I flew my first contest last year with a hanger 9 pulse 60 on electric. I won the sportsman class with it. This year I have hit my second contest and have plans for 2 more. I am flying it with a mini pattern plane a seabart wind 50E. My point being here in my US district there are guys that dump money fast into pattern buying expensive 2 meter pattern planes for the sportsman sequence but any sport model is reasonably competitive. The real trick is getting a plane you are comfortable with and practice, practice, practice. Your skill has more to do with sequence than any other factor. I would say fly what you got and get a caller to help you. Get familiar with the pattern and fly it till your eyes bleed. I bet I have put 100 flights this year on flying the pattern over and over. I hope this hel[ps but I can not speak as to how other countries do their contests I can not imagine they are too much different.