SKF at Worksop Summer Festival 2006

Kilton Forest Showground, Worksop - 20th August 2006

Sheffield Kite Fliers had been approached by the organizers of the Worksop Summer Festival to provide some kite related entertainment at the event. From the final arrangements it had been agreed to have two half hour slots in the arena and for SKF members to bring whatever kites that would look good. Thinking that most people would bring traction kites with boards or buggys I opted for the trick kites especially the Revolution. I also was nervous about my buggying skills in an arena with people watching (would have been like watching circus clowns.....). As it turned out this was not to be a problem.

Paul picked me up from home and processed to drive at a breakneck speed to Worksop. About half way there he asked me "any idea where this place is?" as I wasn't driving, and Worksop being a here-be-dragons kind of place for me I replied that I had no idea. Paul remembered it being near a golf course - and promptly found us a golf course.... with no kites nearby. After looking carefully at the map (which was in the boot under the kite gear - where else?) we noticed another golf course - and so off there we went and fairly easily found the correct place. I must admit getting a slight thrill of pleasure telling the security people "we are part of the kite display team, show us to the VIP suite!". Actually I made that last part up. We were shown to the field to find a very nice largish space at the end of the field with a nice (if gusty) wind blowing. And the space was all for us - for the whole afternoon (apart from a small area for the donkey rides)

We quickly dispensed with the idea of formal displays - we had no PA to describe what was happening, and people could only watch near one side. But we had fun. Paul, Simon, Russ, and Jon were boarding around the place, Carl and Liz buggying, me flying the Revolution. Over the afternoon Dave and Liz made some single line sled kites for the children which flew nicely down the other end of the field.

Towards the end Dave and I tried some dual line team flying - but as he had a Benson Deep Space and I had a Benson Gemini there was a speed difference - Dave was much faster than me. After a few tries (which only ended up with tangled lines and, once, tangled kites) Dave fitted bin bag tails to both kites - a single bin bag for me, and three for him. And so team Bin Liner (or possible Bin Laden) was formed. Lots of fun and much harder than I had anticipated - and this was only doing "follow my leader" type flying. Definitely worth pursuing further I think - but with proper kites for the job.

All in all a good afternoon flying - I helped a chap out with some Revolution flying tips, chatted with the SKF crowd and had fun. I'm not sure what the visitors to the summer festival made of it - some hung around to watch for a while, and the kites could be seen from all over the fun fair. It's a shame that we didn't have PA otherwise we could have put on proper demonstrations and explained what was happening.

Also we got a free cheeseburger and drink - so I can put this down as my first (and last) professional kite gig.....