Our Teams

Toby Freeland

CLUB CLASS

Toby started gliding at Channel Gliding Club, just above the White Cliffs of Dover, after his mother politely declined to take the second of her birthday trial flights! Immediately hooked, Toby quickly progressed beyond solo and got the hang of soaring the club’s K6.
Toby chose to study Aeronautical Engineering at Imperial College London, mostly for the access to the university gliding club at Lasham and their beautifully maintained Discus and ASW24 which fueled his early cross-country career. When he is not gliding you’ll find him team racing dinghies for his university or propping up the University Air Squadron bar.

He is currently preparing his glider and training with his Club Class Georgen for the 2023 Junior Europeans in Denmark

George White

CLUB CLASS

George started gliding at Essex and Suffolk Gliding Club hoping to kickstart a career in aviation. He quickly found a passion for x-country flying after his first trip in the duo discus, flying a 300km task with an upset stomach, while still loving every minute.

At 16, George completed some big x-country flights in whatever he could get his hands on, earning him a place on the development squad. In 2020, George made the most of the covid-affected year, completing his first squad training camp at Issoudun, accelerating his development along the way.

Outside of gliding, George is completing a meteorology degree at Reading University, hoping to get a career accommodating for plenty of gliding!

After a successful season last year, including a trip to Arnborg, Denmark, where the Junior European Championships will be held, George is motivated to come back next year in club class with teammate Toby Freeland.

Ben Edkins

STD CLASS

Ben has been around gliding since he was young and went solo on his 14th birthday back in 2016 at his home club Stratford upon Avon gliding club . He got hooked instantly with cross country flying, back seat flying in whatever he could until he was old enough to solo XC.

Following a successful 2021/22 season Ben got selected for the development team and now flying in the standard class team.

When Ben is not flying he works in construction mainly driving machines. This is Ben’s first time representing the British team and is keen to get flying with teammate Freddie Turner.

Freddie Turner

STD CLASS

Freddie has been flying gliders solo since he was 14 years old. Then at 15, took part in the 2 seat coaching at the Junior Nationals 2014. The Junior gliding community has been a large part of Freddie’s life over the last decade, taking part in many Winter series and every Junior Nationals he could. When he’s not flying he’s working in financial sales in London. This is his first time representing the team and he’s very much looking forward to flying with Ben at the Europeans.