History of the Bognor Birdman

Between 1971 and 1978 the South of England's annual Birdman Really was held in the seaside resort of Selsey. With a distance of 46 metres to be covered and a prize of £3,000 to be won, intrepid flyers flocked to compete in the event. Despite fierce competition from the likes of Mary Poppins, Peter Pan and a naked jumper called John, the closest any came to the distance was 44 metres, achieved by David Cook in 1974.

In 1978, the venue changed to the pier in Bognor Regis where a Bristol man achieved a distance of 29 metres and a bright green alien from Hunston won the best local comic entry.

Although the late seventies and early eighties continued to thwart the attempts of Wonder Woman, The Red Baron and the Apollo Space Programme, the arrival of the Swiss and Germans in 1981 provided the basis for a truly international event.

1983 saw the Swiss take first prize, the arrival of TV crews from the BBC, Canada and the USA, and the first pantomime link when two brothers jumped as a racehorse.

1982 was an historic year, when jubilant German, Harold Zimmer flew 57.8 metres and walked away with £10,000 narrowly ahead of the Pope, a flying squirrel and Donald Duck. Germans continued to dominate the serious entries during the eighties, while in the comic section there were sugar plum fairies, condoms, Sinclair C5's and in 1989 and Australian film crew were present to witness Olympian skier "Eddie the Eagle" skyjump 11 metres before splashdown!

By 1990 the record stood at 71 metres with the Germans taking 1st, 2nd and 3rd Places, beating a 10 metre Concorde, 4 penguins, 4 Ninja Turtles and an inmate from Ford Open Prison - minus his passport!

The flying spirit has continued through the 90's, the record was smashed again in 1992 with a flight of 89 metres, and a Japanese documentary crew witnessed the lunacy of flying donuts, ice cream, Tories and vampires.

The 1999 Birdman saw veteran flyer Ron Freeman from Northumberland scoop $1,000 for a 32.8 metre flight by means of a seriously modified hang glider. Weather conditions on the day were fierce with gusting winds and a choppy sea but it didn't stop Dolly the Dragon, Batman or a Sopwith Camel from having a go.

The Millennium International Birdman saw Butlin's offer prize money of £25,000 to the Birdman or BirdWoman flying furthest distance over 100 metres and journalists from Denmark, Italy, Germany and the USA waiting to capture the winning flights.

The £25,000 Butlin's Jackpot prize remained for 2001 when 45 media organisations witnessed Rom Freeman, veteran Birdman from Northumberland fly an incredible 52.6 metre and remain in the air for 10.79 seconds.

His arch competitor David Bradshaw, from Bognor Regis, came a close second with a flight of 40.65 metres. As the champion birdman who has flown the furthest distance ever at the event (89.2 metres in 1992) David has vowed to be the first to win the jackpot prize and keep Birdman history well and truly rooted in the home of Birdman - Bognor Regis. Also in 2001, Paul Burrows was the first competitor in the event's history to enter all three categories.

In 2002, Ron Freeman swooped down once again to win the furthest flight prize against a wind gusting up to 20 knots. A new category of prize was added to and already impressive list, the 'Biggest Birdman Fowl-up' which was won by a Jake Firth for a crowd pleasing attempt that didn't manage to trouble the leader board.

In celebration of 100 years if flight, Virgin Atlantic Airways Ltd. have chosen to help support this internationally recognised event in partnership with Arun District Council.

2003 Programme of Events