2014 Competitor of the Year

John Thompson repeats at top of standings

John Thompson of Eugene, Ore., captured the annual Flying Lines Northwest's Competitor of the Year for the second year in a row in 2014, a title he first captured in its inaugural year, 1980, and not again until 2013.

The annual title recognizes the flier who scored the most points in Northwest control-line competition standings as compiled by Flying Lines.

Thompson was one of the few contestants flying in multiple categories, a practice that was much more common when the standings began in 1980. His 73 points were scored in the Combat, Racing and Stunt categories, with first-place finishes in Old-Time Stunt and Overall Racing.

Second in the 2014 overall standings was Expert Precision Aerobatics flier Paul Walker of Deer Park, Wash., with 72.5 points, which topped Precision Aerobatics and Overall Stunt. Combat fliers Buzz Wilson of Belfair, Wash., and Robert Smith of Roy, Wash., tied for third with 59.

The number of people or teams scoring points in competition in 2014 was down markedly, with 59 people scoring points, compared with 74 in 2013. Note that this is not the total number of competitors, only the number of people placing first through fourth place in sanctioned competition.

As usual, stunt had the greatest distribution of people scoring points, with 35 people, down from the 47 in 2013. Combat came next with 12 people scoring points, up from the 10 in 2013. Speed and Carrier had nine each, compared with Speed's 12 in 2013 and Carrier's eight in 2013. Six scored in racing, down from the 10 in 2013. There were no contests in the Scale category.

Again, these totals reflect only placement, not actual number of competitors. The presence of out-of-region fliers in a contest can result in no points, or fewer points, being scored toward Northwest standings.

The Competitor of the Year recognition has been given since 1980, the second year of Flying Lines newsletter publication. Here is the history, giving the top three finishers each year:

Competitor of the Year, 1980-2014

1980: 1, John Thompson 2, Bill Varner 3, Jim Cameron
1981: Dick Salter, Thompson, Dave Green
1982: Dick Salter, Thompson, Mike Hazel
1983: Green, Thompson, Glenn Salter
1984: Green, Dick Salter, Gary Byerly
1985: Green, John Hall, Mel Lyne
1986: Green, Mel Lyne, Dick Salter
1987: Dick Salter, Glenn Salter, Green
1988: Not available
1989-90: Flying Lines not published
1991: Joe Rice, Rich McConnell, Tom Strom
1992: Rice, Todd Ryan, Hall
1993: Ryan, Rice, McConnell
1994: Ryan, Chris Cox, Nitroholics Racing Team
1995: Ryan, Jeff Rein, Don McClave
1996: Ryan, Stephen Cox, Rick Meadows
1997: Ryan, Paul Gibeault, Stephen Cox
1998: Ryan, Lyne, Dan Rutherford
1999: Ryan, Shawn Parker, Mike Conner
2000: Ryan, Lyne, Scott Riese
2001: Chris Cox, Ryan, Lyne
2002: Jeff Rein, Bruce Hunt, Nils Norling
2003: Dan Rutherford, Keith Varley, Lyne
2004: Rutherford, Paul Walker, Chris Cox
2005: Pat Johnston, Riese, Hunt
2006: Johnston, Hunt, Walker
2007: Johnston, Walker, Rein
2008: Hunt, Walker, Johnston
2009: Rein, Hunt, Robert Smith
2010: Hunt, Rein, Walker
2011: Alan Resinger, Smith, Pete Peterson
2012: Chris Cox, Walker, Smith
2013: Thompson, Walker, Howard Rush
2014: Thompson, Walker, Smith/Buzz Wilson

Click here for 2014 final event standings

Current standings are on the NW Standings Page

Below are the final 2014 Competitor of the Year rankings, along with the categories in which points were scored.

* = also scored points as a team entry. After score is indicated category and team's points, which are not included in individual points.

2014 OVERALL STANDINGS

1. John Thompson -- Combat, Racing, Stunt -- 73 (At right, flying combat match at 2014 Bladder Grabber against Don Jensen (left). Daniel Johnson photo.)
2. Paul Walker -- Stunt -- 72.5
3. Buzz Wilson -- Combat -- 59
Robert Smith -- Combat -- 59
5. Chris Cox -- Stunt -- 49.5
6. Mike Hazel -- Combat, Carrier, Racing, Speed, Stunt -- 48 * Speed 4
7. Alan Resinger -- Stunt -- 46.5
8. Mike Haverly -- Stunt -- 42
9. Gene Pape -- Combat -- 41
10. Mark Scarborough -- Stunt -- 37
11. Jeff Rein -- Combat -- 33
12. Bruce Hunt -- Stunt -- 27
Mel Lyne -- Comba -- 27
14. Tim Wescott -- Stunt -- 19
15. Scott Riese -- Stunt -- 15
Rex Abbott -- Stunt -- 15
17. Pat Johnston -- Stunt -- 13.5
John Leidle -- Stunt -- 13.5
19. Marc Winz -- Carrier, Stunt -- 13
20. Bruce Tunberg -- Racing, Speed -- 12
Howard Rush -- Stunt -- 12
22. Tony Huber -- Combat -- 10
Gordon Rea -- Stunt -- 10
Joe Yau -- Stunt -- 10
Ken Burdick -- Racing, Speed -- 10 * Speed 4
Dave Royer -- Stunt -- 10
27. Steve Helmick -- Stunt -- 9.5
28. Dennis Cousineau -- Stunt -- 9
Tom Strom -- Stunt -- 9
Mike Massey -- Stunt -- 9
Chris Sackett -- Speed, Stunt -- 9
Tom Brightbill -- Stunt -- 9
33. Fred Underwood -- Stunt -- 8
34. Mark Hansen -- Combat, Carrier -- 7
Jim Booker -- Speed -- 7
36. Jim Green -- Combat -- 6
37. John Knoppi -- Combat -- 5
Scooter Reid -- Racing -- 5
Steve Walther -- Speed -- 5
Pete Ferguson -- Stunt -- 5
Daniel Johnson -- Combat, Carrier -- 5
42. Louie-Louie Team -- 4
43. Dave Denison -- Stunt -- 3
Greg Hart -- Stunt -- 3
Hube Start -- Stunt -- 3
Russell Shaffer -- Stunt -- 3
Mike Potter -- Carrier -- 3
48. Bob Parker -- Carrier -- 2
Dean Singleton -- Speed -- 2
Jerry Olson -- Stunt -- 2
51. Jeff Cleaver -- Speed -- 1
Doug McSherry -- Carrier -- 1
Johnathon Reid -- Racing -- 1
Joe Just -- Carrier -- 1
Leo Mehl -- Stunt -- 1
Paul Bedford -- Stunt -- 1
Richard Entwhistle -- Stunt -- 1
Floyd Carter -- Stunt -- 1
Nathan Johnson -- Combat -- 1

Flying Lines keeps track of standings in all AMA rulebook and Northwest official events, in all Northwest sanctioned contests.

2018 Final Standings and Competitor of the Year

2017 Final Standings and Competitor of the Year

2016 Final Standings and Competitor of the Year

2015 Final Standings and Competitor of the Year

2014 Final Standings and Competitor of the Year

2013 Final Standings and Competitor of the Year

2012 Final Standings and Competitor of the Year

2011 Final Standings and Competitor of the Year

2010 Final Standings and Competitor of the Year

2009 Final Standings and Competitor of the Year

2008 Final Standings and Competitor of the Year

2007 Final Standings and Competitor of the Year

2006 Final Standings and Competitor of Year

2005 Final Standings and Competitor of Year

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This page was upated Dec. 4, 2018