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Ilfracombe Birdman 2022 – Team Pall (Credit : Simon Ellery)<\/p>\nEverything you need to know about the quirky eventIlfracombe Birdman 2022 – Team Pall (Credit : Simon Ellery)<\/p>\n
Ten teams of daredevil flying aces will aim to soar across Bristol’s Floating Harbour this weekend, as the first-ever Bristol Birdman competition takes place.<\/p>\n
The truth is, however, that they are likely run off a launch ramp and plummet ungracefully into the murky depths, because of gravity, but a large crowd is expected to line both sides of the Floating Harbour to watch the spectacle on Sunday morning.<\/p>\n
Birdman events are popular around the world, and perhaps the most famous in the UK is the one in Bognor Regis in Sussex, where thousands gather to watch the \u2018flights\u2019 off the end of the town\u2019s pier.<\/p>\n
The Bristol event kicks off at 10am on Sunday morning and for the next two hours, a steady stream of foolhardy teams will try to impress the judges with their outfits, the look of their flying machines, their introduction routines and the distance they manage to successfully glide, to win prizes galore, and all in aid of a good cause.<\/p>\n
The Birdman is being organised by youth charity Grassroot Communities. Its founder Ben Carpenter said: \u201cWith its creative culture and extensive maritime and aviation histories, Bristol is the ideal city<\/a> to embrace the ethos of Birdman.<\/p>\n \u201cThe first objective is for everyone to have lots of fun – what isn\u2019t fun about jumping off a pontoon dressed as an eagle?\u201d<\/p>\n In the run-up to the first-ever Bristol Birdman, we\u2019ve pulled together a guide to everything we know about the event:<\/p>\n When is the Bristol Birdman?<\/p>\n The first-ever Bristol Birdman is taking place on the morning of Sunday, June 15. The event starts at 10am and is expected to run for two hours until midday.<\/p>\n Where is the event taking place?<\/p>\n A launch ramp pontoon is being set up on Baltic Wharf, on the stretch of the harbourside between Bristol Marina and The Cottage Inn and the caravan park. But there\u2019ll be good viewing points around that part of the Floating Harbour, particularly on Mardyke on the opposite side of the water.<\/p>\n Who is organising the event?<\/p>\n The event is being organised by Grassroot Communities, a community-based organisation that is creating sustainable change in everyday communities in Bristol through dedicated youth and community work.<\/p>\n Originally based in South Bristol, the organisation has a track record of helping children and young people step into leadership roles, and its \u2018GAP\u2019 programme has helped young adults<\/a> across some of Bristol\u2019s more deprived communities find opportunities to transform their lives. Any profits from the Birdman event will go directly to that work.<\/p>\n How will the Birdman event work?<\/p>\n It\u2019s mainly just a ridiculous bit of fun, but there is a competition element to it, and some people take it quite seriously. There will be up to 12 teams competing and the aim is to create a home-made machine, with costumes, that, when pushed off the end of a pontoon sticking out into the Floating Harbour, travels the furthest before it hits the water below.<\/p>\n The contraptions can only be made from recycled materials that can then be fished out of the water and reused.<\/p>\n As well as the prize for who glides the furthest, there will also be prizes awarded for style, the costumes, the contraptions themselves and the little show the teams put on up on the pontoon before lift-off.<\/p>\n Who\u2019s involved?<\/p>\n DJ and MC Ian ‘Downsy’ Downs is compering and commentating on the event on the morning, and a number of teams have already signed up.<\/p>\n All Aboard Watersports, which is based nearby, are the event\u2019s main sponsors, and local firms including Amdaris, Arup, theatrical company Bakehouse, Brightpearl, financial firm CPA, Puppet Place, Old Market restaurant Tomo No Ramen and Grassroot Communities itself, are among the companies and organisations who have entered teams.<\/p>\n Pre-event favourites, at least for the style prizes, are the creative companies involved – with Bakehouse and Puppet Place well placed to score highly with the judges.<\/p>\n Each entrant has a fundraising section on the GoodHub website<\/a>.<\/p>\n Join Bristol Live\u2019s WhatsApp community for What’s On news sent directly to your phone<\/strong><\/p>\n Bristol Live<\/a> is now on WhatsApp and we want you to join our community. Through the app, we\u2019ll share the top stories about Bristol events, restaurants, family attractions, nightlife and much more straight to your phone, so you can stay updated with things to do and places to go.<\/p>\n To join our community you need to already have WhatsApp. All you need to do is click this link <\/a>and select \u2018Join Community\u2019. No one will be able to see who is signed up and no one can send messages except the Bristol Live<\/a> team.<\/p>\n We also treat community members to special offers, promotions and adverts from us and our partners. If you don\u2019t like our community, you can check out at any time you like.<\/p>\n To leave our community, click on the name at the top of your screen and choose \u2018Exit group\u2019. If you\u2019re curious, you can read our Privacy Notice.<\/a><\/p>\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/1744476931_129_0_WhatsApp-Phone.jpg\")
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