Blackheath Bike and Kite

Blackheath Bike and Kite 2008

Kitefliers who have been around a while will probably have fond memories of the Blackheath kite events that were held at Easter and late June every year from the late 70’s until 2000. Together with Lewisham Council we are once again organising an event at Blackheath.

The official press release from the council is below but there are some additional details that kitefliers would be interested in.

The bike bit is because it is national bike week and the Mayor of London is putting some money into the event on the basis of bikes being part of the event. Team MAD (the bike display team) have their own, smallish arena away from the kite arenas, so there should not be any interference.

For people interested in staying nearby we have arranged a discount rate at The Clarendon Hotel, Montpelier Row, Blackheath, London SE3 0RW. Tel: 020 8318 4321 or email: relax@clarendonhotel.com. Rates are £70 for a single and £80 for a double/twin both inclusive of breakfast. Just quote ‘Kite and Bike Festival’ when making your booking.

The main thing you should be aware of is that there is NO parking on the heath. Some parking is available in Greenwich Park and in Blackheath Village (or local roads) and we have been told that - for the Sunday anyway - some of the parking is free - but look for the signs and make sure before parking. The council preference is to use your bike or public transport. We know that kitefliers do not travel lightly so have arranged for a drop off point (NOT parking) adjacent to the festival site so you can drop your kit off. Unfortunately, due to the regulation you will have to have a drop off pass for this. These can be obtained from us by sending an SAE with your name and car registration number. The address is on the home page.

We hope you will support this event so that it can become an annual event once again.

Press Release.
The skies of Blackheath in south east London, will come alive with kites of all shapes, sizes and colours when the Blackheath Bike and Kite Festival gets underway.

The Bike and Kite Festival will take place from 11am each day. The event has been organised by the Kite Society of Great Britain and Festival Special Events on behalf of Lewisham Council. Sponsored by Transport for London, it is being held during National Bike Week.

The weekend-long festival will have something for everyone. With specialist commentators for each of the display arenas, entertainment over the weekend includes:

o Holland kite team and Belgium’s ‘Atomic’ kite team, who will bring a variety of inflatable kites and kite trains, from ‘champagne bottles’ to ‘air guitars’.
o A unique seven man stunt team, The Air Heads, will display their expert air dynamic kites in an impressive routine of precision ballet.
o Team Spectrum: a father and son duo, Carl and Bryan with Carl flying his ‘three kites, one man’ display. Carl is one of only three people in the UK able to perform this feat.
o ‘The Flying Squad’, who will give an exciting visual display flying revolution kites in a synchronised ballet, quite different from any other type of kite ballet.
o Former UK Experienced Pair Champions: Husband and wife Allan and Marilyn Pothecary, also known as Close Encounters, will be demonstrating various exhibition displays.
o Specialist kite traders will be on site so that everyone will have the chance to buy and fly their very own kite.
o UK mountain bike stunt display team, Team MAD, will demonstrate death defying leaps, jumps, hops and balancing skills, using only their custom made stunt bikes. Children can get in on the act with special interactive in-between show ‘skill sessions’, where they can learn tips and tricks to help them perform their own bike stunts.

For bike enthusiasts, Dr Bike will be on hand to offer advice and help on how to keep your bike in top condition.

As well as kites and bikes, there will be entertainment for young people with a special children’s fair, provided by Glendale Grounds Management and Botton’s Family Funfairs. Aimed at children under 12, the fair will be open from 11.00am to 7.00pm each day.

For all the latest information go to the Lewisham Council website, www.lewisham.gov.uk and follow the links to Bike and Kite Festival.

For information about places to stay, go to www.lewisham.gov.uk and search on ‘where to stay’. Follow the links to Visit London or the Lewisham Tourist Information Centre. 020 8297 8317 or email tic@lewisham.gov.uk

There are no parking facilities on Blackheath. Visitors should plan their journey using the Transport for London journey planner at www.tfl.gov.uk .

Blackheath Bike and Kite

Kite Event Timetable

Saturday 14^th June
11:00 Official opening

Official opening of the Blackheath Bike and Kite festival by a civic official of Lewisham.

11:05 Kite display by Guest Kite Fliers.

Invited UK and international kite fliers will fly an array of their spectacular giant kites in the main arena. Many of these kites will be continued to be flown in the static kite arena over the course of the day.

11:30 Team Spectrum

Father and son team, Bryan and Carl will fly highly manoeuvrable two line kites sometimes with 100ft tails in synchronization to themed music. They have a variety of routines, including Carl performing the impressive feat of flying three kites at once.

11:50 Kaleidoscope of Kites

A display highlighting the vast range of different shapes and sizes that kites come in, from simple traditional box kites, to large soft kites.

12:10 Close Encounters

Husband and wife team Alan and Marilyn will perform aerial ballets with agile two line kites in time with music. They also demonstrate some of the basics of flying a two line kite, providing some valuable hints and tips for easier flying.

12:30 The Flying Squad

An expert team of four line kite fliers. These kites handle very differently to two line kites and the team performs unique, synchronised ballet together.

12:45 Inflatable Kites

These kites have no spars and their shape is entirely determined by the air filling them, they fly either by themselves or attached to a smaller kite which pulls them into the sky. They come in a wide range of shapes and sizes with many unique patterns and forms.

13:00 Artistic Kites

A display of beautiful and unique kites created through a variety of means, from appliqué to paint, flown by expert kite fliers.

13:15 Airheads

A six person team of two line kite fliers. Flying with 6 kites and 12 lines is a complicated procedure, but this team expertly perform in unison to music.

13:35 Dragons and Centipedes

Beautiful Chinese paper kites in the form of long dragons and centipedes formed from hundreds of individual paper discs in a train with ornately shaped heads.

13:55 Team Spectrum

Father and son team, Bryan and Carl will fly highly manoeuvrable two line kites in synchronization to music. They have a variety of varied routines, including Carl performing the impressive feat of flying three kites at once.

14:10 The Flying Squad

An expert team of four line kite fliers. These kites handle very differently to two line kites and the team performs unique, synchronised ballet together.

14:25 Close Encounters

14:40 Team Rokkaku Fighting Demonstration

Six sided Japanese single line kites that can be used in kite fighting. The aim is to use the kite to bring the other kites to the ground, either by knocking into them, causing them to go into an unrecoverable dive, cutting their kite line or wrapping around the line and pulling them down to the ground.

14:50 Airheads

A six person team of two line kite fliers. Flying with six kites and twelve lines is a complicated procedure, but this team expertly perform in unison to music.

15:10 Serpent Kites

Ethereal single line kites with long, flowing tails, in a range of colours or in the form of snakes.

15:25 Team Spectrum

15:40 Trick Out competition

Champion trick fliers use two line kites to perform aerial tricks in a competition of agility and ability.

End Kite display by Guest Kite Fliers.

All of the invited fliers will display as many of their kites as possible in a grand finale of the day.

Sunday 15th June

11:00 Kite display by Guest Kite Fliers.

All of the invited fliers will display as many of their kites as possible in a grand displaying opening the event for the second day.

11:30 Airheads

A six person team of two line kite fliers. Flying with six kites and twelve lines is a complicated procedure, but this team expertly perform in unison to music

11:50 Kaleidoscope of Kites

A display highlighting the vast range of different shapes and sizes that kites come in, from simple traditional box kite, to large soft kites.

12:10 Close Encounters

12:30 The Flying Squad

An expert team of four line kite fliers. These kites handle very differently to two line kites and the team performs unique, synchronised ballet together.

12:45 Inflatable Kites

13:00 Artistic Kites

A display of beautiful and unique kites created through a variety of means, from appliqué to paint, flown by expert kite fliers.

13:15 Airheads

A six person team of two line kite fliers. Flying with six kites and twelve lines is a complicated procedure, but this team expertly perform in unison to music

13:35 Dragons and Centipedes

Beautiful Chinese paper kites in the form of long dragons and centipedes formed from hundreds of individual paper discs in a train with ornately shaped heads.

13:55 The Decorators

Long standing stalwarts of kite flying, this team performs expert aerial ballets using four line “Revolution” kites.

14:10 The Flying Squad

An expert team of four line kite fliers. These kites handle very differently to two line kites and the team performs unique, synchronised ballet together.

14:25 Close Encounters

14:40 Team Rokkaku Fighting Demonstration

14:50 Airheads

A six person team of two line kite fliers. Flying with six kites and twelve lines is a complicated procedure, but this team expertly perform in unison to music

15:10 Serpent Kites

Ethereal single line kites with long, flowing tails, in a range of colours or in the form of snakes.

15:25 Mega Revolution Fly

2008 is the 20th anniversary of four line “Revolution” kites and to celebrate there will be a mass launch and fly of these intriguing kites.

15:40 Trick Out

Champion trick fliers use two line kites to perform aerial tricks in a competition of agility and ability.

End Kite display by Guest Kite Fliers.

All of the invited fliers will display as many of their kites as possible in a grand finale of the event.

The timetable is subject to the wind and weather conditions and may be subject to last minute changes.

Please note the location of the event here.