posted Aug 17th, 2011 - Brit Chicks and Kaizen member Jo Hawley once agains reports for the NSL News from the United Kingdom. She just completed ten rounds in 8way at the World Cup 2011 where she also anchored the NSL Talk session with her team on 6 August 2011.

Then she completed ten rounds with Kaizen a week later at the UK Nationals 2011. Now she may become the only competitor who also completes another ten meet rounds this weekend at the 8way competition of the UK Nationals 2011. This would add up to 30 competition jumps within three weeks. Competition must be fun...

Here is what Jo Hawley witnessed at the UK Nationals last weekend:

UK Nationals 2011

By UK Correspondent Jo Hawley

Despite a mixed weather forecast, a massive 58 teams - including three VFS teams - turned up at Skydive Hibaldstow on Friday for the 4way competition of the UK Nationals 2011. With high hopes that the dropzone’s four Dorniers would get them in the air, they weren’t to be disappointed.

Battling low clouds, the Hibaldstow machine still managed to complete all categories except the AAA Class by Sunday night, leaving only ten teams to wonder how much partying they should allow themselves ahead of Round 9 and Round 10 the next morning.

UK Nationals 2011		Round 1	Round 2	Round 3	Round 4	Round 5	Round 6	Round 7	Round 8	Round 9	Round 10	Total	Avg
Rank	AAA Class	15,E,G,16	C,N,20,1	A,P,6,H	14,B,M,22	19,5,4	13,J,18	F,7,Q,2	10,8,12	21,K,L,17	11,9,D	Total	Avg
1	Satori	19	18	30	19	17	16	22	15	19	21	196	19.6
2	SonicNutz	15	16	26	17	15	14	22	12	16	18	171	17.1
3	Vision	17	16	18	17	15	13	19	13	15	19	162	16.2
4	Boogie Nights	16	15	18	14	14	14	18	13	14	18	154	15.4
5	Bodyflight Aerodyne	14	15	22	13	13	12	17	11	14	16	147	14.7

AAA Class

Reigning champions Satori won the AAA Class competition comfortably with a 19.6 average on a slow draw. Their victory was greeted by spectacular fireworks on an impressive stage brought in especially for the nationals.

Everyone was also happy to see SonicNutz return to form, following a disappointing outing at the World Cup 2011, and take silver with a 17.1 average.

The only real competition in the AAA Class was for the bronze medals, and Bodyflight Aerodyne took them comfortably in the end with four points over their nearest rivals Kaizen. AAA Class teams Vision and Boogie Nights were guest teams and competed to ensure that a high level of skydiving was on show and contributing to the massive count of 17 teams in the AAA Class. It was a real indication of the strength of UK skydiving.

UK Nationals 2011		Round 1	Round 2	Round 3	Round 4	Round 5	Round 6	Round 7	Round 8	Total	Avg
Rank	AA Class	P,Q,7	K,9,13	19,L,G	O,B,M,4	1,F,A	22,J,14	2,6	D,11,H	Total	Avg
1	Full Stop	23	12	13	24	17	11	13	16	129	16.1
2	Satori Red	16	12	10	15	13	10	11	13	100	12.5
3	Gr4vity	17	8	11	16	13	8	11	14	98	12.3
4	Brit Chikkos	17	13	11	13	12	8	10	13	97	12.1

AA Class

From the outset, the top spot in the AA Class was in the bag for the unstoppable Full Stop securing a win for Satori member Ian ‘Milko’ Hodgkinson in the top two categories. It will be interesting to see what happens to the Satori and Full Stop lineups when both of Milko’s teams are in the top flight and compete in the AAA Class.

Other teams in the category focused on fighting it out for the remaining medals with Satori Red, one of five Satori Academy teams, taking silver and Gr4vity bronze.

UK Nationals 2011		Round 1	Round 2	Round 3	Round 4	Round 5	Round 6	Round 7	Round 8	Total	Avg
Rank	A Class	D,K,7	Q,B,C	H,O,8	P,F,G	4,M	21,9	19,L	6,E	Total	Avg
1	High Altitude Heroes	12	15	11	17	9	9	9	8	90	11.3
2	Incognito	11	13	10	14	10	8	6	10	82	10.3
3	Raykipo	11	13	10	17	11	5	7	7	81	10.1
3	RAFSPA Phoenix	9	12	8	13	6	12	9	12	81	10.1

A Class

High Altitude Heroes won the A Class competition and looked strong throughout the meet. The team clearly peaked at the right time, easily seeing off rivals who had beaten them in previous competitions this year.

Popular local team Incognito received a huge cheer from the crowd as they picked up the silver medals they secured in style with an impressive Round 8. Raykipo avoided a jump-off for the bronze medals as RAFSPA Pheonix were unable to stay until Monday due to work commitments. If the RAF team hadn’t been stung by busts – 15 in the first five rounds - the podium could have looked very differently.

UK Nationals 2011		Round 1	Round 2	Round 3	Round 4	Round 5	Round 6	Round 7	Total	Avg
Rank	Rookie	N,P,F	B,J,C	G,E,A	K,D,O	M,L,Q	H,A,L	K,M,G	Total	Avg
1	4Mula	14	11	13	13	13	15	9	88	12.6
2	Sky Vandals	5	8	9	6	11	9	9	57	8.1
3	Satori Blue	7	7	7	6	9	9	9	54	7.7

Rookie Class

4mula continued their domination of the Rookie Class and delivered a strong 12.6 average. Their nearest rivals Skyvandals took the silver medals with an 8.1 average.

Another Satori Academy team – Satori Blue – took the third podium slot, holding their nerve despite seeming to be the weather jinxes. Their Round 1 took a couple of rides in the plane to get it done, and a broken camera helmet added to the Blue challenges.

With this huge number of teams and ever-growing British national championships, it begs the question: why aren’t the Brits able to break into the Open Class podium at the international meets. With a strong history of female 4way teams doing well, this small island has yet to prove itself in the Open Class 4way category. Maybe it’s time to give Satori the support to make a push for the big time in Dubai next year?

As the Hibaldstow staff recovers from the busiest weekend of the year, many competitors are turning their thoughts to the 8way competition this weekend. Will the Brit Chicks be able to build on their excellent performance at the World Cup to take on the reigning champions back home? Watch this space whilst cheering “Go Brit Chicks!”... But then again, maybe I’m biased...!