High fliers and high jinx at Russell Birdman Festival

Name: Watch: Russell's drag race
Uploaded: 2017-07-16T16:17:13+12:00
Description: On the Friday before Russell's Birdman jump locals put on their best dresses and high-heels and run an obstacle race around town. We're talking about the men of course - the women compete in the Fred Dagg Dash (gumboots, singlet and hat compulsory).

Northern Advocate

17 Jul, 2017 01:49 AMQuick Read

On the Friday before Russell's Birdman jump locals put on their best dresses and high-heels and run an obstacle race around town. We're talking about the men of course - the women compete in the Fred Dagg Dash (gumboots, singlet and hat compulsory).

Up to 3000 people turned out for the highlight of Russell's Birdman Festival on Saturday, the Birdman jump in which teams compete to leap the greatest distance - or with the greatest flair and creativity - from the end of Russell wharf.

Six-year-old Olivia Line, from Matauri Bay, competes in the spaghetti-eating contest. Photo / Peter de Graaf

This year's supreme winner was a team called Big Birds from Kerikeri's Illumination Workshop; Whangarei mayor Sheryl Mai, representing the Paper Mill, won a prize in the feathers and fibre category.

Hamilton siblings Blake, 8, and Caitlyn Day, 10, use frisbee power to get ahead in the Corflute boat-building challenge.Photo / Peter de Graaf

Other attractions during the four-day festival included spaghetti-eating races, a drag race, a wok cook off, waka ama, and build-your-own-boat races. Photos by Peter de Graaf.