In 2009 we decided that pilots flying gliders with engines in Competition Enterprise, but starting them en route, should be encouraged to remain flying and to continue on task or explore alternative conditions and that a separate award would be given for the most enterprising flight of this nature during the competition, where the engine has been used. The Sam Witter Trophy was first donated by Sue and Rod Witter in memory of their son. It was awarded to outstanding youth members at Lleweni Park between 1991 and 1994. They now have kindly agreed that it can be used for the Enterprising Flight Award. The trophy depicts an eagle circling with wings outstretched and, being a natural soaring bird that occasionally uses its wings to reach fresh lift, it epitomises perfectly the purpose of this Award.
2023 North Hill: Jules Anderson
2022 Long Mynd: Not awarded
2021 Milfield: Phil Morrison and Nick Jones
2019 Sutton Bank: Bob Bromwich and Dave Masson
2018 Aston Down: Not awarded
2017 North Hill: Won by Rod Witter, who flew 135k/m out and return on a scrubbed day when no-one else flew!
2016 Shobdon: The Sam Witter Trophy went to Rod Witter for a tour of Wales via Cader Idris on Day 2 after a technical landout at Lleweni Parc.
2015 Sutton Bank: Won by “EF” (Guy Glover & Clive Groves). They started their engine at 600ft 7km away from Rufforth, immediately after launch and after that they did 415km via Downham Market, Saltby and Sutton Bank without burning any more petrol!!! They tried to claim it was a legitimate relight, but they got ZERO points
2014 Nypmsfield: Tony Maitland & Phil / Diana King
2013 North Hill: Andrew Reid for his enterprising flight after using the turbo.
2012 Long Mynd: James Fisher/ Alex Rowlands
2011 Sutton Bank: Andrew Reid – First Day of the competition. Weather looked great. The task was a modest quadrilateral with pilot selected free out and returns from each turning point. At the first TP, Market Weighton, with conditions booming, a cloud street to Filey looked inviting – but I hadn’t reckoned on the sea air. Down down down. Ignomy as the engine provided a rescue from a field half way to my chosen TP. But then a great flight round the rest of the task with a good out and return from Pontefract to Thirsk followed by a major struggle to get round Masham in dead air and back to Sutton Bank. 280km after starting the engine was a much better use of the day than sitting in a field or motoring home!
2010 Lasham: Tony Moulang – With Ian Cook, Duo Discus, 666 The Task was straight forward really, fly down to the west (we went to Sherbourne) fly back to Didcot then carry on to the East. Weather looked good we were a little slow so after Didcot speeded up a bit. Got a little low approaching Bedford slowed down, all the good looking clouds failed to work. We elected to go for Airship hangers at Cardington had to start the engine along side the hangers on the down wind for the airfield 2 minutes 54 seconds later at 750ft stopped the engine climbed to 5000ft and continued task turned Newmarket, back to Didcot and home to Lasham 542Km not bad, shame about the 3min engine burn half way round.
2009 Long Mynd: - Lindsay McLane – engine start 25 km from the Mynd, pushed westwards, again used engine briefly. A series of wave bars downwind of the Gower peninsular beckoned a slow climb to 9000′ then tiptoe to the coast just south of Barmouth. Forgetting the task he headed north hoping for a higher climb in the lee of Snowdon. Not to be, there was a strange and surprisingly violent effect which was tearing the tops of the wave cloud apart (see picture). Sun now dipping to the horizon and ipaq showing over 100km to the Mynd, headed back into the gathering gloom. Back at site after a five hour flight, Lindsay found it fascinating and somewhat mesmerising watching the car headlights weaving back and forth clearing the sheep off the runway!
2023 North Hill: Jules Anderson
2022 Long Mynd: Not awarded
2021 Milfield: Phil Morrison and Nick Jones
2019 Sutton Bank: Bob Bromwich and Dave Masson
2018 Aston Down: Not awarded
2017 North Hill: Won by Rod Witter, who flew 135k/m out and return on a scrubbed day when no-one else flew!
2016 Shobdon: The Sam Witter Trophy went to Rod Witter for a tour of Wales via Cader Idris on Day 2 after a technical landout at Lleweni Parc.
2015 Sutton Bank: Won by “EF” (Guy Glover & Clive Groves). They started their engine at 600ft 7km away from Rufforth, immediately after launch and after that they did 415km via Downham Market, Saltby and Sutton Bank without burning any more petrol!!! They tried to claim it was a legitimate relight, but they got ZERO points
2014 Nypmsfield: Tony Maitland & Phil / Diana King
2013 North Hill: Andrew Reid for his enterprising flight after using the turbo.
2012 Long Mynd: James Fisher/ Alex Rowlands
2011 Sutton Bank: Andrew Reid – First Day of the competition. Weather looked great. The task was a modest quadrilateral with pilot selected free out and returns from each turning point. At the first TP, Market Weighton, with conditions booming, a cloud street to Filey looked inviting – but I hadn’t reckoned on the sea air. Down down down. Ignomy as the engine provided a rescue from a field half way to my chosen TP. But then a great flight round the rest of the task with a good out and return from Pontefract to Thirsk followed by a major struggle to get round Masham in dead air and back to Sutton Bank. 280km after starting the engine was a much better use of the day than sitting in a field or motoring home!
2010 Lasham: Tony Moulang – With Ian Cook, Duo Discus, 666 The Task was straight forward really, fly down to the west (we went to Sherbourne) fly back to Didcot then carry on to the East. Weather looked good we were a little slow so after Didcot speeded up a bit. Got a little low approaching Bedford slowed down, all the good looking clouds failed to work. We elected to go for Airship hangers at Cardington had to start the engine along side the hangers on the down wind for the airfield 2 minutes 54 seconds later at 750ft stopped the engine climbed to 5000ft and continued task turned Newmarket, back to Didcot and home to Lasham 542Km not bad, shame about the 3min engine burn half way round.
2009 Long Mynd: - Lindsay McLane – engine start 25 km from the Mynd, pushed westwards, again used engine briefly. A series of wave bars downwind of the Gower peninsular beckoned a slow climb to 9000′ then tiptoe to the coast just south of Barmouth. Forgetting the task he headed north hoping for a higher climb in the lee of Snowdon. Not to be, there was a strange and surprisingly violent effect which was tearing the tops of the wave cloud apart (see picture). Sun now dipping to the horizon and ipaq showing over 100km to the Mynd, headed back into the gathering gloom. Back at site after a five hour flight, Lindsay found it fascinating and somewhat mesmerising watching the car headlights weaving back and forth clearing the sheep off the runway!