A DAD-OF-FIVE overcame a surprise seagull attack to win two prestigious air racing trophies.

Mark Hanson, 43, from Padiham, was competing in the British Air Racing Championships at Sherbun-in-Elmet airfield, Selby when he encountered some troubles.

The Saturday race for the ‘Ginger Lacey’ trophy was hampered by a flock of seagulls, which Mr Hanson was able to negotiate to claim victory.

He said: “It was a pretty eventful weekend, it did get quite hairy at times.

“Me and my co-pilot were feeling quite sick, we were being bounced around all over.

“At the end of the day it’s more of a passion than anything, I got into it three years ago and I became quite good at it!”

The seagulls struck three of the 13 aircraft competing, and caused one to do a precautionary landing.

While Mr Hanson managed to finish first, he didn’t leave the race unscathed as a tyre exploded on landing.

Mr Hanson and his co-pilot Gervais Henderson then had to prepare again to race, and win, in Sunday’s ‘Paul Walker’ trophy race.

He paid tribute to the efforts of his team in the quick recovery between races to allow them to compete so soon after the bizarre incident.

Mr Hanson, who owns a skip hire business in Burnley, said: “It was really lucky that someone had a spare part on the Sunday otherwise we wouldn’t have been able to compete. It was touch and go that we would be able to repair our aircraft in time for the race.”

The two prizes Mr Hanson won are named after two Second World War pilots who flew in in the RAF during the Battle of Britain.

James “Ginger” Lacey was one of the top fighter pilots for enemy aircraft destroy during the conflict.

Mr Hanson said a special supporter at the event helped them to victory in the form of Second World War RAF veteran Theo Eaves.

Mr Eaves, a former warrant officer from Cheshire, took part in 35 perilous missions as a wireless operator and emergency air gunner stationed in Italy from 1944 until the end of the war.

He finally received his Bomber Command Clasp prize, for those who flew in the Second World War, in 2013 after a campaign by war veterans, which inspire Mr Hanson.

Mt Hanson said: “Theo was our lucky mascot. With everything that was going on during the day it definitely helped having him there, it was a real privilege.” and I’m sure he enjoyed it immensely.”