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For the birds! - TUESDAY JULY 13, 2010

FLASH AYE? Supreme Birdman Jason Bye of Russell - aka a baby-rescuing Flash Gordon - with Kate Williams as the careless mum. PETER DE GRAAF

FAVOURITES: Moana Stuart and Gary Hooson of Russell had the crowd "shrekking" with delight.
A record 3000-plus people crowded the Russell waterfront for the town's 2010 Birdman Festival, which saw an end to the colourful event's two-year weather hoodoo.
Last year's driving rain and near gale-force winds demolished some of the flying machines even before they left the ramp, but Saturday's weather could hardly have been better.
Twenty teams and individuals fought for the title of Supreme Birdman by attempting to fly from the end of Russell wharf in flying machines ranging from World War I triplanes fashioned from cardboard and polstyrene to a helium balloon, a concorde and even a ride-on moa.
The winner this year was Russell's Jason Bye, as Flash Gordon rescuing a baby dropped from the wharf. In his acceptance speech, Mr Bye - fresh from competing in Friday night's drag race as the aptly named "Hairy Fairy" - said he had planned to retire this year.
"But bugger youse, I'm coming back next year now," he said.
Russell man Gary Hooson continued his extraordinary four-year run as crowd favourite, dressed this year as the green ogre Shrek and accompanied by Moana Stuart as Princess Fiona.
Tapeka Pt's Peter Hughes won the title for best team effort with an elaborate entry involving James Bond, a Bond girl, machine-gun wielding baddies, a helicopter and an escape using flying contraptions. 
Other events at the three-day festival included a spaghetti eating competition, dinghy races, a plane flying contest and a beach dig for the kids.
Co-organiser Toni Ball put the event's "mind-blowing" success and record  turnout down to the weather, better and earlier promotion, and increasing support from businesses in Russell, Paihia and Opua.
Birdman would "definitely" be back in 2011.

Birdman results
Supreme winner: Jason Bye from the Pub Round the Corner, Russell, as Flash Gordon.
Best team: Peter Hughes of Russell Realty, as James Bond, with Bond girl Hannah Lyle and "baddies" Thea Lyle and Gareth Dunkerley. 
Best individual: Jason Bye, Russell, as Flash Gordon.
Crowd favourite: Gary Hooson and Moana Stuart, Russell, as Shrek and Princess Fiona.
Best distance: Romantic Russell by Sally's Restaurant staff Bree Riches, Amy Gowland, Bobby White and Keith Hale.
Special prize: Atawhai Henare, Whangarei, and daughter Jade-Ashley, 6, as the Maori Red Baron.Other weekend winners include Austen Gravelle, who downed a plate of spaghetti without using his hands in 11.8 seconds. The 21-year-old Aucklander is hitch-hiking around the North Island and said the lukewarm spaghetti, not to mention his wine and chocolate prize, was a step up from his usual fare. Friday night's drag race was an international event won by Israel's Osher Perry. Other drag race prizes went to "Anita Man" (Anton Haagh, new owner of Russell's Duke of Marlborough Hotel) and "Miss Blare Cheeks" of Whangarei.