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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.