SERVICE GLIDING AWARDS AND TROPHIES

COMPETITION TROPHIES - GENERAL

1. The award of most Inter-Service and RAF competition trophies is based on pilots' "Inter-Service Score", which is determined by the formula:

Inter-Service Score = ( Pilot's Points / Maximum Possible Points ) x Contest Factor

2. Handicapped Points are used in preference, when available. The Contest Factor is 1.0 for all classes of the British National Championships. The Contest Factor for Regionals is 0.7.

3. The principal contest for determining Inter-Service competition awards is the British National Championships. A pilot flying in 2 or more contests in a season may count his highest Inter-Service Score towards RAF trophies, but for Inter-Service awards, a pilot's National Championship result must take precedence.

4. Novices are defined as pilots flying in their first BGA-rated contest.

5. Trophies are insured by the RAFGSA but should be kept either in a secure Unit Trophies Cabinet or the private house of the holder. All trophies are to be returned to the Secretary of the RAFGSA a clear 14 days before the date of the next awarding or at a date and time agreed by the Secretary. They are to be cleaned, polished and engraved before return. Public Relations Branch, this trophy is presented to the winner of the Inter-Services Open Class.

JOHN MARTIN MEMORIAL TROPHY

This trophy was originally presented to Moonrakers Club by the parents of SAC John Martin, who was killed in a gliding accident in 1965. It is in the form of a tall silver cup with Martin's badge set at the top. It is awarded to the winner of the Inter-Services Sports Class.

GOODBODY TROPHY

Presented in 1966 by Group Captain R R Goodbody, this trophy is an unusual spiral design, in copper, which symbolises the turbulence of a thermal. It is awarded to the winner of the Inter-Services Club Class or, in the absence of a third class, to the winner of the Inter-Command Competition.

EMMOT TROPHY

Presented in 1959 by Mr J B Emmott of Armstrong Whitworth Aircraft Co, this trophy is a model sailplane mounted on a perspex stand. It is awarded to the serviceman with the highest Inter-Service Score.

RODERICK SALMON MEMORIAL TROPHY (Inter-Service Team Champions)

Presented in 1960 by Air Commodore and Mrs Salmon in memory of their son Roderick who, as a disabled boy of 15, was leaning to glide with the RAFGSA. This trophy is a silver eagle with spread wings surmounting a wooden plinth. It is awarded to the Service whose top 3 pilots amass the highest combined Inter-Service Scores.

KINGSHURST GOLD TROPHY (Most Meritorious Flight)

Presented by Mr H O Jones of Kingshurst Financial Trust Ltd, this trophy has helical design and is awarded to the serviceman competing in any contest qualifying for Inter-Service awards, who completes the best closed-circuit race according to the following formula:

"Kingshurst Financial Index = (Full Distance in km / Glider Speed Index) + (Actual unhandicapped Speed x 10 / Glider Speed Index )

STANBRIDGE TROPHY

Awarded annually to the best-placed RAF novice in the Inter-Services Regional Championships, this trophy was presented by Air Vice-Marshal Sir Brian Stanbridge KCVO CBE AFC, former Chairman and Vice-President of the Association.

GEORGE LEE TROPHY

This trophy was presented in 1983 by Squadron Leader George Lee MBE on his retirement from the RAF. George Lee started gliding at Halton and while a member of the RAFGSA won the Open Class World Championship on three successive occasions. His trophy is awarded to the pilot achieving the highest place in any class in his or her first ever National Championship.

McEVOY CUP (RAFGSA Ladder Champion)

Presented in 1958 by Air Chief Marshal Sir Theodore McEvoy, past President of the RAFGSA, this trophy is awarded to the winner of the RAFGSA Ladder Competition.

OTHER TROPHIES

BICESTER CUP

Awarded annually to the UK RAF station which amasses most points for gliding achievements, the Bicester Cup was presented by Sqn Ldr H Daniels (Retd) to the Windrushers Gliding Club which existed at RAF Bicester before the Centre.

FOUNDERS TROPHY

The Founders Trophy is awarded annually to the RAFGSA club achieving the greatest number of ab-initio first solos by RAFGSA members in the year per thousand launches by the club. The trophy was presented to the RAFGSA by its Founder and First Chairman, Air Commodore G J C 'Chris' Paul. The trophy is an eagle mounted on a tall wooden plinth, with a plaque engraved with the story of the founding of the RAFGSA on one side.

PADDY KEARON TROPHY

Awarded annually for the best flight utilising wave lift, this trophy was presented in 1982 by Mrs Patricia Kearon to commemorate Air Commodore N W Kearon CMG CBE who was a Deputy Chairman, a leader of the RAFGSA team and who pioneered wave soaring in the Carlisle area.

ANDY GOUGH MEMORIAL TROPHY

Awarded annually to the RAFGSA Member of the Year, this trophy was subscribed by the gliding movement in memory of Warrant Officer A W Gough BEM who founded and for twenty years ran the RAFGSA Centre at Bicester. He was killed when giving an aerobatic display in a Blanik at RAF Brize Norton on 12 June 1982. The subscription allows for the purchase of an engraved tankard annually for retention by the Member of the Year.

TOPHAM GILL TROPHY

Awarded annually to the youngest RAFGSA member who successfully completes an Assistant Instructors course. This trophy was presented by the friends of two young instructor members who were killed in a collision between their Blanik and a light aircraft at Cranwell in 1981.

BROWNLOW TROPHY

This trophy was presented in 1983 by Air Vice-Marshal B Brownlow CB OBE AFC FRAeS RAF on his retirement from the RAF. John Brownlow was a member of the RAFGSA throughout his long and distinguished service career and held almost every post from Club CFI to Chairman of the Association. His trophy is awarded by the Executive Council for 'The Most Meritorious Flight of the Year'.

LYNE TROPHY

The Lyne Trophy is awarded to the woman pilot who achieves the most in the air during the past year and was presented by Mrs Joy Lyne, wife of Air Vice-Marshal Lyne, a Vice-President.

MALCOLM CLUBS TROPHY

The Malcolm Clubs Trophy is awarded to the junior rank (cpl or below) who made the most progress in the air during the previous calendar year. It was presented in 1998 by the Malcolm Clubs, who wished to perpetuate the memory of their Founders, Lord and Lady Tedder, after the closure of their scheme which awarded junior airmen scholarships for gliding. The subscription also allows for the presentation of a prize to each year’s winner.