Eddie Riding Trophy Results

RAF Woodale, August 7th 1999

The Eddie Riding Trophy event for flying scale models is held every year during the Woodvale Rally, near Southport, up in the north west of England. As a first timer, I found the event rather unusual, in that the model flying is only a part of the whole event. Other attractions, apart from the radio control aircraft, which were going all day, include a large funfair, classic cars, model steam engines, cars, railways and boats, and lots of people selling stuff out of tents and car boots. Took me quite a while to find the correct tent! The models have to be put in for static judging before lunch, with the flying not taking place until 6 pm, with two hours to get your flights in. The theory is that by this time the wind should have dropped, giving the best chance of good flying conditions. This year, the wind remained strong throughout, making conditions rather hairy - in fact some people left their models in the car, rather than risk serious damage.

The competion is split into four classes - rubber, CO2/electric, Jetex and I/C power. There is a trophy for each class, with the overall winner taking home the Eddie Riding Trophy. (I don’t know how well known Eddie Riding was abroad, so just to explain that he was one of the pioneers of practical, yet very accurate, flying scale models in the UK, and many of his designs are still built and flown today. Most plans are still available from the Aeromodeller plans service). Points are split between static and flying marks, and flights are judged on realism, not duration. To get a qualifying flight you just have to stay up for 20 seconds, and an ROG will get you extra marks. With the conditions as they were, 20 seconds took some getting ! You have four attempts to register a flight, with the marks from the best one counting.

Not surprisingly, the larger and heavier I/C models coped best with the conditions, though I thought the builders were very brave putting these museum quality models at the mercy of the elements (there were several crashes)

One novelty was the fact that many visitors to the rally stayed behind to watch the competition - if you did a good flight, you got a round of applause. Not often you get such a large audience at a free flight event!

No photos, I’m afraid, (too busy flying) but here are the full results:

I/C POWER

Position Name Model Type Static Score Flying Score Total
1 Terry Manley Sopwith 1 1/2 Strutter 510.5 624 1135
2 Mike Smith Martynside Elephant 537 561 1098
3 David Hope-Cross D.H. 83 Fox Moth 474.5 488.5 963
4 Andrew Hewett Fokker D.VIII 434 500 934
5 Bill Dennis Bristol Scout 468 455 923
6 Harry Kolders Interstate Cadet 360 461.5 821.5
7 John Watters Albatros C.III 426 371.5 797.5
8 Ted Hewett Luscombe Silvaire 354 359.5 713.5
9 D.Hardman Taube 60 437 497
10 F.Bailey Gadfly 1929 85.5 0 85.5

RUBBER POWER

Position Name Model Type Static Score Flying Score Total
1 Arthur Bailey Piper J3 Cub 347 393.5 740.5
2 Mike Stuart Curtiss P-6E Hawk 380 355.5 735.5
3 Joe Ferguson Interstate Cadet 336 380 716
4 Mike Hetherington Fairey Battle 268.5 411 679.5
5 B. Faulkner Westland Widgeon 298 232.5 530.5
6 Barry Hetherington Boeing 8.A 408 0 408
7 Bill Harwood Church Midwing 407 0 407
8 Reg Boor Hawker Fury 361 0 361
9 Joe Ferguson Private Explorer 284.5 0 284.5
10 Joe Ferguson Breda 15 284 0 284

JETEX

Position Name Model Type Static Score Flying Score Total
1 Bob Waddington Castel Sylphe 304.5 183.5 488
2 Brian Tindle Avro Vulcan 163 0 163

ELECTRIC/C02

Position Name Model Type Static Score Flying Score Total
1 Roy Pritchard Piper J3 Cub 342 505.5 847.5
2 Barry Hetherington Boeing 40A 364.5 411.5 776
3 D. Hardman Blackburn 1912 272 431 703
4 Bill Harwood Knight Twister 353.5 0 353.5
5 F. Bailey Blacburn 1912 158 0 158



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