit fully to the Derbyshire round regardless of numbers and cut off for entry strictly by 16th August.
• Promote the Derbyshire round via Skywings/Club circular to their mags and any other means.

Finally, this posting is not to encourage a debate on why the BPC is unsupported, I feel the main thing now is to get some life and urgency back into it for 2012. Clearly I want it to go ahead ……… commitments and positive suggestions along those lines are welcome.

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[Mark Riches]

I totally agree

Inspired again! have just posted the opportunity of a week flying the peaks with retrieves arranged on our club fbook page. If most clubs could raise 2 or 3 pilots to enter it would soon become viable again. Plug it on your club website or social media & lets see if we can get it going again.

 

Do it now!

Cheers

mark the brewer

----- Original Message -----

From: aeros

To: bp...@googlegroups.com

Sent: Wednesday, June 13, 2012 11:11 PM

Subject: [BPCup] Re: Dales event at risk!

I posted this on pgforum. I'm posting it here too to widen the audience; it may also go to Skywings. The net result of continued inaction is zilch!

 

This posting is an attempt at a partial resurrection of the BPC …… before it dies with barely a whimper of support. It’s been on the UK comps Calendar for a lot of years and is one of the last remaining and only UK based major series. It has merit, potential and deserves better …… I don’t feel it should be allowed to fade away with little comment and no effort made to revive it.

Putting aside the underlying issues – and weather is only one of a number of fundamental reasons why the support isn’t there. I’m suggesting the following to try and salvage at least one of the two remaining rounds.

• A cut off date for paid entry to each round. If there’s a cut-off date for cancellation it has to precede that. (If the LCC had had no cut off date this year the numbers would have reduced by 50%).
• Some promotion to ‘big’ it up. It may be too late for the SE Wales round but not the Derbyshire round. Make it an attractive proposition.
• The Derbyshire round is a 7 day camp. That would make it a major event and almost equal to half of the previous year's possible flying days. Go for that round whatever the numbers. Commit openly to it now and have a cut off date 10 days before the round.
• Get rid of the food element; have a proper retrieve system.
• Reduce the entry cost slightly
• If necessary run at a loss and eat into reserves if it means the BPC can be sustained this year in some form.


I’ve had some good times over recent years at the BPC. Not everything is measured in flying days and sunny skies ……… admittedly they help a lot. My own view is that seven days in the Peaks in late summer could be memorable ….. one of the best and longest flying comps ever held in the UK. Our great British weather drives me demented too ……… it also provides some great days; and why shouldn’t they occasionally co-incide with a flying comp? I suspect (some I know) have, like me, held off payment because we have no idea what’s happening ….. if anything. I would appreciate clear exec decisions.

My main proposal is (again and briefly):

• cut off date on the SE wales round
• Commit fully to the Derbyshire round regardless of numbers and cut off for entry strictly by 16th August.
• Promote the Derbyshire round via Skywings/Club circular to their mags and any other means.

Finally, this posting is not to encourage a debate on why the BPC is unsupported, I feel the main thing now is to get some life and urgency back into it for 2012. Clearly I want it to go ahead ……… commitments and positive suggestions along those lines are welcome.

 

 

On Sunday, 11 March 2012 09:03:17 UTC, gazandwiz wrote:

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