Fun at the Wales Air Show isn’t just in the air!

Today an appeal is launched to people coming to the Wales Air Show to do much more than watch. On the Sunday afternoon (July 1) an attempt will be made to break the Guinness World Record for the largest 3 legged race of all time. The current record is 679 held by the Isle of Man but with such a large crowd expected event organisers White Rock Events are appealing for people to get involved.

The record attempt will support the UK’s oldest military charity that covers all branches of the Armed Forces – SSAFA. Andrew Jones from White Rock Events said “We have worked closely with SSAFA over the past few years and they do an amazing job supporting current and former members of the Armed Forces and their families. With the Air Show also taking place on Armed Forces Day (30 June) they were the obvious charity to work with”.

Organisers are looking to attract 1,000 pairs of participants. Each pair will receive a full briefing, race numbers to be worn and a specially made tie to bind their legs together. Each pair will be asked for a £5 donation with all profits going to the charity. People will be able to sign up at the SSAFA stand on both the Saturday and Sunday prior to the record attempt.

Andrew Jones continued “Guinness World Records have provided very detailed guidelines as to what we have to do for the record to be ratified and local accountants Bevan and Buckland have stepped forward to ensure that all rules are compiled with.”
 

Richard Smith from White Rock Events said “The last time most people would have had the chance to take part in a 3 legged race was school sports day. This will be a lot of fun and will be an amazing sight to see. We are sorry that people can’t sign up before the day because the number that count for the record is based on those that finish not how many sign up. ”
 

James Grant, Head of Corporate Fundraising & Events at SSAFA, the Armed Forces charity: “We are delighted to be working on another event with White Rock Events, who also organise the successful Ride To The Somme with us. The record attempt is a fun way to engage the public to an important cause – and the funds raised will help us to continue supporting the Armed Forces family”.
 

White Rock Events are very grateful to the City and County of Swansea for all their help with this record and to Bevan and Buckland for agreeing to act as independent witnesses.
 

The Air Show marks the start of a busy couple of weeks for White Rock Events who are the team behind this year’s Gower Bike Ride which takes place on Sunday 15 July.
 

*SSAFA, the Armed Forces charity, has been providing lifelong support to our Forces and their families since 1885. Every year their staff and team of volunteers help more than 67,000 people, from Second World War veterans to young men and women who have served in more recent conflicts.

* For more information visit www.ssafa.org.uk and follow them on Twitter: @SSAFA

For more information contact Andrew Jones 07882 562405. info@whiterockevents.co.uk

ONE of Britain’s top aerial acrobats will be making her debut at this year’s Wales Airshow with a dazzling display of near-impossible manoeuvres.

Lauren Wilson was crowned Britain’s top female aerobat in 2012, aged 26, and is now a passionate airshow display enthusiast.

Flying a Pitts Special S1-S – G-BKDR biplane, Lauren spends so much of her time flying upside down that she’s written her name upside down on the leading edge of the plane’s upper wing.

Her spectacular show includes rolls, flick rolls, loops and any number of unique manoeuvres honed in a plane that’s less than half the weight of an average Citroen C1 runabout.

Lauren is just one of an increasing array of new attractions at the Wales Airshow which promises to be the biggest and best ever this year. Now entering its fourth year in a row, Robert Francis-Davies, Cabinet Member for Innovation, Regeneration and Tourism, said the Lauren’s display promises to be a breath-taking spectacle.

He said: “This year we’ve got lots to celebrate with the centenaries of the formation of the RAF and the end of World War I as well as 100 years since women were allowed to vote for the first time.

“All of these anniversaries are going to be commemorated at the Wales Airshow and in some style. Lauren Wilson is the latest in a long line of female pioneers of flight, whose exploits can sometimes be overlooked.

“We should all remember the likes of Amelia Earhart, the first woman to fly solo across the Atlantic as well as Amy Johnson, the first female to fly alone from Britain to Australia, who was born 114 years ago on July 1.

“She died in 1941 serving her country while a member of the Air Transport Auxiliary; the largely-unsung heroes whose job it was to transport RAF aircraft around the country, thereby freeing-up male pilots for the front line.”

This year’s Wales Airshow takes place on June 30 and July 1and it’s expected the crowd could break last year’s 250,000 record.