posted Aug 13th, 2012 - The UK Nationals 2012 are over, at least in 4way. The 8way competition is still to follow this weekend.

It is difficult to find the starting point for the aftermath, as a total of 72 teams provided so much content for stories that it is impossible to cover it all. First of all, the 2012 participation is once again a new record number for the United Kingdom. 54 teams competed in 2010, 55 last year, and the 72 teams last weekend brings 4way competition in the United Kingdom to a new level.

The last time that the US teams came to that level was in Perris 2005 when 80 teams attended the national championships for the highest number in 4way history. The UK 2012 participation beats all US numbers ever since. Maybe the Olympic Games in London also inspired all UK skydivers to come out and be a part of the national championships...

UK Nationals 2012		Rd. 1	Rd. 2	Rd. 3	Rd. 4	Rd. 5	Rd. 6	Rd. 7	Rd. 8	Rd. 9	Rd. 10	Total	Avg
Rank	4way Women	D,N,O,E,11	Q,B,12,6	16,18,22	J,A,7,L	5,14,G	13,C,K,P	4,M,9	1,3,20	15,F,10	8,2,21	Total	Avg
8	Bodyflight Aerodyne Langar	17	11	11	16	12	13	18	12	12	12	134	13.4
16	Fire	17	11	9	18	10	14	15	10	-	-	104	13.0

The UK Nationals 2012 did not only draw UK teams to Skydive Hibaldstow last weekend. It is nothing new that South Africa's national team Voodoo competes in the United Kingdom on a regular basis. This year's 17.7 average beats the team's 16.4 average at the South African Nationals 2012 by far and is a new team record.

Another guest team came from Sweden and made the female 4way competition a special attraction. Fire is Sweden's national 4way team in the female 4way category and was under enormous pressure at the UK Nationals 2012.

The team had posted a 12.0 average at the Swedish Nationals 2012 at the end of July. The Swedish skydiving federation had set the qualification average at 13.0 for the trip to Dubai in December. Fire did not give up after missing the qualification standard at the national championships and made the trip to the United Kingdom last weekend, together with coach Joey Jones.

Fire's trip to the United Kingdom made the competition also a good test for UK's national team in the female 4way category, Bodyflight Aerodyne Langar. Both teams would meet again in Dubai if Fire managed to post the required 13.0 average in Hibaldstow. The pressure was on both teams, and they both had good reasons to appreciate it.

The Swedish team probably benefitted even more from the exciting meet situation and gave the UK team a great race in the female category. Both teams tied their scores and exchanged blows equally through Round 6. The home team then took control and finished with a 6-point advantage after Round 8.

Then the meet was over for guest team Fire, while Bodyflight Aerodyne Langar continued with the other UK teams who made it to the finals. However, Fire had a 13.0 average posted on the leaderboard after the 8-round battle with the UK team, and the trip to Dubai was secured. The last two rounds would have been a challenge to maintaining the same scoring level. Both teams will now have a re-match in Dubai. Amanda Kemp and Sarah Smith-Cannon competed for the United Kingdom in Menzelinsk 2010, while only Åsah Helenius is coming back for Sweden, together with videographer Elof Wecksell and coach Joey Jones.