Bedford Kite Festival

Saturday 28th & Sunday 29th June 2003

Location: Russell Park, Bedford
Organised by: Bedford Borough Council

The Bedford Kite Festival in Russell Park had beautiful weather and huge crowds turning out to enjoy the sunshine.

Many international kite fliers were present, including Mikio Toki from Japan, Iqbal Husain from Switzerland, Robert and Heleen Valkenburgh, the Wally Dalmolen display team and Thijo van Beek (Red Baron Kite Team) from Holland, Rolf Zimmermann, Kisa & Anke Sauer from Germany, Claudio Capelli from Italy, and many British flyers including Carl & James Robertshaw, Team Adrenalize, Wigsley Wings and Graham Lockwood.

There was a varied programme of events, centred around the international kite fliers, which kept the interest of the crowd, who were eager to cheer and applaud at the spectacle of the amazing kiteflying that they were watching. Carl and James Robertshaw were mobbed by members of the public for autographs after every display they did.

Saturday was hot, but a very low wind day. Sunday was better for kite-flying with a variable 5-10mph breeze for at least most of the day.

There were plenty of kite traders and food stalls, as well as a licenced bar, kite making workshops and a funfair on site. A very well organised festival. The only downside was the long walk, across two bridges, from the kiters camping area to the field.

Here are our photographs from Sunday.

Single Line Kites

Out of this world! Kisa & Anke Sauer's creations
Claudio Capelli from Italy with two of his hand-painted kites
Iqbal Husain with his unusual centipede kites, based on the style of Chinese dragon kites
Cellular and box-style kites, including a Cody and The Red Baron
Happy flying...		... while Pauline Taylor & Hezz take shade under Raymond

Kite Flying Demonstrations

Paul Thody flew this stack of Flexifoils	Team Adrenalize demonstrating buggying and boarding
Wigsley Wings fly some large Peter Lynn inflatables
Carl & James Robertshaw flying...	...and catching their Rev's	Signing autographs for their fans
Childrens' arena	Busy crowds around the arenas

Links:

Bedford Borough Council Kite Festival information

Wigsley Wings

Team Adrenalize

Carl Robertshaw's KiteStudio

Red Baron Kite Team