High-flying Mike’s soaraway success

Come fly with me . . . Mike Bond flew to victory 25 years after his first success

A CHADDERTON glider pilot has soared to victory in a major competition - 25 years after first winning it.

Mike Bond, who owns Chadderton-based Manchester Picture and Sports Framing, originally won the Northern Regional Gliding Competition in 1988, though had been a commercial pilot since 1964.

A quarter of a century after the first win, and having just celebrated his 70th birthday, the businessman claimed first place once again in competition with 28 other pilots.

Mike, who flies a 17m carbon fibre glider, said: “I gave up gliding for about 20 years after I won way back then, but decided to start again about four years ago.

“I’ve gone up the rankings and managed to win again - which is brilliant because I’ve beaten all the young hot shots with their expensive equipment.

“It’s 10 days of racing, and it’s a very tough competition but it’s something I’ve always loved doing.”

During day three of this year’s competition, Mike showed the younger pilots taking part that experience can be key: he was the only one to finish that day’s challenge, which involved climbing to 10,000ft and flying through cloud, thunder, lightning, rain and hailstones.

“It was a great feeling to win - and a top way to mark my birthday,” he said.