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Club Coaching
Welcome to the Wessex! We are a friendly club blessed with an abundance of sites that take nearly all wind directions. We have some really excellent costal soaring sites as well as some wonderful inland sites with good cross-country potential; there's great flying to be had in the Wessex region.

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.

Also don't forget that we meet on the evening of the 1st Thursday of every month, don't be shy, come along and introduce yourself, we're (mostly) a nice bunch.

Looking forward to meeting up on the hill.

Introductory letter from the Chief Coach

Pilot exam
Refresh your knowledge or prepare for the Pilot exam, - courtesy of Dave Winn


Chief Coach


Gary Mullins
Discipline: PG   Availability: Anytime

Tel:  01305820172
Mobile: 07880586310

Email: gary.mullins@virgin.net
Gary is a PG instructor living in Portland. You'll see him out on the hill either instructing or flying quite a lot!


Mike Adkins
Discipline: PG  Availability: Anytime

Tel:  01258 473246
Mobile: 0771256 8521

Email: mikeannie@talktalk.net
Mike has been flying for 12 years. Based at Sturminster Newton, N Dorset.

John Alder
Discipline: HG  Availability: Weekends

Tel:  01747828576
Mobile: 07963580745

Email:
John has many years experience on HGs. Based nr. Shaftesbury


Nigel Bourn
Discipline: PG   Availability:

Tel:  

Email: nbourn@butterfly-conservation.org
 


Mike Bretherton
Discipline: PG   Availability: Weekends

Tel:  01489 786221
Mobile: 07773 110 442

Email:mike@nowty.co.uk
Mike lives near Southampton and has several years flying experience both at home and abroad. His passion is Xc and competition flying.


Charles Campion-Smith
Discipline: PG  Availability:

Tel:  01305 251755
07968 186308

Email: charlescs@metronet.co.uk
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.


Pete Chalmers
Discipline: PG  Availability: Anytime

Tel:  02380 848588
Mobile: 07710 416682

Email: petechalmers@dsl.pipex.com
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.


Everard Cunion
Discipline: HG/PG   Availability: Weekends

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.


Richard Davis
Discipline: PG  Availability: Weekends

Tel:  
Mobile: 07887 851934

 

Email:richard_a_davis@btinternet.com

I’ve been flying paragliders since 1995, I’m mostly found flying coastal sites, but it has been known for me to be spotted inland!

 




Harry Dike
Discipline: PG   Availability: Anytime

Tel:  01963362248
Mobile: 07929 784 248

Email: mo@veales322.freeserve.co.uk
Based near Sturminster Newton, Harry is out during the week as well as at weekends


Roger Edwards
Discipline: PG  Availability: Weekends

Tel:  
Mobile:

 

Email:wessex@blue64.co.uk

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.

 



Jon Harvey
Discipline: PG   Availability: Wednesday, Thursday,& weekends

Tel:  01308 423202
Mobile:07968092752

Email: skyrunner355@tiscali.co.uk
Jon resides in Bridport, West Dorset, and has been a paraglider pilot since July 1999. As a member of both Wessex and the Devon and Somerset Condors clubs, he flies mainly within the west Dorset, east Devon, and south west Somerset area.


Gill LeGras
Discipline: PG  Availability: Mainly weekends

Tel:

Email: gill@middlehurstg.freeserve.co.uk
Gill lives in Bentley, Hants, has been flying since 2002 and is normally restricted to flying at weekends. But that could change when she comes back from a 5 month ! PG holiday in Europe in September.
Gill is also the clubs Female Pilots' Liaison.


Neil McCain
Discipline: PG  Availability:Anytime

Tel:  
Mobile: 07835896481

Email: njmcc64@googlemail.com

 

 



Roy Menage
Discipline: PG  Availability: Mainly Weekend but feel free to call anytime for advice

Tel:  
Mobile: 07967 338800

Email: roy.menage@gofirecrest.com
Based in Bournemouth. Roy has been flying since 2004 and gets out whenever possible.


Brian Metcalfe
Discipline: PG  Availability:

Tel:  
Mobile:

Email: mickmetcalfe@gmail.com
 

 

Gary Puhl
Discipline: PG   Availability: Weekends

Tel:  
Mobile: 07760321108

Email: gary.puhl@ntlworld.com
Gary has been flying PGs for 12 years


Sean Staines
Discipline: PG  Availability:

Tel: 01256 473346
Mobile: 07764 566444

 

Email:sean.staines@virgin.net

Sean also flies a paramotor and is based near Basingstoke in Hampshire



Phil Venn
Discipline: PG  Availability: Monday - Wednesday

Tel:  01202 387831
Mobile: 07787 971560

 

Email:philip.venn@ntlworld.com

As well as PG I have a few hours on HG (still red ribbon but I'm working on it)

 



Keith Wright
Discipline: PG  Availability:

Tel:  
Mobile:

 

Email:keithawright@o2.co.uk

 

 


Matthew Whicher
Discipline: HG  Availability: Weekends

Tel:  01722 414 802
Mobile: 07977 563 664

Email: matt_whicher@yahoo.com
Based nr. Salisbury