THE BRITISH FIREWORK CHAMPIONSHIPS 2018 – THE COMPETITORS

WHAT: BRITISH FIREWORK CHAMPIONSHIPS 2018
WHY: NATIONAL FIREWORKS COMPETITION
WHERE: PLYMOUTH HOE, THE PROMENADE, PLYMOUTH
WHEN: WEDNESDAY 8TH & THURSDAY 9TH AUGUST 2018
COST: FREE

Back in January, we brought you news of the forthcoming British Firework Championships taking place in August 2018 and now we have the details of the competitors.

It is most certainly a very competitive line up with some of the best in the UK taking centre stage this year to take the title of British Firework Champions 2018.

Here are the teams:

UK FIREWORK COMPANY - NORTH FINCHLEY, LONDON
This company was established in 2009 and are kept busy all year round with fireworks, special effects, fire-writing (lancework) and indoor pyrotechnics.

The competed here last year and were narrowly beaten to the win by Selstar. Fingers crossed that this will be their year to lift the silverware.

SMART PYROTECHNICS - DEVIZES, WILTSHIRE
Owned by Steve Martin and Anthony Foti, the operations on a day to day basis remain under the control of Steve. Anyone in the pyro industry will be familiar with the name Foti as one of the first Italian Firework families who has been in the firework world since 1793 and today, are at the forefront of international firework events globally.

In 2014 they were awarded a richly deserved 1st place in Courchevel's Festival d’art Pyrotechnique and last year they competed in the Champion of Champions British Musical Firework Championships in Southport where they were narrowly beaten by Sirotechnics but they did pick up the Peoples Choice awards and in some respects I do agree because overall the Sirotechnics show was better the finale from Smart was absolutely electrifying.

FULLY FUSED FIREWORKS – SHEFFORD, BEDFORDSHIRE
The team from Fully Fused have been at the forefront of National and International displays both in competition and for overseas clientele. They have been creating awe-inspiring displays for more than 30 years. Expect a jaw-dropping display which will have the crowd talking about it for days to come from this amazing professional team.

PHOENIX FIREWORKS – WROTHAM, KENT
This company has been delighting crowds with their innovative display design and attention to detail for 40 years and continue to thrill crowds today. The team believe that planning is paramount, and the team took part in last year’s BMFC champion of champions event alongside Smart Pyrotechnics at the event in Southport, once again missing out on the top spot.

One of the most memorable projects this team has undertaken was the Sony Bravia LCS TV advert in which they were tasked with firing 70,000 litres of paint down the side of a building. A staggering 1700 detonators and 57 kilometres of copper wire were used to create the advert which became one of the most iconic in 2006.
More recently, they have done the stills for the front page of Tatler, one of the oldest monthly issue magazines in the World having first being published in 1901.

FUSE FIREWORKS – RETFORD, NOTTINGHAMSHIRE
Run and owned by Zoe and Brian Marshall, this team have displayed for TV, Formula One, Next and even our local shopping centre Meadowhall. Remaining committed to their Customer Service principles and their commitment to maintaining their attention to the finer details has ensured that this team are incredibly busy all year around. In 2017 they fired a staggering 51 shows for BFN including the huge event at Alexandra Palace which was voted the best in the UK by the Telegraph. I am really looking forward to seeing what this crew will bring to the event.

ILLUSION FIREWORKS – WALLINGFORD, OXFORDSHIRE
Although the company was only established in 2014, they have a long fireworks connection as Karl crewed for teams up and down the country for years before taking the plunge and setting up independently.

That was only the start of it as the team were invited to compete the following year at Newby Hall Firework Champions and won the event first time out. They went on to win once again at last years Firework Champions even at Ragley Hall and get better and better. Expect bright colours and huge effects from this display team as they follow the company’s tag-line of a sky full of magic.

Good luck to all the teams competing this year and we will, of course, bring you details of the competition winners in mid-August. 1st reserve team are The Fireworkers from Driffield, East Yorkshire and the 2nd reserve are Nemesis Pyrotechnics from Crewe, Cheshire.