226 Pecan Street
Deland FL 32724
tel: (386) 801-0804
© 2003 - 2024
All Rights Reserved
However, Thomas Hughes might still have some additional obstacles on his way before he would be eligible to compete with a US team. The NSL News story on December 31 explained the situation for the former British national competitor in detail.
Arizona Blade with Thomas Hughes, Natasha Montgomery, Mark Kirkby and Robert Healy also won the NSL Championship 2004 where nationality of the team members were not limited in any way.
Thomas Hughes and Natasha Montgomery made new plans for the 2005 season, moved to Florida and formed DeLand Fire with Gary Smith, Shannon Pilcher and Ian Bobo. Thomas Hughes was supposed to be the team's alternate and videographer. Inquiries of the team to USPA as of Thomas Hughes' eligibility status confirmed that he would not be eligible for medals at the USPA Nationals 2005. The current USPA rules were and still are a copy of the former IPC rules:
1-1.4: QUALIFICATION REQUIREMENTS D. Guest competitors and competitors who have either competed in any other country’s national championships (other than a U.S. citizen jumping at another country’s nationals as a guest competitor) or represented any other country at an FAI-sanctioned World Cup or Championships in any competitive category in the three-year period immediately prior to entering the U.S. National Championships are not eligible to receive a U.S. Nationals medal or to serve as U.S. Team members. |
Thomas Hughes still remained a DeLand Fire member after the USPA confirmation that he cannot win a USPA medal in 2005 and continued to jump with the team occasionally. However, DeLand Fire began looking for a different videographer, and Eric Taylor joined the team on camera as an eligible USPA competitor.
Is it possible? Obviously, the international FAI/IPC rules would now allow Thomas Hughes to compete for the USA after January 1, 2006. He competed for the UK team XL at the World Meet in 2003 and did not attend any international FAI/IPC events in 2004 and 2005.
There is a realistic possibility that the winner of the USPA Nationals might substitute a team member after the qualification and before the World Meet. This has happened several times in the past, especially in 8-way, where the Airspeed line-ups change almost every year. Recently, it has already been confirmed that Airspeed member Dennis Rook will have to be replaced for the 2006 season.
Arizona Airspeed might be interested in offering Thomas Hughes the open 8-way slot, or DeLand Fire might be interested in bringing him back in as the official team videographer and alternate, or even as a full member. The revised FAI/IPC rules would allow him to compete for both teams next year in Germany.
As mentioned earlier, USPA usually adopts FAI/IPC rule changes, and there is no apparent reason why it could be different this time. Flexibility would still be necessary on USPA's end. The Board of Director's winter meeting is still a few months away, and any US team that might want Thomas Hughes in the 2006 line-up will begin with training earlier.
The NSL News recently interviewed Thomas Hughes and Pete Allum after the FAI/IPC decision was posted. Thomas Hughes mentioned that he will most likely continue with Black Magick. The Sebastian XL reunion is another joke that comes up once in a while...