The 11th Suffolk International Kite Festival 2008
The weather was certainly against us for the opening day of the 11th Suffolk International Kite Festival, cold and rainy, but at least there was wind. We may have not had the crowds, but the show still went on. 
As I drove up on the A14, I could see the big inflatable's and large foils with line laundry brightening an otherwise dreary sky. The ticket sellers were trying to stay warm and dry despite Mother Nature. The parking area was empty first thing in the morning and never seemed to be fuller than two rows of cars all day long.
Things were a bit slow to start in the main arena, but once we got the show rolling it stayed active all day with most teams doing 2 to 3 sets. Martin went live with the SGRFM event crew in the mid morning, but I guess even that was not enough to entice people away from the FA cup match. As the rain continued to drizzle down, the big panda inflatable kept sinking lower and lower to the grassy field. Luckily the rain let off long enough at 1:30 to get a good participation for the children’s sweet drop. I think a few of those that ran for the falling sweets might have been a bit over age though.
That night we had a huge turnout for the catered meal from Cowbells. We had 140+ people, unfortunately they only expected 100, so there was some improvisations made to the menu toward the end. Note to future participants; If you happen to sit at Martin’s table you will more than likely go last. Cowbells got a big round of applause for the food and the service they provided and the beer tent quenched the crowd’s mighty thirst with a multitude of beers.
After dessert and a quick break, came the first ever SKFC auction, which I think everyone will agree was great fun and a resounding success. There was one small incident of a kite making it out the door without payment, but otherwise it went well. The auction ended with bidding war between some American or Canadian chap, who won’t be named, and a fellow Brit over Norm’s hand built giant Cody kite.
All and all the auction raised a generous amount, with £280 going to the East Anglia Air Ambulance and the remainder toward next year’s festival. After the enormous Cody was carefully manoeuvred out of the tent, Appo started spinning his tracks and everyone got down with music and laser/light show.
Sunday began with foggy hangover heads and eyeballs scorched out of the sockets by a bright flaming object in the sky. The sun we ordered for the weekend finally arrived and with it the people begin to show up and soon the parking area was soon filling.
With the cheering crowds and the brilliant weather, the performing teams; “Evolver”, The Flying Squad, Bruno and Leo, Team Spectrum, and Dark Star, all put on their finest performances, wowing young and old alike with amazing routines. The power kiters, Craig Sparkes, Lewis Wilby, and Aston Wilby amazed the audience with their wild stunts and outrageous freestyle tricks. I am not sure that gravity was working quite right that day, as they were getting some serious air and hang time.
The large kite and inflatable area was brimming full of trilobites, cats, geckos, bears, and so much more, brought to the sky by Beccles Bunch, Andrew & Kathleen Beattie and Karl Longbottom.
I think the tandem buggy drivers, way out in the North forty, finally got some customers out their way and gave them some white knuckle thrill rides, thanks guys. The STACK UK championships continued with round 2 in full swing in the back field.
Children galore inundated the Warburton sponsored kite workshop and a big thank you goes out to all the SKFC members who helped make it a success. The kids that made a kite were also given a special Warburton mini kite and were invited to fly their built kites in the main arena at 3:30. The Warburton manager from Thetford judged all the kids kites and declared a winner in each age category. As the day continued on the crowds got a chance to spread out and visit all the vendors, refreshment stalls, and the Rougham Tower Museum.
A big thank you goes out to all (sponsors, volunteers and supporters) that made this festival what it is today. I hope that everyone had as much fun and good times as I did and here is to hoping we can top it next year.
Chili Jeff
Suffolk Kite Flyers Club Reporter