Worthing Birdman – the madness returns 22nd & 23rd Aug. 2009

[The Doctor]

After the problem with the pier at Bognor Regis getting damaged, which resulted in the length being reduced and meaning it could no longer host the international Birdman competition, Worthing went head-to-head with Brighton to become the host of the event.

I take my hat off to Sharon Clarke, the Town Centre Manager, for leading the winning partnership between local businesses and the councils and seeing off Brighton.

It was such a shame the weather was so bad last year, that the event on Sunday had to be cancelled, but the massive numbers that turned out on the Saturday proved just how important the event is to Worthing.

So, is anyone taking part this year? Do you know anyone taking part? Or will you just be going down the seafront to witness the madness? Let’s hear what you think about the Birdman competition.

Worthing Birdman website

For those taking part for charity, why not post here and appeal for sponsorship? Tell us about the charity you are supporting & why, and how you will be flying on the day.

Set-up a ‘Just Giving’ page or similar and promote it here as well as to your friends and family.

Justgiving - the easiest way to fundraise and donate to charity online

[spider]

I know someone flying I’ll tell them they can promote their sponsorship here, personally you wouldn’t get me anywhere near that platform, but I’ll be happy to watch from the beach.

[The Doctor]

On Twitter? Follow - worthingcrocman - Andy Headworth 'flying' for charity.

[The Doctor]

Latest News from Sharon Clarke – Worthing Town Centre Manager

Worthing International Birdman 22nd / 23rd August 2009
All flights fully booked !!

It’s now too late if you haven’t booked your flight from Worthing Pier at the Birdman competition this year as all the flights are full.

In total there will be 48 brave aviators throwing themselves from a specially constructed platform on Worthing Pier with many of them attempting to fly over 100m and the possibility of winning the jackpot of £30,000.

This year there are 8 specially designed Leornardo da Vinci Class entrants; these are craft designed and built to be aerodynamic and hopefully achieve the 100m challenge distance. There are also 8 Condor or modified hang gliders entered; at the moment a Condor pilot holds the Birdman flight distance record but will this change in 2009? These craft will have an opportunity to fly for the jackpot on both the Saturday and Sunday.

The remainder of the contestants will be flying in the Kingfisher class on Sunday 23rd only; these are the fun flyers who will dress to impress and will make a real splash on the day! Look out for a Crocodile, Inspector Gadget, and the Hobbit from Lord of the Rings along with many more fantastic designs.

If you really wanted to enter but have missed the deadline there is still an opportunity to be our benchmark competitor on Sunday 23rd. The benchmark flyer will launch themselves from the pier without any aids and will set the distance that the other competitors will need to achieve to earn their wings for flying. To find out more go to www.worthingbirdman.co.uk.

The Worthing International Birdman attracts over 25,000 people to the seafront over the weekend as well as National and International media coverage for Worthing. There are still opportunities for businesses to get involved with the Birdman; to find out more about sponsorship, advertising or promotional opportunities please contact Sharon Clarke on 01903 203252.

And the great news is that the Worthing Birdman is free to spectators and will provide a great days entertainment so make sure its in the diary !!

[spider]

Damn, damn and damn again - I am too late to book my fight.

[Worthing Crocman]

On Twitter? Follow -@worthingcrocman - Andy Headworth 'flying' for charity. Also find us on http://tiny.cc/GfGCk

[Worthing Crocman]

Come down to Worthing Pier on August 23rd and see a crocodile FLY !!!!! also please look at our Just Giving page on http://tiny.cc/MZemf - Thank-you x

[The Doctor]

Come down to Worthing Pier on August 23rd and see a crocodile FLY !!!!! also please look at our Just Giving page on http://tiny.cc/MZemf - Thank-you x

Welcome onboard Andy, you must be barking mad but anyway good luck with your ‘flight’.

Small donation made, and good luck in raising your target.

[aeroplaneboy]

I'm one of the 8 Da Vinci class flyers, my aim is to seriously contend with the condor class, but am trying to raise a bit of money for charity as well; so visit
http://www.justgiving.com/ryans_birdman and donate a few pennies!
Thanks

[The Doctor]

I'm one of the 8 Da Vinci class flyers, my aim is to seriously contend with the condor class, but am trying to raise a bit of money for charity as well; so visit
http://www.justgiving.com/ryans_birdman and donate a few pennies!
Thanks

Good luck, small donation made on your page.

[The Doctor]

The Worthing Birdman has made it to the BBC's website:

Tenor to contest birdman flight

More than 40 competitors, including former G4 tenor Jonathan Ansell, will take part in this year's Worthing International Birdman contest.

The organisers said entry had been closed and 48 aviators would throw themselves off Worthing Pier in August.

Thousands of people are expected to watch contestants attempt mechanically unaided flight off the end of the pier.

It was moved to Worthing in 2008 after Bognor pier was shortened by 80ft (24m), making it unsafe for flyers.

Ansell, who embarked on a solo career after the X-factor group G4 split up, has been named as the event's benchmark flyer, the competitor who sets the distance that determines whether other contestants have flown or flopped.

'Obviously terrified'

On a Justgiving website, Ansell said: "The thought of leading the way as the benchmark flyer in front of 25,000 people is obviously terrifying, but it is going to be a lot of fun and, most importantly, a brilliant opportunity for me to raise funds for Breast Cancer Care, a charity that is very close to my heart."

The organisers said it was a real honour to have him in this year's contest.

A spokeswoman for Worthing Council said: "Jonathan is a local lad who was brought up in Bognor, the previous home of the Birdman, and as a daredevil has had a desire to take part for a long time.

"We are very fortunate that Jonathan will be breaking off from a series of summer shows to take part in the Worthing Birdman this year."

A £30,000 prize is on offer to anyone who can fly the furthest distance over 328ft (100m).

The contest raises thousands of pounds for charity every year and has attracted interest from around the world, even inspiring a similar event in China.

The first contest was held in 1971 at the nearby resort of Selsey with a £1,000 prize fund, rising later to £3,000, for a flight of 150ft (46m).

BBC Link

[seasidegeek]

I know someone flying I’ll tell them they can promote their sponsorship here, personally you wouldn’t get me anywhere near that platform, but I’ll be happy to watch from the beach.

Funny enough I've found out a mate is 'flying' this year, so I'll have to come into town to watch it.

Do you get a decent view of the action from the beach or can you actually get on the pier?

[The Doctor]

The pier is closed to the public, I think it would collapse with the numbers otherwise, but you get a fairly decent view from the beach and they also have a large screen on the beach showing the action from the pier head.

[seasidegeek]

Cheers for the quick reply, the big screen should do the job nicely.

[spider]

Cheers for the quick reply, the big screen should do the job nicely.

It does.

Just get down early enough to grab a position in front of the screen and you can still see the action at the end of the pier in the distance too.

[The Doctor]

There's a full list of those flying in this year's Worthing Birdman competition on the Birdman website:

HERE

Good luck to all of them!

[The Doctor]

The Worthing Birdman is not just about having fun and raising money for charity; it’s also about generating hundreds of thousands of pounds worth of publicity for the town putting Worthing on the map across the world as Sharon Clarke explains.

Worthing International Birdman - a flight of fantasy?

When you think of the most successful coastal towns one of the things you will notice in common is a great events calendar. The Worthing Town Centre Initiative has always recognised that good quality events drive footfall and these visitors bring economic prosperity to the town and its business community.

While events can cost tens of thousands of pounds to run the publicity they generate not only raises the profile of the event but also the town. When Worthing secured the Birdman event from Bognor last year the media coverage was fantastic and if Worthing had invested in this coverage to promote the town it would have cost in excess of £260,000.

This year’s event, which will be held on 22nd / 23rd August 2009, is already attracting media coverage not only locally but nationally and internationally. We have competitors from Serbia and Australia flying in the competition and as their local media follow preparations for the event Worthing is receiving lots of free publicity. So far, this year, we have received free articles on the competition in magazines in Italy, Spain, France, Holland, Singapore, as well as many around the UK; coverage for Worthing we only used to be able to dream about.

The event attracts competitors with great stories; those that have had a life long dream to take the plunge, those raising money for some great causes and those that are just a little mad. These stories help to generate media interest and more publicity for the Birdman and for Worthing.

While some people may think the Worthing International Birdman is just another event the Town Centre Initiative see it as an economic regenerator bringing publicity, profile and footfall to Worthing without forgetting lots and lots of fun !!

Sharon Clarke
Worthing Town Centre Manager

[kitty]

my son is so looking forward to this, i hope the weather is better this year.

[The Doctor]

Latest from West Sussex County Council:

Council Birdman cash bid to be discussed by Local Committee

A BID by Worthing Borough Council for £5000 towards the funding of this year’s Worthing Birdman event will be discussed by the borough’s County Councillors on Wednesday July 15.

West Sussex County Council has agreed to provide £5000 of funding from its Keep West Sussex Working budget if Worthing County Local Committee agrees to match the sum.

The cash would come from Worthing County Local Committee’s Community Initiative Funding – money it has received from the County Council to assist community projects in the district.

Irene Richards, Chairman of the County Local Committee, said: “We backed the first Worthing Birdman last year to the tune of £15,000 because it is a major attraction that gives our borough an international profile.

“Community Initiative Funding is generally not to fund the ongoing projects. The overall aim is to benefit Worthing community by ‘pump priming’ new initiatives or supporting one-off applications for specific projects.

“Because of this, if we agree to the funding request this year, I expect that further funding is unlikely to be available next year."

The Committee’s meeting – which is open to the public – is being held in the Gordon Room, Worthing Town Hall, Chapel Road, Worthing, starting at 7pm

[spider]

Does anyone know much council tax-payers' money is actually spent on this?

[The Doctor]

Does anyone know much council tax-payers' money is actually spent on this?

No not exactly, but I do know it’s a fraction of what would be the cost of the worldwide publicity generated for the town, so a right bargain!

[The Doctor]

West Sussex County Council agrees to £10,000 funding towards The Worthing Birdman competition:

THE Worthing Birdman event will take flight this year with the help of £10,000 from West Sussex County Council.

Worthing County Local Committee, which is made up of the borough’s County Councillors, agreed to grant Worthing Borough Council £5000 towards the funding of the event.

The event is also to receive £5000 from the County Council’s Keep West Sussex Working budget.

Worthing County Local Committee’s grant comes from its Community Initiative Funding – money it has received from the County Council to assist community projects in the district.

Irene Richards, Chairman of the County Local Committee, said: “We backed the first Worthing Birdman last year to the tune of £15,000 because it is a major attraction that gives our borough an international profile.

“Community Initiative Funding is generally not to fund the ongoing projects. The overall aim is to benefit Worthing community by ‘pump priming’ new initiatives or supporting one-off applications for specific projects.

“Because of this, we have said that further funding is unlikely to be available next year."

Link

[The Doctor]

There's a good piece in the Worthing & Adur Chamber of Commerce newsletter for August, which appears within the Business Matters supplement of the Worthing Herald, featuring three of their 'mad' members taking part including the Worthing Crocman who posted earlier on the thread.

Well worth a read:

One small step for man...
one giant leap for madness
Not so much a sea of tranquillity, as a sea of insanity...

[treehugger]

Great headline and graphics in that article.

I just hope the weather finally clears up by then.

[The Doctor]

Great headline

Thank you. *takes a bow*

I wrote that article & came up with the headline although the sub-headline was a contribution from Tina Tilley at the Chamber < if I don't credit her she will have my guts for garters!

[kitty]

let's just hope the seaweed is cleared-up in time.

[The Doctor]

[QAHH Birdman]

With my helium balloons and a balsa wood plane to keep me up in the air, I'm hoping to land in France at the very least...

Do your bit!

www.justgiving.co.uk/qahhbirdman

x

[SussexBilly]

Best of Luck from Biggles mind out for snoppy has he maybe behind you.

If you get past the first marker, i'll make a donation. best of luck

[kitty]

not long to wait now, i am getting excited, just hope the weather holds.

[Freddie Ferret]

Dare I say this, but the 5-day forecast is showing Saturday as sunny, so keep those figures crossed everyone and good luck to all that are taking part.

[The Doctor]

Dare I say this, but the 5-day forecast is showing Saturday as sunny, so keep those figures crossed everyone and good luck to all that are taking part.

If that's the BBC online forecast, it's useless, drives me totally crazy the way they change it so often, for example day 5 is shown as glorious sunshine, but as the day draws nearer it changes to sunny intervals and than changes again to rain - I don't know why I bother with it TBH.

Anyway it's now showing sunny intervals for both Saturday and Sunday.

[The Doctor]

The latest from Worthing Council:

Worthing Birdman lands this weekend Saturday 22 and Sunday 23 August 2009

Aviators are busy preening their wings in readiness for their epic take-off at the event of the South coast - the Worthing Birdman.
The fun starts on Saturday 22 August from 12.30pm through to 2.30pm with the serious aviators entered into the Leonardo Da Vinci and Condor Classes trying out their flying skill in a pre-flight test prior to the main event on Sunday. If a serious flyer fly's over 100m they could win a fabulous £30,000 first prize!

Sunday sees the fun ‘Kingfisher’ flyers joining their serious contenders in their bid for glory. Flying will start from 1pm through to 3.30pm.

Brought back by popular demand ‘textsters’ can vote for their favourite ‘Kingfisher’. All they need to do is text the word ‘Birdman’ followed by a space and the number of your favourite flyer to 80545. One winner - selected at random from the text votes - will win a fabulous iPod Shuffle. Terms and conditions apply – see www.worthingtowncentre.co.uk for details.

And new for this year Birdman fans can join the Worthing Birdman Facebook group or join the 'tweeters' on Twitter with the Worthing Birdman Twitter feed.

Between 4pm and 5pm on Sunday, Worthing's own action Mayor - Noel Atkins - will present the winning flyers with glass trophies. Non-winners will receive a memento of their flight too.

With the weather looking good for the weekend Worthing is set to welcome thousands of people to watch the fun at this epic event and judging by the near sell-out of accommodation the town looks set to reap great economic benefits too estimated to be worth over £500k!

A free bus will run continuously between 10am and 6pm over the weekend with an additional bus to cover the busy times from 10am to 12noon and 4pm to 6pm. The relevant car parking charges will apply at the car parks, but there will be no charge for using the bus. Passengers will be given a ticket to use on the return journey. Visitors will be able to pick up the bus from either Teville Gate multi-story car park or Chapel Road (outside the Town Hall) and be dropped at the southern end of South Street just outside 'Iceland'.

Disabled visitors can enjoy the spectacle from their own special perch on the south side of the Lido - limited to one disabled person and one
helper to be allocated on a first come first served basis.

The area between the Pier and Lido will get you closest to the action but there will be a big screen east and west of the Lido so everyone will have a great view of the flying.

Visitors coming along to watch the antics from the beach are asked to take note of the high water line that will be marked out on the beach.

This year the east side of the pier will be open to the public for the duration of the flying.

I am well impressed that it should benefit the town's traders to the tune of about £1/2m.

[kitty]

forecast still looking good, am not sure who's more excited my son or me - lol.

The area between the Pier and Lido will get you closest to the action but there will be a big screen east and west of the Lido so everyone will have a great view of the flying.

am i reading that right, there's two big screens this year?

[spider]

Looks like it's going to be a very busy weekend in town with the forecast looking good.

Wishing everyone well with their flights.

[seasidegeek]

am i reading that right, there's two big screens this year?

That's how I read it, otherwise it's going to one hell of a big screen - lol.

[The Wrenjacks]

Weather looks good, and lets hope it stays that way. Shame about the road deciding to collapse at the Steyne

[The Doctor]

Breaking news -

Steve Elkins' flight was measured at 99.87m - that's just 13cm from winning the £30,000 prize!

They are doing a video replay to double-check his distance.

[The Doctor]

And the good PR for Worthing start rolling in:

Thousands of people have flocked to the birdman contest in Worthing to watch winged contestants try to flap or glide themselves off the town's pier.

The aviators have been attempting mechanically-unaided flight during the Worthing International Birdman which takes place on Saturday and Sunday.

It was moved to Worthing in 2008 after Bognor pier was shortened by 80ft (24m), making it unsafe for flyers.

There is a £30,000 prize for the person who flies furthest over 328ft (100m).

Competitor Steve Elkins came very close in his modified glider with his distance of 99.8m (327.4ft).

But despite his disappointment he broke the event's long-standing record of 89.2m (292.6ft), set by Ron Freeman in 1992.

Full BBC Report

Ace flier Steve Elkins came within a whisker of winning the £30,000 Worthing Birdman jackpot.

Steve, 46, from Hope in Derbyshire, flew an astonishing 99.86 metres, just a fraction short of the 100 metre “holy grail.”

Steve, who makes hang gliders for a living, said there was still hope he might win the top prize.

Full Argus report

[The Doctor]

Great video of all Saturday’s flyers on the Worthing Herald's site

[The Doctor]

I am being assured the live online streaming should be working OK tomorrow, so if you can’t get down to the seafront – just watch it on the Doctor WatsOn homepage.

[The Doctor]

Great pics on The Telegraph site:

The aviators are attempting to achieve mechanically-unaided flight over Saturday and Sunday. The competition was moved to Worthing in 2008 after Bognor pier was shortened by 80ft (24m), making it unsafe for fliers.

A £30,000 prize is on offer to anyone who can fly furthest over 328ft (100m). Jonathan Ansell, a former tenor with the group G4, took part in the competition.

The competitors aim of trying to claim the jackpot by 100 metres failed, but one competitor, Steve Elkins, came agonisingly close with his distance of 99.87m.

Despite his disappointment, his flight, completed in a modified glider, did see him break the long-standing record, set in 1992 by Ron Freeman, of 89.2 metres.

Full Telegraph report

[kitty]

what a great day it was, well done to all the organisers.

it was really exciting when it looked like that bloke had won the jackpot, shame his hang glider is broken and he can't try again.

mind you i bet the organisers are pleased they didn't have to pay out.

seriously excited about today's event, the weather is going to be even better than yesterday.

[The Doctor]

mind you i bet the organisers are pleased they didn't have to pay out.

Morning Kitty, glad you enjoyed yourself and yes the weather is one hell of a lot better than last year when the Sunday flights were cancelled.

The £30k prize money is actually insured, so the organisers don't directly pay it out themselves.

Having said that I can see the premium going up, or the target distance increased, for next year's event after that performance whether anyone actually wins it today or not.

[spider]

That video on the Herald's site is well worth watching and those Telegraph pictures are wicked - nice to see the 'Worthing' banner on the side of the platform!

[seasidegeek]

That video on the Herald's site is well worth watching and those Telegraph pictures are wicked - nice to see the 'Worthing' banner on the side of the platform!

Seconded.

I didn't go down yesterday, but I am looking forward to today especially now I've seen those photos and watched the video.

[The Doctor]

Well what a great day that was – I hope everyone enjoyed it as much as my family did. Just a shame there wasn’t enough wind for anyone to get to the 100m target and collect the jackpot £30,000 prize – better luck next year.

Jason Bradbury from Channel Five’s The Gadget Show took to the air and had a crew filming him, the footage will be featured on the show not tomorrow, but the following Monday (Bank Holiday) on FIVE @ 8.30pm.

Next year’s event is the weekend of the 14th & 15th August.

[The Doctor]

Here's a link to the special Birdman section on the Worthing Herald's site with reports, pictures and videos - more to be added tomorrow.

Picture special in this coming Thursday's Worthing Herald.

[The Doctor]

Good report on the BBC's site:

Birdmen fall short of cash prize

Winged contestants in bizarre costumes and makeshift contraptions have spent a second day trying to flap or glide off Worthing pier in West Sussex.

In front of thousands of spectators, the more serious-minded aviators vied for a £30,000 prize for the person able to fly furthest over 328ft (100m).

They were attempting a mechanically-unaided flight during the Worthing International Birdman.

Steve Elkins came the closest in his modified glider with 327.4ft (99.8m).

But despite his disappointment he broke the event's long-standing record of 292.6ft (89.2m), set by Ron Freeman in 1992.

Full BBC Report

[The Doctor]

Coverage 'Up North' -

Darlington birdman falls short but achieves ambition

A NORTH-EAST man who put his life up for sale on eBay achieved one of his ambitions by taking part in an internationhttp://doctorwatson.info/newreply.php?do=newreply&noquote=1&p=2265al birdman competition today.

Ian Usher, originally from Darlington, was among the contestants in the the annual International Worthing Birdman competition.

Mr Usher, now living in Australia, hit the headlines last year by putting his entire life up for sale after a failed marriage.

Having sold his life, he devised a list of 100 things to do in 100 weeks, including nude sky-diving, white water rafting - and competing in the International Worthing Birdman contest.

Full Northern Echo Report