6 out 10 guys with good 2M planes in Sportsman??!! What happened over there in GA?...I hope it's not like this everywhere else.. I feel Sportsman should be what the name says, not a full blown, "I must win" class. Competition is great, but a sportsman class like that is what will likely steer some Away from pattern. If someone is flying a 2meter and they know how to fly straight and level from one side of the box to the other, they shouldn't be flying sportsman, even if they know they may finish last in intermediate. One of the nicest pattern meets I've been to, had many non-pattern flyers in sportsman (club members supporting their club's pattern event) and they really had a great time and now 2 of them have started flying pattern. Most of them practiced a bit leading up to the event, but not a single 2M in the bunch. My first year, I flew a 60 size kaos, I practiced, and I won...then I moved up and still placed once with that old bird. The following year I built a 2m and yes, now I am more competitive with a trimmed 2M, but I would encourage anyone to fly anything they have if they want to try sportsman. If you can afford a 2m, good for you, you will love the way it flys. If not, take your ugly stick with you and have a good time.

Sorry, I'll get down off the soapbox now..lol.
-Mark