Competitions and Awards
Competition flying is an important part of gliding. Although competitions usually involve racing sailplanes around pre-planned cross-country tasks, pilots also take part in aerobatic competitions where they are scored for accuracy of flying. Competitions can be great social occasions too, and following the cross country racing action from the ground is getting easier thanks to online tracking.
Organised on-site competitions range from a one day single race event through to nine-day or two-week championships involving multiple races and classes of gliders. Each glider type has a performance handicap. Details are in the Competition Rules.
Some pilots compete in online competitions, for example the BGA Ladder or We Glide, or the OLC, where pilots upload logger traces of their cross-country flights to compare performances.
At club level, the Inter Club League is great fun and surprisingly competitive!
Competition Calendar
Competition website links will be added when supplied by the host club.
| Start Date | End Date | Competition | Venue |
|---|---|---|---|
| 4/4/25 | 6/4/25 | Dan Smith Memorial Trophy ** | London Gliding Club |
| 10/5/25 | 18/5/25 | Dunstable Regionals | London Gliding Club - Dunstable |
| 24/5/25 | 1/6/25 | Standard Class Nationals 2025 | Lasham Gliding Society |
| 24/5/25 | 1/6/25 | 15M Nationals 2025 | Lasham Gliding Society |
| 24/5/25 | 1/6/25 | Open Class Nationals 2025 | Lasham Gliding Society |
| 21/6/25 | 29/6/25 | Bidford Regionals 2025 | Bidford Gliding Club - Bidford Airfield |
| 5/7/25 | 13/7/25 | Shenington Regionals 2025 | Edgehill G.C - Shenington Airfield |
| 5/7/25 | 12/7/25 | Competition Enterprise 2025 * | Cotswold Gliding Club - Aston Down |
| 12/7/25 | 20/7/25 | Lasham Regionals 2025 | Lasham Gliding Society |
| 18/7/25 | 20/7/25 | Saltby Open Championship ** | Buckminster Gliding Club |
| 26/7/25 | 3/8/25 | Club Class Nationals 2025 | London Gliding Club - Dunstable |
| 26/7/25 | 3/8/25 | The Hus Bos Challenge Cup 2025 | The Gliding Centre - Husbands Bosworth Airfield |
| 16/8/25 | 24/8/25 | 18M Std Class Nationals 2025 | The Gliding Centre - Husbands Bosworth Airfield |
| 16/8/25 | 24/8/25 | Junior Nationals 2025 | Cotswold Gliding Club - Aston Down |
| 16/8/25 | 24/8/25 | 20M Multi-Seat Class Nationals 2025 | The Gliding Centre - Husbands Bosworth Airfield |
| 17/8/25 | 24/8/25 | Two Seater Competition | Wolds Gliding Club - Pocklington Airfield |
| 7/9/25 | 13/9/25 | UK Mountain Soaring Championships | Deeside Gliding Club - Aboyne |
| 12/9/25 | 14/9/25 | British National Championship ** | Buckminster Gliding Club |
* Non rated competition
** Glider Aerobatic
Competition rules and guidance
BGA Competition organiser’s briefing notes
BGA Competition organisers guide – important information when planning a competition
Simplified competition rules
A simplified competition rules format has been developed as an alternative to the ‘rules for rated competitions’. The standard rules are necessarily rigorous to cater for National Championships where similarity to International rules is required. However, at UK regional competition level, such rigour is not necessary and the complexity of the standard rules can be a barrier to pilots and potential organisers. It is hoped that clubs will trial this format in 2022 to encourage new cross-country pilots to gain the skills and experience that will enable them to safely take part in higher-level competitions in their gliding journey.
Simplified competition rules organiser’s information
Inter-Club League
Inter-club league information is available here.
Ethics
Ethics in a sporting environment comprise the principles and values that participants and others are expected to demonstrate and the behaviours they are expected to exhibit and promote. Fairness, respectfulness, and ethically sound behaviours reasonably apply in any gliding environment.
You can view the relevant FAI policy here.
BGA policies can be viewed here.
FAI IGC Documents
FAI IGC documents (eg Sporting Code)
Gliding Records
Pilots can view existing British gliding records here.
If you intend to or have broken a record, you can apply to have your record recognised using an FAI IGC form available from this link.
Official Observers
Pilots may apply to be an FAI Official Observer. Details are available here.
The BGA Official Observer application form is here.
An FAI video detailing guidance for Official Observers is available here.
Other Information
Barograph calibration – gaining BGA permission.
Competition licence (online application)
Competitions and Awards Committee
The BGA Competitions and Awards Committee is always keen to recruit new committee members. If you are interested in learning more about the Competition and Awards Committee, or more generally about competitions and awards please contact the BGA office or email compscommittee@gliding.co.uk
The committee terms of reference are available here.
Previous meeting notes are available here (click on chronologically to date order)