Worthing Birdman competition gets off to a flying start (From The Argus)

Worthing Birdman competition gets off to a flying start

3:32pm Saturday 14th August 2010 in News By Ruth Lumley

The International Birdman competition got off to a soggy start this afternoon as competitors lined up to throw themselves off Worthing Pier.

The competition kicked off just after 2pm with Gemma Nethersole from Worthing Theatres jumping from the platform, which is 15ft above the pier decking.

This afternoon's competition involved the serious flyers, while tomorrow it is the turn of the fun fliers who wear fancy dress to make their jump.

Crowds braved the rain to gather on the beach as the competitors waited for their turn to fly.

Eddie 'The Eagle' Edwards was next up but only managed to fly 7.52 metres, failing to beat his 11-metre record.

Student Lottie Murphy flew a craft in the Leonardo class which was built just two weeks ago, to raise money for the charity Dreams Come True, which helps terminally or seriously ill children.

The sun came out as penultimate flyer and Condor champion Dr Bill Brooks flew 20.83 metres, to raise money for Macmillan Cancer Relief.

The final competitor was Ron Freeman who flew 26.58 metres. Toby Quantrill leads the field today after flying 29.83 metres.

The platform at the end of the pier is west facing and is made out of scaffolding. The width of the platform is about 12 ft. The average height above sea level during flying is about 35ft.

Competitors have a run up distance of 15ft and are allowed to use a flying machine with fixed, rotary, or ornithopter wing design, but the wing span cannot not exceed 30ft.

The Birdman Event first took to the skies in 1971 from the lifeboat pier in Selsey.

In 1978, the organisers were told that they could no longer use this pier and so the event moved along the coast to Bognor where it grew in popularity until 2007.

When Bognor Pier was shortened safety concerns were raised over the depth of water and in 2008 the event moved again to Worthing.

There are three Classes for entrants to choose from, two of these are for the serious flyers competing to achieve a distance of more than 100 metres and the jackpot prize of £30,000.

Chris Spratt, chairman of the Worthing Town Centre initiative, said: “Worthing Birdman brings around 25,000 visitors to Worthing and the event is covered worldwide. It is so popular we have had to turn potential flyers away.

“Birdman is excellent for the town's economy and everyone benefits from it being held here.”