The competition, due to take place on July 5 and 6, will be the first to be held in Worthing.

It's previous home for the last 29 years, Bognor Pier, was deemed no longer safe enough for entrants to fly from.

A total of 36 serious and fun birdmen and birdwomen flyers have signed up to take part, with many hoping to scoop the £30,000 prize if they can fly 100 metres from Worthing Pier.

Community spirit

Sharon Clarke, event organiser and town centre manager for Worthing, said: "I am delighted Worthing is able to hold its first Birdman event this year, and we are looking forward to a great weekend.

"The event is generating a real community spirit around the town with everyone talking about it.

"To deliver an event of this size in the timescale we had would not have been possible without the guidance, support and expertise of the International Bognor Birdman Trust, Worthing Borough Council and West Sussex County Council, which have all been fantastic and great to work with.

"The Worthing Town Centre Initiative is looking forward to Worthing being the perch of the Birdman event for many years to come."

Different classes

The Leonardo da Vinci class, sponsored by Worthing Borough Council, is a serious class for the self or team-designed built craft and four entries have been received.

They will fly on both the Saturday, July 5, and Sunday, July 6.

There will be six entries flying both days as part of the county council-sponsored Condor class, and is a serious class for modified hang gliders and similar craft.

The Kingfisher class, sponsored by the Worthing Town Centre Initiative, is the comic and charitable class, which has attracted 26 entries.

They will fly on Sunday only.

Both the Leonardo da Vinci and Condor classes will be taking off on Saturday from 1.30pm to 2.30pm and from 2.50pm to 3.50pm on Sunday.

The Kingfishers will take off from 1.50pm to 2.50pm on Sunday only.

Measured flights

All flights, which are electronically-measured, will be shown on a video screen on the west side of Worthing Lido, with the comic flyers having the chance to do a "little jig" just before their flights to whet the audience's appetite.

The £30,000 prize is up for grabs for entrants in the Leonardo da Vinci and Condor Class, with entrants in the Kingfisher class competing for £500, £250 and £100.

There will also be other prizes and a trophy presented.

Are you taking part in the Birdman rally?

Contact the news desk on 01903 282357 and tell Herald readers why you're taking part.

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