Russell is a highly experienced and successful competition glider pilot with European Championship titles in both Open and 18 metre class. Russell started his cross country racing rise to fame at a small gliding club, developing his passion for racing partly through the Inter Club League, a national framework of locally organised weekend competitions. Until recently, Russell was the chairman of the BGA Competitions and Awards Committee, a role to which his organisational skills and competition experience were put to great effect. A number of improvements and developments in competition flying occurred under his watch, with both competitors and clubs that host competitions benefiting. He continues to serve on the BGA competitions committee, putting in many hours of work in the interests of grass roots competition flying as well as International competition activity. Hi’s ongoing outstanding competition results have resulted in him again being selected to represent Great Britain at the next World Gliding Championships.