- A BLOW AWAY SHOW
- Photographs and report by
Patrick Trollope
SIX of the country's leading pyrotechnics companies light up the sky as these years British Musical Fireworks Championships took place. The event, which is backed by Pleasureland, was undoubtedly the best yet as crowds from all over gathered to see the amazing explosions that could be heard as far as Formby nearly 10 miles away! The warm weather and sun held through out the weekend and this added the feeling of fun to the three nights.
The extravaganza was set off by a fantastic display from the RAF Hawks Parachute Display Team, who dropped in to say hi each night. But what was not seen by the masses, was the hard work behind the scenes by all the teams who were on site as early as 6am setting up and getting the show moving. As Spitfire Pyrotechnics told us
"We plan the event months in advance as well refining the ideas, right up to the last seconds."
Also present was a fantastic feeling of comradeship between the teams as Essex Pyrotechnics Ltd, told us
"If any of us have a problem, we all help each other out. It is not just about winning, but also entertaining the crowds who come to see a fantastic show and all off us want to do just that."
This year's winners were Spitfire Pyrotechnics from Nuneaton who retained the title they won last year with a 20 min display that stunned the Saturday evening crowds as well as the 24 hour yacht race that was running on the other part of the lake. The firm used a huge variety of fireworks from high bursts to decorative showers of light from suspended lines as explosions light up the sky above to the music of Elgar's 'Pomp and Circumstance', 633 Squadron and
other tunes.
It was very tight marking in the end and the judges decided that Spitfire had the edge.
Although it was a hard fought contest, Spitfire received the highest marks from the judges, for the variety and impact of the fireworks and the way they were synchronised to the music. The company took home the £3,000 prize money, the trophy. Most importantly they took home the kudos of winning the title for a second time. The other competitors this year were:- 1st Galaxy Fireworks Ltd, of Nottingham who finished in second place; Essex Pyrotechnics Ltd, of Saffron Walden, who finished third; Dragon Dynasty Pyrotechnics, of Slip End, Bedfordshire; Pyro 1, of Harpenden, Hertfordshire; and competing for the fist time were Pendragon Fireworks, of Cwmbran, Gwent.
Lord Fearn, Sefton's Cabinet Member for Leisure and Tourism, said:- "What a spectacular weekend. The weather was magnificent and the town was packed with visitors. This year's championships were definitely the best in terms of both the quality of the displays and crowd numbers."
The judges were:- Tony Cardell OBE, President of the International Pyrotechnics Society; Eileen Amabalino, head of one of the country's leading fireworks companies; Bill Davis, founder of Sultan Fireworks and WAD Pyrotechnic Services; Phil Pickett, General Manager of sponsors
Pleasureland; Tim Timmerman, Managing Director of the Royal Clifton Hotel and a keen sponsor of the championships and Sue Dare, Sales and Marketing Director of the Champion Media Group.
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Spitfire set up an amazing display.
Pyro 1 also setting up
a display.
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