BELVOIR CASTLE FIREWORK CHAMPIONS 2015

WHAT: FIREWORK CHAMPIONS BELVOIR CASTLE 2015
WHERE: BELVOIR CASTLE - GRANTHAM - LEICESTERSHIRE
WHEN: SATURDAY 8th AUGUST 2015
WHY: PROFESSIONAL FIREWORK COMPETITION
COST: £17.00 PER ADULT ONLINE – GATE PRICES ARE HIGHER

This is the third of the annual MLE firework spectaculars for the entertainment of those in the Midlands and the North of the UK. Each event is in competition format with 3 teams battling it our for spectator votes to win a year’s bragging rights as they paint the skies overhead with beautiful colour and effects. The event plays host to over 8000 spectators, they use more than 4000 fireworks at a cost of around £60,000 and there are four 10 minute displays to captivate and thrill.

Belvoir Castle (pronounced ‘beaver’) was initially a Norman Castle during the English Civil war, which following on from an extensive fire was rebuilt under the instruction of the wife of the 5th Duke of Rutland during the late 18th century in the same Gothic style you see it in today.

The Castle has remained in the Manners family since the early 1500’s and it is currently home to the 11th Duke and Duchess and their five children. The castle and grounds are used all year round for weddings, shoots, film and TV locations alongside corporate events as well as the Firework Champions event.

The competitors at this year’s event are as follows:

GALA FIREWORKS – NORTHAMPTON – 9:30AM

The first display team firing are representing Gala Fireworks. Winners of the event here at Belvoir in 2013 and again last year at Eastnor Castle they are no strangers to the firework stage. Their orders book reads like a copy of Okay magazine with clients including 2014 F1 World Champion Lewis Hamilton, singer Leona Lewis, Paramount Film studio production and His Grace the Archbishop of Canterbury to name a few. Last year was a great year for Gala having already lifted the trophy at Eastnor, the team went on to gain a very worth 2nd place at the British Musical Fireworks Championships in Southport. The team was even featured on the BBC News.

Good luck to the team from Gala Fireworks.

F1 PYROTECHNICS – BRIGHTON, SUSSEX – 9:45PM

This crew has definitely got a busy year of competition ahead in 2015, having been invited to take part in the British Musical Firework Championships in Southport in October so it will help them to get some experience in the meantime. No strangers to the pressure of a big event, they were invited by Grucci to assist in firing the World Record winning display in Dubai on New Years Eve 2014 and while they understate their contribution, having cue’d up only 1% of all the pyro on the MASSIVE site which still left just under 5000 to set up!

They are also winners of Firework Champions events at Capesthorne Hall in 2011, Belvoir Castle in 2012 and Stanford Hall in 2013 so this will definitely be the one to watch carefully to see what they pull out of the bag this time.

PDC FIREWORKS – PETERBOROUGH – 10:00PM

The team from PDC lifted the silverware at last year’s Firework Champs held in the grounds of Capesthorne Hall proving that they are a force to be reckoned with. Their music choices are always excellent and vary from strong violins to pop or rock music and even some film/TV scores in there for good measure to keep it fresh and choosing the right pieces to ensure the sky is filled with light and effect in accordance with the emotion of the music. They even brought out the big guns with the theme to the hit Disney Film Frozen at Capesthorne to the delight of the gathered crowds.

Expect the unexpected as PDC stock the larger shells whereas most of the other UK companies only store up to 6 inch ones.

Whatever the outcome of the competition, one thing is for sure – everyone is in for a treat. Get along there early as the gates open at around 5:00pm and there are interviews with the teams at around 9.00pm and a computer fired demonstration display at 9.15 before the competitors take centre stage.

As always, voting opens at 10:15 and closes at 10.30 and whilst the last calculations are taking place, organisers MLE Pyrotechnics will provide the closing larger display before the winners are announced around 10:40pm

There are always facilities on site including of course the prerequisite concession stands but the majority of people take picnic food along to the venue and take position early evening to ensure that they get a premium spot. There will be children’s entertainment on offer with bouncy castles and fairground rides and background music throughout the day.

Information about camping or taking a gazebo onto the site at Belvoir Castle is available via the Firework Champions website.

Take some snaps and videos and send them along to us here at Epic as we would love to see them.