2025 English Open F3F
23-24 August 2025
At the edge
English Open
The English Open has to be one of my favourite comps. Access to the slope is easy, it takes place in a beautiful setting, and the atmosphere is super relaxed. In short, it's always great fun!
This year the first day (Saturday) was cancelled due to the poor forecast. So I went down on the Sunday.
The comp (Sunday)
With the wind blowing SSE, the only option would be to fly on the little used Rifle Range slope (the last time we flew the Open on this slope was in 2015). Fortunately special arrangements had already been made for exclusive use of the slope which is normally out of bounds for RC soaring.
The slope is a classic bowl, and we were lucky in that the air was coming almost straight up the middle, and so was quite smooth. However there was a fair bit of thermal activity, which led to times varying from the low 40's to the high 70's. On the positive side, eleven rounds were flown and most pilots ended up with an equitable split of good and bad air.
The podium
Mike Bleathman flew consistently well all day. From 5th place in the first round he climbed steadily up the rankings. After a wobble in the fifth and sixth rounds he recovered, holding the lead for the last four rounds. And so Mike ended up the worthy winner.
Mike Evans led briefly in round 5 before slipping back then recovering to take the runner up spot just 6 points adrift.
Third place was taken by John Philips, flying his Saker and Wyvern. John also took fastest time of the day in the last round with 41.94 (just pipping me by 0.01 s!).
Acknowedgements
Many thanks to Mike Bleathman, William Fourrie, Mark Treble and all helpers for a splendid day's flying
Results
After 11 rounds
1 M Bleathman 9285.01 1000.00 2 M Evans 9234.49 994.55 3 J Philips 9123.81 982.63 4 J Cubitt 9089.35 978.92 5 M Treble 8951.55 964.08 6 W Fourie 8924.25 961.14 7 E Heijne 8876.09 955.95 8 D DeMott 8799.10 947.66 9 M Shellim 8678.92 934.72 10 A Elliott 8439.71 908.96 11 B Hudson 8389.41 903.54 12 G Hill 8145.35 877.25 13 T Robertson 8009.38 862.61 14 P Taylor 7991.90 860.73 15 R Coles 0.00 0.00 15 P Stubley 0.00 0.00
Fastest time: 41.94 by John Phillips
Round winners: Mike Evans (2), John Philips (2), Mike Shellim (2), Joe Cubitt (1), Mike Bleathman (1), Phil Taylor (1), Erik Heijne (1), Mark Treble (1)