Birdman of Worthing

With Josh and Christie leaving so early in Sunday we took advantage of our lie-in privileges and went over to Worthing to see the International Worthing Birdman. If you're not familiar with this eccentric tradition, its basically a load of sponsored nutters who either build their own glider to get the most distance or dress up to hurl themselves off the pier.

It was a good turn out thanks to the glorious weather though there was room for more. Saturday had the more serious competitors so we settled in for some leaping lemmings. All the contestants had their own backstory, charity and small comedy routine played to their own music. Highlights for us were:

• Bilbo/Frodo Baggins who'd gone all the way with wig and fake feet (Flickr photo)
  
• Inspector Gadget who had been set up by his mates as a stag do - poor guy (Flickr photo)
  
• The Aussie crocodile man who's head fell off (Flickr photo)
  
• Chitty Chitty Bang Bang cast including Childcatcher and eccentric Grandpa (Flickr photo)
  

After the funny business was a surprise entry from the Channel Five TV show, The Gadget Show. It was a massive glider designed by the University of Southampton and was piloted by Jason Bradbury with the other male presenter, Ortis Deley giving hime moral support. The Worthing Herald shows the flight in video which was a little disappointing with the build up of how much effort had gone in to it. From where we were standing the glider looked too wide plus there was no running jump. Whether that's the rule for the competition but he did manage 3rd place overall. A great day out!