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- Last Updated on Thursday, 27 June 2019 11:17
Awards & Trophies
MHGC Most Improved
John King Memorial
John Alfred King died in a hang gliding accident at Long Mynd on Sunday 10th February 1980. To know John was to like him. As a Club Coach and Committee member he worked tirelessly for the Malvern Club, and also as Secretary of the Midland Federation. He gave illustrated talks, and films on hang gliding, and was one of the sport's keenest disciples. Always trying to educate the public, anywhere any time. From an evening with the WI to a Rotary luncheon, or just sitting in his famous Sherpa van on the hill. His wit, boundless energy and enthusiasm will be sadly missed by all who new him.
The John King award goes to the pilot who has, in the opinion of the Committee, shown most improvement in his or her flying skills during the previous season.
2018 Steve Ashley
2017 Richard Darling
2016 Tim Crow
2015 Sam Price
2014 Gavin Ramsay
2013 Richard Darling
2012 Richard Darling
2011 Tony Wilkinson
2010 Ian Price
2009 Stuart Mayson
2008 John Kingsley
2006 James Clewitt
2005 Dennis Ferneclough
2004 David Quinn
2003 Brian Pilcher
2002 Graham Shand
2001 (unclaimed - foot & mouth)
2000 Richard Pearce
1999 Bryan Hindle
1998 Gordon Allison
1997 Mark Barrett-Moore
1996 Dave Quinn
1995 Mark Barrett-Moore
1994 Jonno Rann
1993 P Hancox
1992 Paul Depper
1991 Dave Norton
1990 Martin Bennett
1989 Ian Scudder
1988 Graham Voyle
1987 Dave Wood
1986 Andy Griffin
1985 Bill Bell
1984 Dave Corbett
1982 Barry Brooks
1980 Alex Yule
MHGC Best Newcomer
This award is for newly qualified pilots, and goes to the pilot that the committee consider to have shown most promise in his or her start in the sport over the previous season.
2018 (not awarded)
2017 (not awarded)
2016 (not awarded)
2015 (not awarded)
2014 Steve Ashley
2013 (not awarded)
2012 Ed Coyte
2011 Nick Ridley
2010 Mark Torres
2009 Stuart Mayson
2007 Kobus Cilliers
2006 Andy Wallington
2005 Antonio Lauricella
2004 James Clewitt
2003 Carolyn Dewdney
2002 Dave Jackson-Hobbs
XC Cup
Graham Holder Memorial
Graham was a scientist working at RSRE in Malvern and a very keen member of the club in the early to mid-eighties. A group of us were very keen in those days and we were out at every opportunity, Graham was probably one of the most enthusiastic and competitive amongst us and he was nearly always the first to launch!
On 21st February 1987, we went to Pandy on a strong, gusty day and as usual Graham was first to launch. Immediately after take-off, his right wing tip dropped and hit a bush which further rotated the glider and he impacted head first into the hillside. We called an ambulance and got him to hospital as soon as possible but sadly his injuries were so severe that he never regained consciousness and died eleven days later on 5th March 1987.
His death affected us all deeply and so it seemed fitting at the time that we should introduce a trophy in his memory and the "XC Cup" seemed to best capture his enthusiastic and competitive spirit.
The Graham Holder Memorial XC Cup is awarded to the member who has logged the highest-scoring flight in the UK in the previous season under the Malvern HGC or Malvern Aerotow Group “flag”.
2018 Steve Ashley
2017 Tony Wilkinson
2016 Nick Collins
2015 Bill Bell
2014 Tony Wilkinson
2013 Kirsty Cameron
2012 Nick Collins
2011 Bryan Hindle
2010 Stuart Mayson
2009 Bill Bell
2008 Bryan Hindle
2007 Nev Almond
2006 Richard Pearce
2005 Bryan Hindle
2004 Bryan Hindle
2003 Nick Collins
2002 Bryan Hindle
2001 Frank Trunks
2000 Derek Evans

1999 Bill Bell
1998 Martin Bennett
1997 Bill Bell
1996 Alex Green
1995 Graham Steel
1994 Graham Steel
1993 Martin Bennett
1992 Derek Evans
1991 Andy Smart
1990 Alan Hyde
1990 Alan Hyde
1989 Andy Smart
1988 Alan Hyde
1987 Leo Jones
MHGC Go For It
The paraglider pilots and hang glider pilots each have their own league (see below). This award goes to the highest scorer in either league – the champion of champions!
2018 Gavin Ramsay
2017 Tony Wilkinson
2016 Tim Crow
2015 Bryan Hindle
2014 Bryan Hindle
2013 Bryan Hindle
2012 Bryan Hindle
2011 Bryan Hindle
2010 Nigel Dewdney
2009 Bryan Hindle
2008 Nev Almond
2007 Bryan Hindle
2006 Bryan Hindle
2005 Bryan Hindle
2004 Bryan Hindle
2003 Tim Crow
2002 Bryan Hindle
2001 (unclaimed - foot & mouth)
2000 Bryan Hindle
1999 Bill Bell
1998 Derek Evens
1997 Bill Bell
1996 Rob Davis
1995 Bill Bell
1994 Andy Smart
1993 Martin Bennett
1992 Alan Hyde
1991 S Docherty
1990 Leo Jones
1989 Andy Smart
1988 Alan Hyde
1987 Leo Jones
1986 Leo Jones
1985 Leo Jones
1984 Leo Jones
1981 Geoff Weighell
1977 John Bevan
MHGC Paragliding XC League
All UK paragliding flights logged by club members in the previous season are scored and this award goes to the overall winner. See the “Competitions” page for details of the scoring.
2018 Gavin Ramsay
2017 Tony Wilkinson
2016 Tim Crow
2015 Bryan Hindle
2014 Bryan Hindle
2013 Bryan Hindle
2012 Bryan Hindle
2011 Bryan Hindle
2010 Nigel Dewdney
2009 Bryan Hindle
2008 Bryan Hindle
2007 Bryan Hindle
2006 Bryan Hindle
2005 Bryan Hindle
2004 Bryan Hindle
2003 Tim Crow
2002 Bryan Hindle
2001 (unclaimed - foot & mouth)
2000 Richard Pearce
1999 Bryan Hindle
1997 Rob Davis
1996 Alex Green
1995 Graham Steel
1994 Graham Steel
1993 Alex Green
1992 J Tapscott
MHGC Hang Gliding XC League
All UK hang gliding flights logged by club members in the previous season are scored and this award goes to the overall winner. See the “Competitions” page for details of the scoring.
2018 Carl Wallbank
2017 Bill Bell
2016 Nick Collins
2015 Nick Collins
2014 Bill Bell
2013 Alec Linton
2012 Alan Hyde
2011 Bill Bell
2010 Bill Bell
Best Triangle Award
Awarded for the highest scoring triangle flight by a member in the UK during the previous season. See the “Competitions” page for details of the scoring.
2018 Tony Wilkinson
2017 Nigel Dewdney
Best Low Save award
Awarded to the pilot managing the best recorded low save of the previous season in the Committee’s opinion. Self-reporting is usually required, but should be verifiable by track log.
2018 not awarded
2017 Bryan Hindle
Carolyn Dewdney Spirit of Free Flying Award

Awarded to the member who, in the opinion of the Committee, has best shown the spirit of sheer non-competitive enjoyment in their flying over the previous season, a spirit which was epitomized by Carolyn.
2018 Steve Ashley
2017 Dave Jackson-Hobbs
2016 Gavin Ramsay
2015 John Bevan
2014 Noel McGovern
Turf Surfer Award
Awarded to the paraglider pilot member who, in the opinion of the Committee, has surfed most inelegantly over the ground behind (or sometimes beneath) his/her wing during the previous season, causing serious injury only to their pride.
2018 Dave Jackson-Hobbs
2017 Gavin Ramsay
2016 Richard Darling
2015 Tony Willkinson

2014 Chris Hopkins
2013 Tony Willkinson
2012 Kevin Poole
2011 Paul Massey
2010 Ian Price
2009 Kobus Cilliers
2008 Kobus Cilliers
2007 Dave Jackson-Hobbs
2006 John Kingsley
2005 Brian Hickman
2004 Dave Quinn
Broken Upright Trophy
Awarded to the hang glider pilot member who, in the opinion of the Committee, has suffered the most embarrassing (non-serious) incident whilst flying during the previous season.
2018 (unclaimed)
2017 Nick Collins
2016 (unclaimed)
2015 (unclaimed)
2014 Andy Wallington
2013 (unclaimed)
2012 David Corbett
2011 John Bevan

2010 Ken Shail
2009 Bill Bell
2008 Tony Jones
2007 Derek Evens
2006 Tony Jones
2005 Jim Clewitt
2004 John Bevan
2003 Brian Pilcher
2002 John Bevan
2001 (unclaimed - foot & mouth)
2000 Martin Bennett
1999 Ken Shail
1998 Gordon Allison
1997 Tony Jones
1996 Ron Maul
1995 Tim Meager
1994 Christopher Farwell
1993 Ken Shail
1992 Paul Depper
1991 Ian Scudder
1990 Christopher Farwell
1989 Derek Evans
1998 Ron Maul
1997 Brian Dainty
1996 David Corbett
Senior Bustit/Moment Trophy
As free flying gives rise to so many opportunities to make a fool of yourself, this extra award can be made to honour any particularly silly behaviour of a member not already recognised by an award.

2018 Brian Perkins
2017 Tim Crow
2016 (unclaimed)
2015 Richard Darling
2014 Tony Wilkinson
2013 Bryan Hindle
2012 Nick Collins
2011 Nick Collins
2009 John Bevan
2006 Ken Shail
2007 Derek Evens
2005 Derek Evens
2004 John Bevan
Stones Throw Award
Awarded to recognise the valiant but unsuccessful efforts made by members to catch that second thermal after leaving the hill, this award is for the shortest logged flight over 5km from take-off to landing (excluding ridge runs). Previous holders have often gone on to great things, and sometimes regressed from them.
(Sadly records had not been kept for the recipients of this coveted award so if your name is missing please contact us)
2018 Stuart Mayson
2017 Simon Dillworth
2016 Chris Hopkins
2015 Kobus Cilliers
2014 Tony Wilkinson 

2013 Chris Hopkins
2012 Richard Darling
2011 Nigel Dewdney
2007 John Bevan
2006 Bryan Hindle
2005 Tim Crow
2003 Bryan Hindle
2002 Nick Collins
2000 Nick Collins