Birdman of Worthing

The aim was simple: competitors ran off the end of the pier to see how far they could travel before they hit the water.
Worthing in West Sussex in England plays hosted the International Birdman competition. A bumper of £ 10,000 (Sterling) was the jackpot on offer to any of the high flyers who manage to swoop over 100 metres in the most famous birdman Competition in the world.
Windy conditions reaching up to 20 knots affected this year’s Worthing Birdman Festival, resulting in several entrants not competing.
All of the fun entrants flew successfully from the Pier earlier in the day before the more serious entrants took their turn.
Most of the contestants were clearly fun jumpers whereas others spent many weeks preparing homemade ‘flying machines’. The strongest contenders for the prize fund, however, are the hand gliding entries that have in the past made the best distance. The height from the top of the runway, well the scaffold to be exact, on the pier to the sea, is around 50 feet.
There are few rules but all competitors must be 16 (with parents consent) or over, no competitor may use wings exceeding 30 feet span, either flapping or gliding. Competitors must be able to swim at least 100 metres unassisted and like any top-sporting occasion, the judges’ decision is final.
The weather always plays an important role for all of the Birdman, particularly the serious contenders. This year the weather was sunny but somewhat gusty.
The atmosphere amongst the contestants was one of camaraderie and generosity, no doubt as a consequence that they all face the somewhat scary descent from the pier.
A wide range of competitors, including people dressed as Doctor Who in a Tardis, flying pigs, Batman and Robin and an ambulance, flew from the Pier.
Last year’s champion, Toby Quantrill, who reached 81 metres then, took the early lead with a flight of 42 metres, but was surpassed by New Zealander Roger Warren, who reached 52.5 metres and Birdman veteran Tony Hughes, who reached 65.4 metres in his x plane glider.
But those distances were smashed by Bill Brooks, who reached 78.4 metres in his Vulcan-class craft.
Other entrants, some of which came from as far afield as Hong Kong, chose not to fly because of the growing winds.

[@holisticcritic9267]

I love Britclip. Y'all deserve a Netflix show or smth

[@Britclip]

Thank you for your comment - if Netflix want to give us a show, we are here.

[@Andrewjg_89]

Loving the costumes and the cheesy music in the beginning of the video.

[@georgekurgansky5986]

How's the sewage situation? Did they turn the tap off for the day? Would be so funny if someone just flew off into the sunset lol

[@Britclip]

I would imagine the sewage situation is that good - could add a little interest to the jumpers/flyer?