Perfect Losers came out winners

Those magnificent men and women in their flying machines took centre stage at The British Club, Mahooz, on Friday afternoon.

For they were competing in the 12th ‘birdman’ contest and attempting to soar as far as they could above the swimming pool in a variety of colourful costumes and flying contraptions.
Seventeen contestants took part and the winners turned out to be team called the ‘Perfect Losers’ namely, Sara Hameed, 17, from Sacred Heart School and Layal Al Yamani, 12, from Al Bayan School, who managed a remarkable distance of 22ft.
Winner of the children’s competition under 12 was “Man United Flying High” Taymour El Madani with a leap into the unknown of 16ft. It’s a shame his side couldn’t repeat the winning habit in the FA Cup Final.
The best costume prize was won by the ‘Taliban Telletubbies’ featuring school boys George Cox and Adam Sutcliffe, both aged 12, in the youth section and the best costume in the adult competition was won by the ‘The Blades’ team.
A winged competitor called Michael Jackson, a rocket ship and even a hang-glider failed to make any impression as far as distance was concerned but certainly caused a splash when they plunged to the depths of the pool.
The competitor judged most entertaining in the children’s group was Kung Foo Fighting A Rahman Al Shamlan, 11, and the most entertaining in the adult’s group were Jimmy Hendrix and Angus ‘Not so’ Young alongside the Rocky Horror Show featuring Simon Cox, Andy Savage, Stuart Walters, George and Megan Cox.
A crowd of 200 attended the fun event which raised BD450 for a local charity which supports migrant workers. A spokesman from the club, Andrew Savage, said the inspiration for the charity-fundraiser was a similar contest which takes place in the south of England where budding aviators attempt to fly by jumping off a pier.
He said: “To date none has succeeded and all have been caught by the safety net of the English Channel. Our contest raises money for charity and entertains less intrepid persons who just come and watch.
“The spirit of the whole event, which is organised by the club’s Llongsteppers section, is to have fun.”
Sid and the Tonic, a Saudi-based band and DJ Brian Davis provided further entertainment.