Icebreake04

Wompatuck

Ice Breaker

JOE FUSTOLO, NEIL SIMPSON,

GLENN SIMPSON & MARK RUDNER

TAKE TOP FOUR SPOTS

SHAYLENE VADER WINS SPORTSMAN

APRIL 25, 2004 -HINGHAM, MA This was it, opening day of the 2004 New England control line combat season. Conditions were partly sunny and a bit cool, however, by midday temperatures warmed giving us a very acceptable day, weather wise. Thirteen New England pilots were on hand to get the season off to a good start. We were ready for four rounds of Formula GX Combat action.

Round one saw Mark Rudner get off to the best start posting a two cut to one win over Joe Fustolo in a very well flown match. Other good starts in round one included Brian Stas (620 pts) and Ken Hargreaves (520pts). Dick Sherman, Rick Clark, Jim Carpenter and Glenn Simpson were also sitting well, all four flyers posting identical 510 point scores. Round two started with Mark getting past Brian with an airtime win. In the next match Ken Hargreaves got past Dick Sherman via a one cut win in a very exciting match. Round two also saw Glenn Simpson earn a one cut win over Shaylene Vader while Jim Carpenter posted an airtime victory over Rick Clark. At the halfway point Mark had the lead with 1245 points followed by Ken (1140 pts), Glenn (1130 pts) and Jim (1030 pts). Round three started with mid-airs in the first two matches. First, Mark and Ken followed by Dick and Glenn. This really served to tighten the field. Of the leaders only Jim Carpenter stayed steady earning an airtime win over Brian Stas. Meanwhile, Matt Stas, Neil Simpson and Joe Fustolo had all posted good round three scores to climb back into contention.

Going into round four Jim had 1550 points followed by Glenn (1430pts), Matt (1345pts), Mark (1345pts), Joe (1330pts), Neil (1325pts) and Ken (1240pts). The final four matches of the contest seemed destined to determine the outcome. In the first of these Neil Simpson earned a one cut win over Rick Clark in a match that started slow and finished with a flurry. Next Joe Fustolo got a one cut win over Ken Hargreaves in another very exciting match. Glenn and Mark were next in a match that ended in a one cut apiece draw. In the final match Matt Stas and Jim Carpenter would fight it out in a match that ended in an early mid-air. When the scores were tabulated, the final order of finish was Joe Fustolo, Neil Simpson, Glenn Simpson and Mark Rudner. In the sportsmen division Shaylene Vader earned the "gold" in a day long battle with "Lil Sherm". These are two excellent young pilots and they both continue to improve.

Thank You to all who shared in the judging and a special thanks to Rick Clark who CD'ed the event, secured the site and did all the great prep work that made this a fun contest.

Wompatuck Ice Breaker - Formula GX Combat

13 Contestants (10 from MA) (3 from NH)

26 Matches-5 mid airs

(E) Joe Fustolo-Stoughton, MA

1950pts

(E) Neil Simpson-East Brookfield, MA

1945pts

(E) Glenn Simpson-Worcester, MA

1940pts

(E) Mark Rudner-Cambridge, MA

1855pts

(A) Brian Stas-Kingston, MA

1750pts

(E) Jim Carpenter-Salem, NH

1750pts

(E) Dick Sherman-Andover, MA

1730pts

(A) Matthew Stas-Kingston, MA

1645pts

(A) Ken Hargreaves-Worcester, MA

1545pts

(A) Rick Clark-Hingham, MA

1420pts

(A) Jeff Vader-Franklin, NH

1330pts

(S) Shaylene Vader-Franklin, NH

1200pts

(S) Lil-Sherm-Andover, MA

600pts