posted Aug 26th, 2013 - The UK Nationals 2013 are in full swing, and 75 teams have written a new participation record in 4way, including three VFS teams.

Satori with new Center Outside Steve Hamilton is as strong as expected and holds the top of the AAA Class leaderboard. The video below is showing one of the training jumps that Satori was able to do with the new lineup, while the seven other UK teams competed at the World Cup 2013. Steve Hamilton and John McIver are in their original XL slots, and John McIver is going to win his 15th gold medal at UK Nationals.

South African national team Voodoo competes once again at the UK Nationals and is in 2nd place, closer to Satori compared to previous meets. Voodoo has an interesting change in the lineup, as well. Gary Smith, South African bronze medalist with Equanimity in 1997, and 4way world champion with DeLand Majik in 2004 and with DeLand Fire in 2006, is competing in the Center Inside slot for Voodoo. Last not least, NSL-TV anchor Joey Jones competes as a player coach for Ultrasonic and wins a UK bronze medal at the moment. He is a UK resident, while Voodoo is competing as a guest team.

UK Nationals 2013		Rd. 1	Rd. 2	Rd. 3	Rd. 4	Rd. 5	Rd. 6	Rd. 7	Rd. 8	Rd. 9	Rd. 10	Total	Avg
Rank	AAA Class	19,4,1	15,J,7	C,Q,17,12	L,13,10	9,G,20	H,11,2	K,8,21	P,6,M,14	N,E,5,16	O,F,A,22	Total	Avg
3	Kaizen (UK)	15	20	18	12(-1)	19	-	-	-	-	-	84	16.8
5	Bodyflight Isis (UK)	14(-1)	19	14	14	19	-	-	-	-	-	80	16.0
6	Raykipo (UK)	15	16	16	14	16	-	-	-	-	-	77	15.4
9	Eclipse (UK)	12	14	14	12	16	-	-	-	-	-	68	13.6
10	Hyrrokkin (UK)	11	15	13	12	15	-	-	-	-	-	66	13.2
16	Team XX (UK)	10	13	11	8	13	-	-	-	-	-	55	11.0

Only six of the seven UK teams in Banja Luka are back at the UK Nationals. Seraphim was only a team for the World Cup, and some of the members compete in different lineups at the UK Nationals.

The ranking order between the six World Cup teams is identical at both events after five rounds in Hibaldstow. Eclipse and Hyrrokkin are even separated by the same 2-point difference as it was after eight rounds in Banja Luka.

Raykipo is the only team showing a significant difference so far and has moved closer to the two female top teams. The battle between Kaizen and Bodyflight Isis for the slot as the UK national team in the female catgeory is still the competitive highlight of the UK Nationals 2013. Isis is under extreme pressure after Kaizen's great start. 13 points separated Kaizen from Isis after ten rounds in Banja Luka, and the challenger now has a 4-point lead.

UK Nationals 2013		Rd. 1	Rd. 2	Rd. 3	Rd. 4	Rd. 5	Rd. 6	Rd. 7	Rd. 8	Total	Avg
Rank	AA Class	19,4	1,15	J,7,C	Q,L,13	9,G,20	H,11,2	K,8,21	P,6,M	Total	Avg
1	Anti Gravity Ninja Swans (UK)	9	10	20	10	13	-	-	-	62	12.4
2	4Nations (UK)	12	9	15	11	13	-	-	-	60	12.0
3	4mula (UK)	11	7	15	11	9	-	-	-	53	10.6
4	Satori Azure (UK)	9	6	11	10	12	-	-	-	48	9.6
5	Fiasco (UK)	9	7	11	8	9	-	-	-	44	8.8
6	RAFSPA Merlin (UK)	7	5	11	9	9	-	-	-	41	8.2

It's far from over though in Hibaldstow. Pete Allum, the 3rd former XL member in Hibaldstow, mentioned in Banja Luka that Kaizen can win with a great meet if Bodyflight Isis has an average performance at the national championship.

This means at the same time that Isis has the potential to strike back and win enough points in the remaining five rounds. It happened in Round 4 where Isis won by two points after a point deduction for Kaizen. The first lost round did not have an impact on Kaizen, as the scores for Round 5 are showing. It's still a race.

Correspondent Gordon Hodgkinson, who is coaching Rookie Class leader Fly Wild from Northern Ireland, also reported from Hibaldstow that the meet will probably be completed on Monday. It was scheduled over three days, and the host has shown in the past that a 75-team work load can be mastered.

UK Nationals 2013		Rd. 1	Rd. 2	Rd. 3	Rd. 4	Rd. 5	Rd. 6	Rd. 7	Rd. 8	Total	Avg
Rank	A Class	19,4	J,7	C,Q,L	9,G	H,2	K,8	21,P	6,M	Total	Avg
1	Tr4ck (UK)	10	13	15	11	(12)	-	-	-	49	12.2
2	Equal Pay 4 Women (UK)	9	14	11	14	(12)	-	-	-	48	12.0
3	Sky Vandals (UK)	9	13	14	11	-	-	-	-	47	11.8
4	Bazinga (UK)	9	9	14	12	(10)	-	-	-	44	10.8
5	Fr4gment (UK)	8	10	13	12	(10)	-	-	-	43	10.6
5	Entropy (UK)	8	12	12	10	(11)	-	-	-	43	10.6

Gordon Hodgkinson had more interesting details of the lineups:

"Joey Jones is also flying as an alternate for Anti Gravity Ninja Swans who are currently in 1st place in the AA Class. Team 4Nations is led by Herve Manigas who competed with AAA team Dynamite Wolf Squadron last year, after a AA Class season in 2011 with Satori Red. He won silver behind player coach team Full Stop with Satori member Ian "Milko" Hodkinson in 2011. Now he is back in the AA Class and once again in 2nd place behind a player coached team. However, it's only a 2-point difference this time at the moment."

Gordon Hodgkinson also pointed out that last year's Rookie Class champion Equal Pay For Women is just one point behind Tr4ck in the A Class. Sky Vandals, coached by Chris Shaw, were in 3rd place, just another point behind the two leaders after Round 4. It's a hot race in the A Class, as well.