posted Apr 20th, 2009 - The coverage of the World Challenge 2009 continues with the judging videos of Round 6.

It was the beginning of the second event day when the teams entered Bodyflight Bedford's flying chamber for Round 6. The drama of rounds four (Perris Fury's 59-pointer) and five (Airspeed's comeback) was history, and the top teams were eager to challenge the reigning 4-way world champions with fresh energy.

One of the top challengers was the indoor lineup of XL. Actually, the 2009 lineup was not really only an indoor lineup, as the XL lineups of 2008 and 2007 have been. The NSL News reported already on 21 January 2009 that the 2009 lineup would be the one that trained and competed in 2002 and 2003. It was a real XL reunion.

Even XL videographer of 2003, Rob Stevenson, came to Bedford and celebrated with Pete Allum, Steve Hamilton, Thomas Hughes and John McIver. It did not turn out to be the highest XL scoring level of all the World Challenges that XL had attended. But it surely was a very special event.

XL's indoor lineup competed for the first time at the World Challenge 2007, even though the team name had already turned into a precious relict in 4-way competition of past years.

Pete Allum, Steve Hamilton and John McIver replaced missing Thomas Hughes with Brian Johnson and finished in 3rd place with a 26.1 average in 2007.

The XL 2008 lineup (Pete Allum, Steve Hamilton, Thomas Hughes, Brian Johnson) challenged Airspeed even quite seriously and ended up two points behind in 2nd place with a 28.1 average. Both teams were tied going into the last round, and Airspeed pulled it off, once again at the right time.

There was great anticipation for the XL members and the team's British fans when the reunion of the original lineup (Pete Allum, Steve Hamilton, Thomas Hughes, John McIver) came closer this year. This time, all original team members had avoided any possible conflicts of interest and were prepared to fly for XL.

The situation was still even more challenging compared to the previous events. A lot of things have changed since the original XL lineup disbanded after the World Meet in 2003. Pete Allum and Steve Hamilton have worked hard in the last two years to get familiar with the Italian right-hand pattern, as they have trained and competed with the Italian Sinapsi PD lineup.

Pete Allum already won a bronze medal with Sinapsi at the World Meet 2006 in Germany, while Steve Hamilton joined the new Sinapsi lineup at the end of the 2007 season. Sinapsi with Pete Allum and Steve Hamilton plans to compete for Italy at the World Meet 2010 and win more medals in Russia.

The Italian XL members had to go back to the left-hand pattern at the World Challenge 2009, as the original XL lineup trained and competed from Twinotters. The other two original XL members of 2003, John McIver and Thomas Hughes, have continued with the left-hand pattern ever since.

The slots have changed in the meantime, as well. The original positions of 2003 had Steve Hamilton (Center Outside) and Pete Allum (Point) flying the front piece together. John McIver was Center Inside, and Thomas Hughes was in the Tail slot. XL 2009 went back to these original slots, even though the individuals have currently been doing different jobs.

Pete Allum and Steve Hamilton are not piece partners any longer with Sinapsi. Steve Hamilton is still Center Outside, but Pete Allum is now in the Tail slot. Thomas Hughes was Center Outside with Arizona Blade and then switched back to the rear piece where he was flying the Center Inside position for Team Fastrax. Now he is the Center Outside for Spaceland Force XP.

John McIver is Satori's new Center Inside and has already trained with his new team. He and Steve Hamilton have actually continued in their slots that they had in 2003 and re-connected with their former piece partners at the World Challenge 2009 when Pete Allum and Thomas Hughes switched back to their original XL slots.

However, it was a little bit more challenging for the XL 2009 lineup to go back to their original slots of 2003 and find back to the rhythm of the left-hand pattern, as team members explained to the NSL News. The competition was stronger this year, as well, the strongest one in the history of the event.

XL still managed to win the £500 for the 4th place and left several world class teams behind, including World Meet 2008 silver medalist France Maubeuge. The 27.3 average was only two points behind Hayabusa Defence and another two points behind Perris Fury. The £500 could have easily been £1,500 or even £3,000. Chances are not too bad that XL will be back for the World Challenge 2010...