JEFF VADER TAKES SPORTSMAN

SEPTEMBER 28, 2003 - COLCHESTER, CT– Nine New England Formula GX combat flyers assembled, at the Bacon Academy, in Colchester, Connecticut, for the annual running of “The Clash at Colchester”. Weather conditions were wet. Temperatures in the low sixties made the rain showers, often heavy, tolerable, albeit just barely.

Round one saw Matt Stas get off to the best start followed closely by Mark Rudner, Brian Stas and Neil Simpson. Round two started with Mark earning a one cut win over Matt. In the next match Neil earned a one cut win over Dana Lord. This was followed by a match where Brian improved his position with a two cut win over Jeff Vader. Gerry Pompeii also moved into contention with a two cut, round two win over Ernie Carosella. Going into round three it was Brian with 1235 points followed by Mark (1140pts), Neil (1130pts), Gerry (825pts) and Matt (820pts). The first match of this round saw Mark get a three cut win over a Brian in a good match that saw both pilots fly well. The next match was also a good one with Neil and Gerry involved in a buzzer to buzzer war with Neil squeaking out the win two cuts to one.

As round four started Mark had 1970 points, Neil had 1855 points, Brian had 1635 points and Gerry had 1225 points. In the first match of round four Glenn Simpson earned a two cut win over Jeff Vader. This gave Glenn, who was flying good, after a very slow start, the clubhouse lead. In the semi final match Brian and Gerry were having a war, really going at it with each earning a cut, when the ground came up on Gerry late in the match costing him the match by his loss of airtime points. In the final match Mark and Neil flew to a one cut apiece draw in a match that had plenty of action. The top four were Mark (2480pts), Neil (2365pts), Brian (2255pts), and Glenn (1745pts). Jeff Vader, on this day, out dueled Ernie Carosella for the Sportsman “gold”.

Thank You to Dana Lord, from all of us, for again securing permission to use the Bacon Academy facility.

The Clash at Colchester - Formula GX Combat

9 Contestants (5 from MA) (3 from CT) (1 from NH)

18 Matches – 2 mid-airs

(E) Mark Rudner-Cambridge, MA 2480pts

(E) Neil Simpson-E. Brookfield, MA 2365pts

(A) Brian Stas -Kingston, MA 2255pts

(E) Glenn Simpson-Worcester, MA 1745pts

(A) Dana Lord - Colchester, CT 1640pts

(A) Matt Stas-Kingston, MA 1530pts

(E) Gerry Pompeii-Columbia, CT 1525pts

(S) Jeff Vader-Franklin, NH 1310pts

(S) Ernie Carosella - Clinton, CT 1100pts