International Dawn to Dusk Competition – Established 1964
– 60th ANNIVERSARY –
2023/24 Competition is open - Closing date for entries is 30th September 2024.
The Dawn to Dusk Competition, celebrating its 60th anniversary, provides a unique aeronautical challenge participating in a day's flying using an aircraft of the competitor's choice. The competition is an opportunity to further your flying, to expand your horizons and to give you the excuse you need to have the flying adventure you have always wanted to have.
If you are interested in entering the competition, please click on the 'How to Enter' tab below. If you have any questions, please email enquiries@pooleysdawntodusk.com and we will come back to you.
Established by the late Duke of Edinburgh, Prince Philip and the Tiger Club, the objective of the Dawn to Dusk is to encourage the most interesting employment of a manned aircraft within the limits of competent airmanship and to demonstrate the capabilities of pilot and machine in a day's flying, in the hours between Dawn and Dusk, whilst undertaking an original and praiseworthy objective.
Entry is FREE and really simple. All that is required is for the competitor to set themselves a challenging goal with a theme and fly it. You then need to write up a log of your preparations and flight. The judges enjoy seeing photographs from your flight and if you wish to include a video, please do. An example of a previously submitted log can be found here.
The only limit on the challenge you set yourself is your imagination! Many choose to link their challenge with a charitable endeavour, raising money as they fly. Examples of previous themes can be found below under 'Previous Winners and Themes'.
Entries are welcome from across the world.
An entry can be flown at any time of the year, with the cut off date for submission of your log falling on the last day of September. Entries received after this date will be entered into the following year's competition.
Further Information
Competition Conditions
The competition is an opportunity to further your flying, to expand your horizons and to give you the excuse you need to have the flying adventure you have always wanted to have. We want the competition to be as easy to enter and fly as possible but please familiarise yourself with the conditions of entry:
The conditions are simple:
- The competition is open to any qualified pilot, in any aircraft, from any country in the world, whatever your level of experience.
- There is no charge to enter the competition.
- Flights must be for a minimum of 4 hours airborne time between the hours of dawn and dusk on one day and may start and finish from any place in the world.
- You can pick any theme/objective you wish. Adding a charitable aspect is not a requirement but has become popular in recent years.
- Please also review the judging criteria in the 'Judging' section.
- Any airspace infringement means an automatic disqualification.
A checklist detailing the entry requirements and full T&Cs will be sent one week after you receive your entry form.
Scoring and Judging
Scoring
The points basis on which the Competition is scored is set out below. The winner will be the Competitor scoring the highest number of total points under this system in accordance with the regulations.
| Subjects | Possible Score |
|---|---|
| 1. The Plan | |
| a. Originality | 30 |
| b. Research | 20 |
| c. Flight Planning | 20 |
| Total points for The Plan: | 70 |
| 2. The Flight | |
| a. Airmanship | 30 |
| b. Difficulty | 30 |
| c. Distance and planned/achieved ratio | 10 |
| d. Airborne time and planned/achieved ratio | 10 |
| e. Weather conditions | 10 |
| Total points for The Flight: | 90 |
| 3. The Log | |
| a. Presentation and relevance | 20 |
| b. Completeness and accuracy | 20 |
| c. Inclusion of a video | 10 |
| Total points for The Log: | 50 |
| 4. Challenges or advantages | |
| a. Pilot and crew experience | 20 |
| b. Equipment | 10 |
| Total points for Challenges or advantages: | 30 |
| Total Points available: | 240 |
Note: Failure to observe the regulations and complete the flight report in all particulars will result in loss of points. Serious omissions or inaccuracies may result in exclusion.
Judging
The Judges reserve the right to penalise any Competitor who, in their opinion, has taken unnecessary risks or demonstrated bad or doubtful airmanship. Competitors may be required to give a written or verbal explanation of any of the circumstances connected with the flight. Particularly blatant cases of bad airmanship may result in exclusion.
The decision of the Judges is final. It is pointed out that the Competitors agree to be bound by this, and all other regulations issued for the Competition, upon completing the Entry Form. The Judges reserve the right to reject an entry without having to assign a reason.
The results will be announced as soon as possible and an awards Presentation and Reception will be held at the RAF Club, Piccadilly, London in January or February of the following year.
Sponsorship and Awards
Sponsorship
The Dawn to Dusk Competition is sponsored by Pooleys Flight Equipment.
Details of the Awards Ceremony, when the results will be announced, will be forwarded to all entrants in due course.
Trophies and Awards
1st Duke of Edinburgh Trophy (plus £1000)
2nd Coventry Trophy
3rd Tiger Club Trophy
Pooley Sword - Best Presented Report and Log
Helicopter Trophy
Glenisla Trophy - Pilot and crew each having less than 75 hours in command
Icarus Trophy - Best solo entry
Microlight Trophy
Long Distance Medal
Bonney Trophy
Family Award
Club Trophy
Best Video Award
Awards
Every Competitor who finishes the Competition, in accordance with the regulations, and submits a log and written/video report will be presented with a Certificate.
The awards will be available for presentation provided that, in the opinion of the Judges, there is a Competitor eligible for them.
How to Enter
How to Enter
Thank you for your interest in the competition. Please complete your initial details below and we will send you the full entry form to complete by email.
WE LOOK FORWARD TO YOUR ENTRY!
Previous Winners and Themes
| Year | Number of entries | Longest Distance Flown (NM) | Winner | Theme | Aircraft |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1964 | Don Lovell | Turbulent | |||
| 1965 | Don Lovell | Turbulent | |||
| 1966 | Robin Voice | Turbulent | |||
| 1967 | Paul Herring | RF4 | |||
| 1968 | 17 | 2027 | Hubert Schnabel (Germany) | 8 countries and 7 seas | Mooney 20A |
| 1969 | 21 | 2230 | Hubert Schnabel (Germany) | 12 EEC countries | Mooney 20A |
| 1970 | 23 | 1742 | Mike Bialkiewicz (Poland) | RF4 | |
| 1971 | 27 | 2100 | Lucien Hankart (Belgium) | Denmark and back | C150 |
| 1972 | 21 | 1265 | Mike Bialkiewicz (Poland) | RF4D | |
| Lucien Hankart | C150 | ||||
| 1973 | 6 | 1256 | Tom Foxworth (US) | Early Kings Cup Races | Stampe |
| 1974 | 15 | 1416 | R. Ashford & A. McClymont | Jodel 150 | |
| 1975 | 14 | 1475 | Tom Foxworth (US) | Western Front WW1 | Tiger Moth |
| 1976 | 10 | 1540 | Tony Cattle & Mike Wheatley | 6 original EEC countries | C172 |
| 1977 | 9 | 1283 | Marlyn Wood & Alan Butcher | Beginnings of man | Condor |
| 1978 | 7 | Pat Holmes | Most northerly and southerly UK headlands | C150 | |
| 1979 | 7 | 1531 | John Blake & Stratton Richie | Battlefields of the Irish Guards | C150 |
| 1980 | Charles Shea-Simonds & Amanda Mitchell | Stampe | |||
| 1981 | 11 | 1405 | Charles Shea-Simonds & Julie Hanks | Private airstrips | C150 |
| 1982 | 8 | 1893 | Howard Cox & Christopher Turner | Steam railways | Piper Cub |
| 1983 | Howard Cox & Christopher Turner | C150 | |||
| 1984 | 28 | 2475 | Eddie Coventry & Don Bullen | 45 counties of England | Piper Arrow |
| 1985 | 12 | 1285 | Charles Shea-Simonds & Sean Long | Army Parachute Association | BN Islander |
| 1986 | 20 | 880 | D. Southwell & D. Cook | 8th USAF | Shadow |
| 1987 | 17 | 2500 | Andre Dumas & Bob Purves (Canada) | Fur trappers | Baron |
| 1988 | 9 | 1260 | Christopher Harris & John Stevens | Friesan Islands | Rallye 180 |
| 1989 | 37 | L. Jones Fenleigh & J. Laurance (photographer) | Pre-Reformation Cathedrals | C152 | |
| 1990 | 17 | 1366 | L. Jones Fenleigh & T. Ankers (photographer) | Lord Dowding - A solitary man | C152 |
| 1991 | 12 | 1493 | T. Gauvain & D. Hughes | Pro Utilitate Nominum | Piper Cadet |
| 1992 | 19 | 2351 | M. McCormac & J. McCormac | The Civil War | Cherokee Cruiser |
| 1993 | 17 | 1111 | M. McCormac | Operation Chastise | PA140 |
| 1994 | 17 | 1457 | C. Dodds & R. Smith | Lost names of British Aviation | Hornet Moth |
| 1995 | Marcus Palmer & John Pile | National Trust Gardens | C172 | ||
| 1996 | Beryl Thorpe & Janet Higginbotham | Capability Brown | MS880 | ||
| 1997/98 | Barry Webb & Maureen Elliott | Scampton to the Ruhr Dams | Piper Arrow III 201R | ||
| 1999 | Alan James & Alan Watson | Air Camper | |||
| 2000 | 15 | Tim & Jenny Whitome | Scottish Islands | PA17 | |
| 2001 | 20 | 954 | Trisha Nelmes & Helen Krasner | Ecclesiastes 3:1-8 | C152 |
| 2002/03 | 10 | 960 | Tor Richvoldsen | Wooden Hotels | PA28 |
| 2004 | 15 | 727 | Marion McCall & Bishop David McCall (Australia) | Beating the Bounds, Bunbury WA | C172 |
| 2005/06 | 24 | 1282 | Anthony Davis | Motor Racing Circuits | PA28 |
| 2007 | 10 | 906 | Marion McCall & Bishop David McCall (Australia) | Crossing the Nullebor Plain, Australia | C172 |
| 2008/09 | 15 | 1398 | Colin Hales | Round UK | Rand KR2 |
| 2010 | 10 | 1703 | David & Patrick Joyce | Half a million islands | Europa X5 |
| 2011 | 7 | Mike Roberts & Kim Towle | Most airfields in one day | PA28 | |
| 2012/13 | 7 | Marion & David McCall (Australia) | The Eyre Adventure | Cessna 172 | |
| 2014-16 | 9 | 1420 | Fiona & Angus Macaskill | Powering over Paragliders | Vans RV9A |
| 2017 | 5 | 1022 | Ian Butter | RNLI and Air Sea Rescue | PA28-181 Archer |
| 2019/20 | 11 | 1542 (Mike Roberts & Nick Rogers) | Fiona & Angus Macaskill | Getting a Guinness - Most Airfields visited in 12 hours by a Fixed Wing Aircraft |
Bolkow Monsun B209 |
| 2021 | 7 | 1500 (Anthony Maxwell) | Kai Barnett | 529 (Rota) Squadron, Chain Home Radar Calibration, a homage to gyro pilots from bygone days |
Rotorsport UK MTOSport Gyrocopter |
| 2022 | 11 | 1180 (Derek Pake & Adam Forsyth) | Michael Benson & Marie Woltman | The Lighthouses of Devon and Cornwall |
Robin DR400-120 |
| 2023 | 15 | 1905 (Theresa Macdonald, Amanda Deed, Jessica Phillips & Gail Collins) | Derek Pake & Kate Turner | Eireborne (A circumnavigation of Ireland) |
Vans RV-8 |
2023 Trophy Winners
| Trophy | Recipient(s) | Theme | Aircraft |
|---|---|---|---|
| Duke of Edinburgh Trophy (1st) | Derek Pake & Kate Turner | Eireborne (A Circumnavigation of Ireland) | Vans RV-8 |
| Coventry Trophy (2nd) | Theresa Macdonald, Amanda Deed, Jessica Phillips & Gail Collins | Australia in a Day | Beechcraft Bonanza |
| Tiger Club Trophy (3rd) |
Daniel & Anna Langton |
Dragons at Dawn and Dusk: An Arthurian Adventure | Quik GT-450 Microlight |
| Pooley Sword (Best log) | Martin Leusby, Ron Armitage & Sandra Davis | Kent's Airfield then and now...140 years of Kent aviation history | Cessna 172 |
| Bonney Trophy | Nic Orchard | Temporarily Unsure of Position | Aeronca Champ |
| Icarus Trophy (Best solo entry) | Michael Wood | To draw the symbol of Ukrainian Resistance in the sky above my part of Scotland | SD1 Minisport SSDR |
| Family Trophy | Angus & Fiona Macaskill | 50 Kisses - For our 50th Wedding Anniversary 1973 - 2023 | BO209 Monsun |
| Long Distance Medal | Theresa Macdonald, Amanda Deed, Jessica Phillips & Gail Collins | Australia in a Day | Beechcraft Bonanza |
| Helicopter Trophy | Not awarded | - | - |
| Glenisla Trophy (less than 75 hours P1) | Not awarded | - | - |
| Microlight Trophy | Dr Peter Griffiths | Abandoned Railways of Southern Scotland | Skyranger Classic |
| Club Trophy (new award in 2023) | Ian Revell & John Mott | The FSDP Big Wing Tour - Scotland | Cessna 172SP |
| Best Video Award (new award in 2019/20) | Jason Davidson & Simon Shackell | P-for-Popsie. Operation Chastise. Celebrating the 80th Anniversary of the Dambusters' Raid | Piper PA44 |
| Commendations |
Ruth Bridges, Sharlene & Hudson Benn Janice Anderson David Pitman & Gavin Johns Mike Roberts & Nicholas Rogers
Michael James |
Team Bridges-Benn Dambuster Challenge
A Whale of a Time Celebrating 100 Years of Endurance Motor Racing at Le Mans and in particular the contribution made by British Motor Manufacturers Extreme! The Highest, Lowest, Longest, Shortest, Oldest, Newest plus furthest North, East, South & West airfields in Great Britain Fly from the UK's most Westerly airfield to the most Easterly |
Piper PA-28-161
Cessna 172 Skyhawk SP Robin DR400-120
Cessna 172
Piper PA28-161 |