As you may know the BHPA runs a club coach scheme, which is primarily
aimed at helping newly qualified pilots safely bridge the gap from school
to club. The Wessex has a number of club coaches who are more than happy
to offer their advice and experience. This can be especially useful in
terms of site briefings, which will help you make the most of unfamiliar
flying sites. Some Wessex sites require that a club coach brief you before
you fly there. Even if you are an experienced pilot you can also benefit
from talking to a club coach about the sites, locations of house thermals,
air space, and cross country potential etc.
Below is a list of active club coaches, pick someone you like the sound
of, or more sensibly, the closest to you and give them a ring; that's
what they are there for.
Looking forward to meeting up on the hill.
Club Coach Co-ordinator
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Roy Menage |
| Discipline: PG | Availability: Mainly Weekend but feel free to call anytime
for advice
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Tel:
Mobile: 07967 338800 | Email: roy.menage@gofirecrest.com
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| Living in Stalbridge, within easy reach of Bell Hill and many other sites. Roy has been flying since 2004 and gets out whenever possible. He is also a trainee instructor with the Flying Frenzy school. |
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 John Alder
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| Discipline: HG/PG | Availability: Anytime |
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Tel: 01747828576
Mobile: 07963580745 (normally switched off!) | Email: jr.alder@virgin.net
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| John has flown HGs since 1992 and PGs since 1996; whilst still very much on the learning curve himself (who isnt?) is always ready to help the less experienced pilot. Based nr. Shaftesbury. |
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Nigel Bevan |
| Discipline: PG | Availability: Weekends |
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Tel: 07748183566 | Email: nbe8771564@aol.com
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| I've been flying since 2006 , living close to Guildford I fly both Wessex and Skysurfers sites when weather and family allow. |
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Nigel Bourn |
| Discipline: PG | Availability: Weekends and evenings |
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Tel: 01929 554984 | Email: nbourn@butterfly-conservation.org
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| I have been flying in Dorset for two years, live in Wareham and fly whenever the day job allows. |
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Mike Bretherton |
| Discipline: PG | Availability: Weekends |
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Tel: 01489 786221
Mobile: 07773 110 442 | Email:mike@nowty.co.uk
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| Mike lives near Southampton and has several years
flying experience both at home and abroad. His passion is Xc
and competition flying. |
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Charles Campion-Smith |
| Discipline: PG | Availability: |
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Tel: 01305 251755
07968 186308 | Email: charlescs@metronet.co.uk
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Charles started paragliding in the Lake District
at the turn of the
century. He's keen to get some nice XC's this year and is out
flying most weekends and some summer evenings. |
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Pete Chalmers |
| Discipline: PG | Availability: Anytime |
|
Tel: 02380 848588
Mobile: 07710 416682 | Email: chalmerspete@googlemail.com
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| Pete started paragliding in 2001 (remember foot
& mouth!), and lives in Hythe near Southampton. He is now
retired so will be out most flyable days, if he is not sailing.
Has recently become a keen XC pilot. Very happy to help so give
him a ring. |
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John Cheale |
| Discipline: HG | Availability: Weekends |
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Tel:01380 729955
Mobile: | Email: |
| Based in Devizes |
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Paul Carder |
| Discipline: PG | Availability: Weekends and occasionally during the week, but quite happy to speak to someone any time. |
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Tel:
Mobile: 07769 745693 | Email: pc1@carderfamily.co.uk
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I have been flying since approx 2005, starting mainly flying Wessex and some Sky Surfer sites, but often as far as Selsley Common near Stroud, or Bossington near Minehead! I am also a sailplane pilot, which is my way of flying when its too windy for a paraglider.
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Everard Cunion |
| Discipline: HG | Availability: Anytime |
|
Tel: 01202483847
Mobile: | Email:
everard_cunion_777@postmaster.co.uk |
| Everard has flown hang gliders since 1974 and
paragliders since 2000. He is based in Christchurch. |
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Richard
Davis |
| Discipline: PG | Availability: Weekends |
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Tel:
Mobile: 07887 851934 | Email:richard_a_davis@btinternet.com
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Ive been flying paragliders since 1995, Im mostly
found flying coastal sites, but it has been known for me to
be spotted inland! |
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Harry Dike |
| Discipline: PG | Availability: Anytime |
|
Tel: 01963362248
Mobile: 07929 784 248 | Email: mo@veales322.freeserve.co.uk
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| Based near Sturminster Newton, Harry is out during
the week as well as at weekends |
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Roger Edwards |
| Discipline: PG | Availability: Weekends |
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Tel:
Mobile: | Email:wessex@blue64.co.uk
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Roger is based in Bournemouth. He has been flying since 2004
and
enjoys helping new pilots build confidence. He is mainly out
flying
weekends only. |
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Henry Hookings |
| Discipline: PG | Availability: Anytime
|
|
Tel: 07708-557776 | Email:hhookings@yahoo.co.uk
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1. Found mainly flying at Barton on Sea,(whenever it is flyable) 2. Flying since 2005 4. Airwave sport 2 Blue & White
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Simon H Jones |
| Discipline: PG | Availability: Mainly weekends/evenings
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Tel: | Email: shj@bryanston.co.uk
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| Simon has been flying since 2005 having take an inordinately long time to get his CP rating. He lives in Blandford and can be sighted at any number of sites in the Wessex region. He is a teacher and so is more often spotted during the school holidays but can also be seen by the eagle-eyed as dusk approaches at other times of the year. |
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Gill LeGras |
| Discipline: PG | Availability: Mainly weekends
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Tel: | Email: middlehurstg@middlehurstg.plus.com
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| Gill lives in Bentley, Hants, has been flying since 2002 and is normally restricted to flying at weekends. She is always keen to fly Cross Country at every opportunity. Gill is also the clubs Female Pilots' Liaison. |
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 Neil McCain |
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Brian Metcalfe |
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Shamus Pitts |
| Discipline: PG | Availability: Weekends |
|
Tel: 01300 341682 Mobile: 07795 985642
| Email: shamus@sydling.plus.com
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| Im based in West Dorset and have been flying paragliders since August 2006. You can usually find me on a windswept hill if theres a remote chance it might be flyable. |
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Gary Puhl |
| Discipline: PG | Availability: Anytime |
|
Tel:
Mobile: 07760321108 | Email: garypuhl123@btinternet.com
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| With 17 years experience flying paragliders and a passion for XC, I enjoy using the tandem when possible to give experience of soaring and thermic flight. |
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John Shephard |
| Discipline: PG | Availability: Weekends |
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Tel: Mob:. 07732223407 | Email:jcshephard@hotmail.com |
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John has been paragliding for 20 years and is an ex senior instructor. He lives in Blandford |
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Sean Staines |
| Discipline: PG | Availability: |
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Tel: 01256 473346
Mobile: 07764 566444 | Email:sean_staines@btinternet.com
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Sean also flies a paramotor and is based near Basingstoke
in Hampshire |
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Keith Wright |
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 Dave Winn |
| Discipline: PG | Availability: Weekends |
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Tel: 01202304052
Mobile: 07966458221 | Email: Iccarusdave@aol.com
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Dave is a PG pilot with tandem rating living in Bournemouth. You'll see him out on the hill most weekends, flying the tandem, soaring on the coast or trying to go xc, either locally or around the British countryside with his competition head on.
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