posted Jun 1st, 2009 - The NSL News story on 29 May 2009 mentioned that the coverage of the first 2009 meet of the United Kingom Skydiving League would be resumed soon. Phobia member Richard Head now provided additional information and wrote a meet story for the NSL News:

Skydive Weston has a long history with 4-way - six of the medal sets at the UK Nationals 2008 went to teams based there. The first 4-way competition of the UKSL season was no exception with a great turnout of 22 teams. Across the board there was a good mix of new and experienced competitors fighting it out for the first medals of the 2009 season.

In the AAA Class, continuing teams Phobia and Fend 4 Yourself led the field, followed closely by Rusty Nuts and Bonoboish, two scratch teams comprising of people from various teams including Bonobo, Damn Zebra and Wingnutz.

Enigma followed the pack with an impressive display, given that this team is made up from members who have only ever competed in the Rookie Class and the A Class before.

The Enigma members call themselves a "concept team", showing everyone that it is possible to move to the AAA Class with a very limited budget, by grabbing as much free coaching as possible, as well as lots of walking and creeping to learn all of the blocks.

The AA Class, the most exciting category this time, was contested by four teams moving up from the Rookie Class and the A Class. The Jet Blondes, who have only recently started learning the AA Class blocks, used their experience in the Rookie Class to score an impressive 21-pointer on the all-random Round 5, putting them five points ahead after the 5th round.

In Round 6, their inexperience with the new blocks showed, as Army Nemesis (previously Exodus, winner at the UK Nationals 2008 in the A Class) produced a clean round to draw within one point. But it was not enough in the end, the Jet Blondes took gold in their first competition after moving up two catagories – well done girls!

Another fight was had for third place. Strangers, silver medalist of 2008 in the A Class, Inside Centre Ruth Ferris to injury, and Si Bristow from Phantom stepped in. After a slow start, Strangers pulled back level with RAFSPA Firefly, the bronze medalist of 2008 in the A Class, after Round 6 and forced a jump off.

Frantic phone calls were made as Firefly had to call in their alternate from another DZ. Firefly completed their jumps on Saturday as member Kyle Thomas could only attend a single day. When their team was fully assembled and both teams had jumped, all gathered in the hanger to watch the results on the big screen. Tension mounted as the points racked up, and Strangers just managed to complete the final block for a single point victory.

In the A Class, experienced team Unagi dominated the field and scored an impressive 17-pointer in Round 5. The 2nd place was closely fought for between RAFSPA Phoenix and scratch team It Aint Gonna Suck Itself. IAGSI impressed many as two of the team members had never even attempted blocks before.

Winner Unagi confirmed that the team will be competing in the A Class this year. Jon Dundee and Alison Stainer return from the Rookie Class lineup of 2008. Peter Mather and Louis Schreuder are new members. Mike Ehlas had replaced Louis Schreuder at the World Challenge 2009.

Unagi competed in the AA Class in Bedford since the team was looking for some competition experience, and the AA Class was the lowest category at the indoor competition. Alison Stainer explained why Unagi stepped back into the A Class for the rest of the year:

"We have all been in the sport for less than two years and thought the jump to AA for the rest of the year was too big a step despite being pleased with our performance there."

Unagi competed in the Rookie Class at the UK Nationals 2008. The NSL leaderboard had the team falsely listed in the A Class. The Unagi members had only made eleven training jumps together before competing at the national championship last year. The team then joined forces with two new temporary and more experienced competitors, Guy Martin and Chris Hollis, to compete in the A Class at the ESL Championship 2008. This was the first event where Jon Dundee and Alison Stainer would see any of the blocks.

All seven Rookie Class teams on the May 23 weekend were new to 4-way competition. Local team Gravity, with team members who have only been jumping just over a year, won clearly.

There was a tight race for 2nd place between Indecision and local pickup team Beef Curtains. There were worries of a jump-off in this category too, not least by Beef Curtains though, who may have stayed up rather late in the Bar. In the end, only a single point decided it. Beef Curtains was were happy with a bronze medal in the team's first ever competition.

Many thanks to Sparky for all of the coaching – sorry you got sunburned spending so much time on the outside creeper pad. Thanks also to everyone at Skydive Weston for making the days go so smoothly, even if we were interrupted by a military Hercules hogging the airspace (and for giving us the spectacle of a static line hangup at 800ft – all ended safely). Everyone is now looking forward to the rest of the season. The next meet is on June 20 - 21 at Hibaldstow.