Bognor gets ready for the Birdman

The scaffolding is up, the crafts are ready, and the flyers poised as the Birdman competition returns to Bognor Regis this weekend (September 11 and 12) for the first time in three years.

Barry Jones, chairman of International Bognor Birdman, said: "The preparations are well under way '“ a bit slower than we would have liked, but everything is going well.

"We are all looking forward to being able to bring the Birdman back to Bognor where it belongs."

Organisers of the event have faced a rush to stage the crowd-pulling occasion after the late approval for their safety arrangements.

"Sorting out the health and safety has been a struggle '“ once we sorted one issue out, another one arose. But we are getting there, and we

are almost over the last hurdles," said Mr Jones.

Flyers will now launch from two platforms along the pier to take account of its shortened length since it hosted its last Birdman.

But how big will this year's Birdman be?

Mr Jones said: "We are really pleased with the steady flow of entries. We have eight Condor flyers and roughly 45 Kingfisher fliers who will fly over the Saturday and the Sunday."

He added: "Serious flyers will launch themselves off the 35ft platform for 20 minutes either side of high tide. The Kingfishers will have two hours around high tide to fly from a platform 16ft 2.5in above the sea."

Despite entries from as far afield as China, Australia and Thailand, no-one from Bognor Regis will be flying the flag for the town.

Mr Jones said: "When I ask competitors why they come all this way to take part in Bognor Birdman, they all say because it is worth it, and they are just happy to have the opportunity to be able to take part.

"Birdman is the equivalent of Wimbledon to manned flying."

The competition, which has been held in the town since 1978, has attracted record numbers of spectators.

Mr Jones added: "That is what Birdman is all about, it is about getting people into Bognor Regis and showing them what we can do, showing them a good time and encouraging them to come back.

"It has been three years since the last Bognor Birdman and its return is long overdue."

Hundreds of pounds of prize money will also be up for grabs.

Prizes will see the winner of the Condor category for the serious flyers receive 500. The runner-up will pocket a 300 with 150 for the third-longest flight.

The Leonardo da Vinci section of the most ingenious designs will see 400 for the best invention, 200 for the second place and 100 maintained for third.

The Kingfisher section will be rewarded with 250, though the second prize will stay unchanged at 150 and the third place will be cut from 100 to 75.

PROGRAMME OF EVENTS

Saturday

Flying programme

1pm to 3pm

Decking

11am-11.30am: Balandis-Lilley School of Dance

3.15-4pm: Silk Road belly dancers.

Front of pier promenade

11.45am-midday: Littlehampton sea cadets

Midday-12.45pm: J&S Band

12.45pm-1pm: Littlehampton sea cadets

3.15pm: Flash Company

Waterloo Square

11.45am-12.15pm: Fitness First

Sunday

Flying programme

1.45pm to 3.45pm

Decking

11am-11.30am: Balandis-Lilley School of Dance

Midday-12.30pm: Fitness First Dance

1pm-1.30pm: The Arun Sounds

3.30-4pm: Carey Irish Dance Group

Front of pier promenade

12.15pm-12.45pm: Regis Troopers

1pm-1.45pm: Enter 'n' Risk It

3.45pm-4.30pm: Golden Boulder band

4.45pm-5.15pm: Buffalo Bridge

Waterloo Square

11am-4.45pm: Kyushin Ryn Ju-Jitsu

Bandstand

Midday-12.45pm; 1.15pm-2pm: Bognor Regis Concert Band