All light on the night
AFTER battling the elements, competitors in the British Musical Fireworks Championship 2019 provided breathtaking displays, with four on one night for the first time.
It was planned to take place from Friday until Sunday at Victoria Park in Southport, but the opening night had to be cancelled because of poor weather.
Cllr Marion Atkinson, Sefton Council’s Labour cabinet member for regeneration and skills, said: “The British Musical Fireworks Championship was yet again a fantastic weekend for Southport and Sefton.
“The safety of our visitors is our priority and with the change in wind direction and speed, the conditions were no longer suitable to carry on with the competition on Friday evening.
“Despite that, thousands of families enjoyed incredible displays in Victoria Park and Saturday was full to capacity, selling out completely, proving what a draw the fireworks and Southport really are.”
Organisers battled rain on Saturday to rig up and the weather turned favourable for the evening.
Phoenix Fireworks agreed to fire their show which meant four in one night. Also competing were Magic and Miracle, G2, and Distant Thunder.
Afterwards, spectators left praise on Facebook.
Suzanne Robinson wrote: “Distant Thunder were absolutely breathtaking! Best set of the night!”
Bev Flagg wrote: “Saturday took my two grandsons aged six and three years old. They were in absolute awe seeing the spectacular fireworks. I saw several displays in Florida Disney in 2017 that I thought at the time we’re amazing but tonight blew me away.”
Sunday night’s line-up remained as scheduled and opened with live music from Seas of Neptune. Two competitors, Pyro 2000 Ltd and 1st Galaxy Fireworks Ltd, then lit up the skies with a show finale exhibition from last year’s winners, Illusion Fireworks Ltd.
A superb display by Distant Thunder Fireworks, the fourth display on Saturday evening, was enough to take first place.
Second place was awarded to Pyro 2000, which fired first on Sunday, and third place was given to 1st Galaxy Fireworks, which fired second on Sunday.
For the first time, the show closed with an exhibition by last year’s winners, Illusions Fireworks, which also included a moving tribute to late judge Wilf Scott.
Cllr Atkinson said: “I would like to congratulate everybody involved in putting on this year’s championship, which was a fitting and fantastic end to our 2019 Sefton events calendar along with big thanks to Sefton’s tourism team which works tirelessly on the event.
“It is also important that we acknowledge the huge economic impact these fantastic events have on our borough.”