Press
information issued on behalf of: The British Helicopter Team
7th August 2008
British team challenges for World Helicopter Championships
The British team has its best ever chance of winning the World
Helicopter Championship. The Championship, which is held every three
years, takes place this year, from 13th to 18th August, in Eisenach,
Germany.
So far, Britain has never won the trophy but the team manager - and
former Championship competitor - John Matchett, is confident that he
has selected the best helicopter crews in the country. Matchett, who
recently announced the British team, commented: "The team includes
military personnel and professional helicopter pilots.
The British team for this, the 13th World Helicopter Championship,
contains the current Ladies World Helicopter Champions, Caroline
Gough-Cooper and Imogen Asker.
"Our team captain, David Monks, is used to representing his country in
international competition," said Matchett. "He has already represented
Great Britain at swimming and badminton.
"Ron Watkins, Jeff James and Michael Buckland are among the British
Army's leading helicopter pilots, while Alastair Sutherland is one of
the most experienced civilian pilots in the country and the winner of
five British Championships - and Martin Rutty is the current British
Club Champion."
Among the favourites to take the World Championship title this year,
the British team came fourth in the previous championships - help in
Rouen, in France, in 2005. In Rouen, the team missed out on third place
by just 68.49 points - trailing the German team, which scored 3281.83
points.
Russia took the team title last time, with France coming second.
However, the British pairing of Caroline Gough-Cooper and Imogen Asker
won the women's event, with two teams from Russia - Galina Shpigovskays
& Ljubov Goubar and Svetlana Chupina & Elena Prokofieva taking second
and third places respectively.
"It's always a ‘David and Goliath' battle against the Russians, all of
whose pilots are full-time professionals," Matchett said, "but we have
the drive and the mindset to succeed."
In selecting and preparing the British team for this year's
Championships, Matchett, a businessman and entrepreneur by profession,
has applied psychology and business strategic thinking. He commented:
"We not only have the skills to win the competition but the team also
has the determination and will to take the ‘pressure' and succeed.
"We're deeply grateful to the Team's sponsors - Haywards Aviation; Lord
Laidlaw of Rothiemay; Enable Software; EADS UK; Sywell Aerodrome;
Wellesbourne Mountford Airfield, and Eazzee - for making it possible
for us to challenge for the World Title this year," Matchett added.
"The British team has a great chance to improve on its fourth place in
the previous World Championships. Not only do we have some of the most
gifted and talented helicopter pilots in the world but we've assembled
a highly experienced team.
"Collectively, the team has flown in 22 championships, won in 12 and
secured places in 18. In 2005, Caroline Gough-Cooper and Imogen Asker
retained the Ladies World Champions title with a resounding win and the
‘Team GB' gained a highly respectable six crews in the top 15 places -
earning fourth place in the overall event."
end
About The British Helicopter Team
Announced by the team manager, John Matchett, on behalf of the
Helicopter Club of Great Britain, this year's British team for the
World Championships is:
-
David
Monks (Captain) & Jonathan Penny
-
Ron
Watkins (Coach) & Jeff James
-
Caroline
Gough-Cooper & Imogen Asker
-
Martin
Rutty & Simon Lichtenstein
-
Alastair
Sutherland & Colin Morison
-
Andrew
Taee & Michael Buckland
-
Peter
Barker & Candy Stockton
In
addition, Dennis Kenyon will take part in the Freestyle (aerobatics)
category.
All seven crews will compete for the individual World Championship as
well as Event Championship Awards. The top five crews will compete for
the overall Championship Team Award in which the top three scores of
the five crews count in each event.
For further details, visit:
http://www.britishhelicopterteam.co.uk
About
the World Championships
The World Helicopter Championships was conceived over 30 years ago
after two helicopter pilots - one British and the other German - met,
by chance, in an airport lounge and discussed which country they
thought had the world's best helicopter pilots.
This led to the first World Championships being held in 1971 in Vodick,
Poland. The event now takes place every three years and continues to
maintain a strong interest with potential host nations competitively
bidding every three years to hold the event.
The rules for the Championships are determined and controlled by the
Fédération Aéronautique Internationale (FAI). Each event within the
World Championship is designed to test the flying and navigational
skills of both pilot and co-pilot.
All participating countries are members of the FAI Rotorcraft
Commission. Most delegations from each country hold their own national
competitions every year in their home country to the rules of the World
Championships.
The Championships consist of a number of tasks:
The types
of helicopter allowed in this year's Championships are: Robinson R44;
Robinson R22; Bell 206 JetRanger; Eurocopter EC120; SA341 Gazelle;
Alouette II; Alouette III; Mil Mi-2; MD 500; Schweizer 300; Eurocopter
AS350, and Agusta 109.
About The Fédération Aéronautique Internationale (FAI)
The Fédération Aéronautique Internationale (FAI), is the world air
sports federation and was founded on 14th October 1905, in Paris. Now
an organisation of some 100 member countries, its world headquarters
was established in Lausanne, the Olympic Capital, in 1998.
The FAI is a non-governmental and non-profit making international
organisation with the basic aim of furthering aeronautical and
astronautical activities worldwide. Its activities include establishing
rules for the control and certification of world aeronautical and
astronautical records.
Further information from:
John Matchett, British Helicopter Team, 01295 788394;
jm@matchettuk.com
Bob
Little, Bob Little Press & PR, 01727 860405;
bob.little@boblittlepr.com