Chinese line up Birdman team

A team from the People's Republic have told the organisers of the International Bognor Birdman they intend to fly off the town's pier.

The appearance will be the first time the vast country has been represented at the world-famous event.

Their presence will re-inforce Bognor's reputation as the world's foremost Birdman town and will provide a further boost to its overseas reputation.

Bognor Regis Town Council environment and leisure committee chairman Cllr Rob Gillibrand said: 'It can only be good for Bognor that China wants to send a team here.

'Birdman truly is an international event and this proves it. We've had people from America and Australia taking part so it will be nice to welcome the Chinese as well.

'China is one of the world's rising nations and, if they are taking an interest in Bognor, that must help the town and raise its profile.

'This news shows that Birdman is big news. Any event like that which brings people from outside into the town has to benefit us and boosts our image.

'Even if it's from relatively nearby, such as Horsham, the more people who go back home and talk about to their families and friends about the positive experience they have had here, the better it is for us.'

Birdman has been held in Bognor most years since 1978. The stakes in recent years have been raised by the prospect of a 25,000 jackpot for the Birdman who flies the furthest past 100 metres. Last year's Birdman attracted 33 competitors and a bumper crowd of 14,000 spectators.

The Chinese delegates want to join in the fun of the Birdman as the serious and not so serious competitors stage two days of fly-offs on September 1 and 2.

They want to find out how Bognor stages Birdman and soak up the atmosphere and heritage of the undisputed world leader among the competitions.

It was only last year that a television station in Hunan Province staged China's first Birdman competition.

Nearly 50 entrants took part in the nationwide games on a wet day in October.

Many followed the Bognor Birdman tradition of dressing up in fancy dress costumes.

A report on the Chinafotopress.com website states: 'China Birdman Contest is the very important tourism attraction for Hunan province in the national holiday golden week in China.'

The television executives are currently holding elimination heats in different areas of China to select the finalists.

The grand final will again be in Hunan, which is situated in the southern part of China by the central reaches of the Yangtze River.

Among their guests will be last year's Bognor winner, Ron Freeman, who has been offered an all-expenses paid trip to the event.

The presence of the Chinese visitors in Bognor will come a year before the world beats a path to the Beijing Oympics.

As well as the Chinese competitors and officials, Bognor's Birdmen in September are likely to include an American and a Bulgarian to further promote the town.

Organisation of the event will be carried out for the third year by a small team of hard-working volunteers.

They stage fundraising events to help towards the staging of the big weekend.

The next such occasion will be a beetle drive at 3pm on June 24 at the Hotham Arts Centre.

Cash prizes of 30, 20 and 10 will be available. Strawberries and cream will be served.

Tickets, priced 5 each, are available from the box office.

More information about this year's Birdman from the www.birdman.org.uk website.