Birdman or Revival '“which will it be?

The attraction of the motor racing circuit's Revival festival competing for popularity this weekend adds to the usual challenge for the entrants of staying in the air long enough to claim the 25,000 jackpot.

The impact of the cars on repeating last year's 14,000 attendance is unknown but International Bognor Birdman Trust chairman Barry Jones said his main thoughts were about this weekend's conditions.

'We just don't know how Goodwood is going to affect us. A lot of people may think they will not bother to go to Goodwood because of all the traffic and decide to stay locally.

'But I know the accommodation is solidly booked for the weekend around the area. Some of that is probably due to Goodwood and that could stop some people coming down to stay for Birdman.

'Everything is in place, though, for a good weekend for the Birdman. All we want now is the good weather,' he stated.

A packed line-up of 35 flyers will be stepping or running off the ramp perched 35ft above the high tide off Bognor pier.

Among the front runners will be last year's joint winners Wiltshire man Tony Hughes and Ron Freeman from Northumberland. Little separated the pair last year '“ with Hughes making 84.4m and Freeman 83.8m. They will both be determined this time to go one better and beat the crucial 100m mark to claim the top prize.

Freeman has won Birdman seven times and Hughes once, leaving aside last year's tie. No one else has flown further than them this century. But the record of 89.2m was set back in 1992 by local lad David Bradshaw.

Birdman's worldwide status is again underlined by the appearance of American David Moore, returning from Connecticut, and the debut of Valentin Stavrev, of Bulgaria. Dutchman Koen Snoekx will also be travelling from overseas.

Plenty of local interest is ensured this year with five entrants from the Bognor Regis area and a further one from Chichester.

Flying takes place on both Saturday and Sunday. Some ten entrants are expected to take part in the first day's heats from 1.30pm. The serious, and not so serious, action gets underway from 2.30pm on Sunday. Prize giving is at 5.15pm.

Entrants are placed in three classes. The new condor class is for modified hang gliders and similar craft. Prizes range from 500 for first place to 100 for fifth. The flyer in the air the longest also wins 25 for each second aloft up to 1,000.

The International Birdman Trophy winner also gets an extra 500.

The Leonardo da Vinci class is for self-built and designed flying machines for those who really want to pit their wits against gravity. The prizes are the same as the condor class.

Those who delight in fanciful, if impractical, designs which delight the spectators are in the kingfisher class. Their prizes are 500 for first place to 100 for third.

n There is keen interest from China in Bognor's Birdman, though it is unlikely that Hunan TV from the Chinese province will be present this weekend. A representative from the TV station did visit Mr Jones and his wife, Jenny, about three weeks ago to discuss the occasion.

Mrs Jones and another member of the organising committee will be travelling to Hunan for the second year of its Birdman on September 15 as guests of honour. Tony Wilson and his partner will be present as well. Mr Jones said: 'The competition in Hunan consists of people running along a specially built pier in a lake and jumping off it.

They have moved the date of their competition back a month to September 15, after we said we couldn't go out there in August, but it means that the Chinese winner will not be able to come to Bognor this year.'

Mr Jones said the Chinese interest was the latest sign of the global fame of Bognor and its Birdmen.

'Bognor is known around the world for Birdman. It's the biggest thing I have ever been involved in.'