Richard’s soaring success

SOARING . . . Richard Butterworth flying at Holme Moss near Holmfirth

Paraglider flies high to win UK title

A GREENFIELD man has soared to new heights after winning the British Paragliding Cup.

Daredevil Richard Butterworth was crowned champion only seven years after taking up paragliding and two years after first competing in the event.

The competition saw 55 people take part in five rounds — held in Scotland, Shropshire, the Dales and South and North Wales — starting in May, with Mr Butterworth (41) triumphing after the combined scores were totted up.

Competitors are set tasks on their flight to a goal and are awarded points while GPS monitors their speed and position.

While he didn’t win any of the rounds his consistently high scores, including second and third place in two contests, meant he was the best overall after a nailbiting finale in Snowdonia, where he finished second.

Mr Butterworth said: “I’m chuffed. I started paragliding in 2003 and the first cup I took part in was in 2008. At that time all the people who were winning it were the skygods and I was pleased just to be in the same competition as them, so it’s fantastic to progress to win it.”

Currently the rules state you can only win it once every five years — but he’s hoping a rule change will allow him to defend his title.

Mr Butterworth was keen on outdoor sports such as climbing and mountaineering and took an interest in paragliding after seeing people soaring through the skies around Dovestones.

He said: “I mentioned to my wife I wouldn’t mind having a go but never did anything about it. For my birthday she got me a paragliding session and from that I have never looked back. I bought some kit and was addicted.”

The father-of-four, who runs foam manufacturer HSP Rochdale with a business partner, flies most weekends in the summer and around once a month in winter.

He’s flown as high as 6,000ft in Snowdon and 7,000ft in the Alps but acknowledges there are dangers in a sport that has claimed lives.

Mr Butterworth said: “It’s a risky sport and you do what you can to minimise those risks. But you are in control of it.

“A lot of people have said to me, ‘I can’t do that I’m scared of heights’. I don’t like standing on the edge of a cliff looking over the edge, but if you are in a plane and enjoy the views then you will enjoy paragliding.

“There’s a great sense of freedom to be able to fly above ground without an engine. It’s very serene. It’s also a mental challenge as it’s a 3D game of chess to stay up and find the thermals. I don’t always get it right and end up bumping to the ground. But when you get it right it’s a great feeling and the views are great.”

His oldest children, James (16) and Thomas (14), are following in his footsteps and share a glider.

Mr Butterworth is also competing in the British Paragliding Championships, a higher level of competition with rounds held abroad, where he is third in his class going into the final round in France.