Wings of charity

Manama : Charity was the big winner as the 23rd British Club Annual Competition for ‘budding aviators’ took place on Friday at the British Club premises in Mahooz, organised by the Llongsteppers cycling section of the club.

It featured around 30 participants in the children’s category up to the age of 18 and a ‘not so grown-up’ adult category.

Participants were urged to wear fancy dress and focused on popular and topical themes and personalities when they dived or jumped into the pool.

All participants are measured how far they can ‘fly’ down the length of the pool, but currently no one in the history of the competition has jumped the entire distance of the pool so far.

This event generates a great deal of support from the watching spectators in this fun event which is also a major charity fund-raiser, which this year was for The Mission For Seafarers Society.

Participants paid BD1 for a private entry or a BD20 company sponsored entry and other money raised was through the sale of T-shirts and a raffle draw.

Prizes in the children’s category were awarded to Crocodile Rock for ‘Best Costume’ and The Kardashians for ‘Best Entertainment Value’ and in the adults category for The Flying Grannies “Best Costume’ and for Fanny Panny and Tinkelsbelle for ‘Best Entertainment Value’.

Among participants taking part this year were - James Bond, Lucia/ Sol, Batman, Robin, Joker Harley Quinn, Aoife and Bobbie Spiderman, Crocodile Rock, James, Isaac, Rowan, Aubrey, Kai, Daithi and Elias, Cathal, The Walking Dead, Gek Turk, UK Jumpers, Lily The Pink’s Mum and The Red Baron.

Simon Cox one of the organisers said, “We had another great event and everyone involved had a great time, money was raised for a good cause and everyone had an enjoyable and fun afternoon.”

Every year a similar contest takes place in Sussex on the South of England coast where “budding aviators” attempt to fly by jumping off a pier. It started in 1971 at Selsey then went to Bognor Regis down the coast in 1978.

Since 2010, both Bognor Regis and Worthing organise the International Birdman Series with big prize money on offer.

To date none has succeeded and all have been caught by the safety net of the English Channel.

The “Spirit” of the British Club event was to have fun and have a great day out and see who can Fly The Furthest.