Report on the St. Andrews Kite Festival
26th Of November 2006 - West Sands, St. Andrews
The St. Andrews Kite Festival this year was a great success dispite the lack of wind, Starting at 10am it begun with very few kites in the air, just one lightweight rev and a very large c-quad considering the winds. Once the wind picked up a bit there were a lot more kites in the air both in the arena and on the beach, including at one time 4 Revolutions, 3 of which were performing next to each other for full effect.
At 11am Scottish Landboarders Ally, Andy, Angus and Kev all went out and did a boarding demonstration for the public, although the tricks and jumps were basic and low-level it drew in the crowds well with the alongside commentary.
After the landboarders came out of the arena Andy, James, Mark, Matt and Owain shared the stage and displayed just how fun Buggy freestyle can be, doing both ground based tricks and Mark, Matt and Owain getting some jumps in during the slightly stronger winds. Alan, Bob, James, Jim and Ross went out in their racing buggys to show the public the size of them and the different turns you can perform.
Dual and Quad line kites then went out again and the flyers displayed their control and finesse with these tricky and responsive kites.
At 3pm the Organisers began to pack up and relax after a long day.
Photos are available in the SPKA St. Andrews Kite Festival Gallery. And also on Tractionkiting.co.uk's gallery Here.
Special thanks must go out to the Council and Liason Group for St. Andrews for permission and assistance in organising the festival.
And the organisers themselves, the SPKA special mentions must go to:
Bill, Bob, James, Jim, John, Joyce, Judith, Keith, Owain, Paul, Pat, Ross, Tom
And the powerkite demonstrators:
Alan, Ally, Andy, Angus, Bob, James, Jim, Kev, Mark Matt, Owain, Ross.
As well as the shops and organisations represented and in attendance:
Extreme Zone
JustFlyKites
Kite St.Andrews
KiteSurfScotland
Marionville Models
Synergy Kites
Tractionkiting
Report on the SPKA Summer Fly
16th Of July 2006 - West Sands, St. Andrews
The SPKA Summer Fly went extremely well at St. Andrews West Sands on the 16th of July. Although the wind wasn't very strong or very consistant everyone managed to get out for a fly throughout the day and the sun baked down on everyone. The BBQ was fired up for lunch and tea and the smell of food drifted over the beach.
Have a look at the album in the gallery for some photos: SPKA Summer Fly Gallery
Mini Race Results
| Position | Race: | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | Discard | Total points | Position |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Bob M | 3 | 5 | 2 | 3 | 0 | 5 | 8 | 1 |
| 2 | Kev A | 7 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 7 | 7 | 10 | 2 |
| 3 | Stef J | 2 | 4 | 3 | 5 | 4 | 5 | 13 | 3 |
| 4 | Dave S | 0 | 0 | 7 | 7 | 7 | 7 | 14 | 4 |
| 5 | Brian McB | 7 | 2 | 5 | 4 | 3 | 7 | 14 | 5 |
| 6 | Mark S | 7 | 7 | 4 | 2 | 2 | 7 | 15 | 6 |
Report on the Third SPKA Competition Day
4th Of June 2006 - Stevenston, N. Ayrshire
The SPKAs Third competition day went off well, although lacking in wind compared to previous events and the tide coming in quicker than anticipated all 3 apsects of the event were run.
Registration was held from 9.45am until 10.30am and we had a grand total of 23 Race Buggiers, 4 Freestyle Landboarders and 4 Freestyle Buggiers. Included in those attending were 3 Irishmen who really should know better than to travel long distances for events
because they always end up with not much wind!
The Competition day marked the end of this years SPKA Annual Buggy Race Series and so after 8 Races in total over the past 3 events we finally have the placings for this years competition. The final results for the Racing both on the day and for the Overall Series are available by following this link: SPKA Annual Buggy Race Series 2006 Results
Congratulations to all the pilots who have made it into the rankings for this year but mostly to the top three:
1st: Kev Arlott
2nd: Mark Rose
3rd: Jim Wallis
The top 10 for the 2006 Buggy Race Series may use their position as their race number for the next year until the end of the 2007 Series (If you wish to). Eg: SCO 1, SCO 8 and so on...
Results for the Freestyle elements of the event are as follows:
Freestyle Buggying:
1st: Matt Coner
2nd: James McGoldrick
3rd: Andy Peppiette
4th: Owain Williams
Freestyle Boarding:
1st: Kev Arlott
2nd: Ally Beaven
3rd: Andy Peppiette
4th: Grant Clayton
Huge thanks have to go out to everyone who helped out on the day: Tom Arlott, Ally Beaven, Roger Blake, Grant Golding, Jim McGoldrick, Keith Haynes, Kevin Paterson, Stuart Potter, Joyce Strachan, Team TK and Danny. And of course everyone who has attended and supported our first Buggy Racing Series and Freestyle events.
Photos from the day are currently available from:
Report on the SPKA Buggy Licencing Day 2
21st Of May 2006 - West Sands, St. Andrews
If your are interested in attaining your SPKA Buggy Race Club Class Licence which enables you to race in our and most other UK events then please contact us and let us know your interested by clicking
The licencing day run by Jim Henderson went extremely well, we now have 7 newly qualified buggy race pilots including our first female pilot, congratulations to you all and we wish you luck and look forward to seeing you at our events in the future.
Those who are interested in attaining their licence then feel free to check out our page on Buggy Licencing which should help you understand what will be going on and what you need to know.
Report on the Second SPKA Competition Day
3rd Of April 2006 - Stevenston, N. Ayrshire
The day started off with registration by the Banner just off the beach and the area filled up quickly with vehicles carrying buggys and boards as well as their riders/pilots. The sun was shining and it was warm enough for most to go about without a jacket for the first time in a long while, wind however was severly lacking for a traction kite competition day.
As the wind picked up and more and more people arrived (including a large group of top class Ozone Freestylers from England) Freestylers began setting up on the grass due to lack of beach (the tide was still on its way out). The freestyle zone was set out for the competitions and a boarding heat which saw young Scots talent Andy Peppiette going against young English talent Jack Daykin. After that heat was over it was the turn of Angus and Kev, Venom vs Frenzy once again, however the lack of wind caused it to be disallowed, the wind once again picked up and the heat was run but alas it wasn't to be the wind dropped again after the 2nd heat and the final as well as the Buggy Freestyle wasn't able to go ahead as the organisers and some of the competitors were scheduled to race.
The wind picked up and dropped off throughout the day and in the light winds the 17 competitors in the Buggy Racing were able to get around a long course which proved challenging with the varying wind conditions during the first race, and then fast and agressive during the second when the wind swung around onshore and strengthened. The third race went ahead and rounded off the day at bang on 4pm for competitors.
Numbers wise the event went spectacularly, with 5 Entrants for the Board Freestyle, 5 for the Buggy Freestyle and 17 for the Buggy Racing with many many more fliers along for the day to watch, have some fun, chat and have a fly themselves.
Thanks to all involved in every aspect of the event organisation, from Marshalling to Organisation/Registration and Scorekeeping/Judging: Tom Arlott, Roger Blake, Joyce Strachan, Leah Wenham, Butch, Mark Archer, Keith Haynes, Jim McGoldrick all require equal and great thanks.
Due to the Freestyle competitions not having run due to the lack of wind the SPKA have decided to allow all Freestyle only entrants free entry into the next SPKA Competition Day.
Buggy Race Results and Series results! are available : Here
Photos are available on the Traction Kiting gallery which can be accessed by clicking Gallery.
Report on the First SPKA Competition Day
5th February 2006 - West Sands, St. Andrews
Well, Sunday morning arrived with all the organisers and competitors having high hopes and expectations of the events to come and were not disappointed. 23 people registered for the various events. Buggy Racing (16 entrants) , Buggy Freestyle (5 entrants) and Board Freestyle (6 entrants). All the events ran smoothly enough and almost without incident, although there were a few small tumbles and the occasional tangle and snapped line, all to be expected from a moderatly sized event.
The SPKA put on an excellent set of events and every pilots meeting was filled with good natured banter and humour showing that all those who came along enjoyed themselves.
A large number of thanks must go out to various parties involved: Tom Arlott, Roger Blake, Matt Coner, Dan Fowden, Dave Furmage, Keith Haynes, The Legendary Martie, James McGoldrick, Jim McGoldrick, Bob Mitchell, Team TK, Jim Aitken. All of them fulfilled vital organisational roles, or helped out on the day, marshalling, setting the course, scoring, or judging.
A Video is availible Here thanks to 'Mr Buggy'
And now: The Results!
Buggy Freestyle:
| Position | Number | Name |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | SCO 120 | Matt Coner |
| 2 | SCO 97 | Andy Clark |
| 3 | SCO 136 | Owain Williams |
| 4 | SCO 100 | James McGoldrick |
| 5 | SCO 127 | Dave Furmage |
Board Freestyle:
| Position | Number | Name |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | SCO 23 | Kev Arlott |
| 2 | SCO 162 | Andy Peppiette |
| 3 | SCO 152 | Angus Aitken |
| 4 | SCO 163 | Graham More |
| 5= | SCO 135 | Ross Henderson |
| 5= | SCO 97 | Andy Clark |
Buggy Race Results! for the First Competition day are available: Here
