1996 l'International Benson & Hedges Montréal Pyromusical Competition Report

England The Spirit of England Thursday June 27^th, 1996

Kimbolton Fireworks

Dull wet weather gave way to a perfectly clear but cool evening. The introduction to the display promised that there would be some unusal colours in the display such as lilac, purple, orange, yellow and also that all of the fireworks in the display had been produced by Kimbolton themselves. The music was to be from English composers such as Elgar and Holst. At this point I should mention that I am originally from England and so I hope my report isn't too biassed!

The display opened with many white comets and quickly moved into a volley of salutes. Many mines of bright smallish clustered stars were fired. Above this, long golden comets and gold glitter shells above this. These medium level shells were fired in three distinct clusters and then above those were fired some really huge spherical shells. Then the air became filled with bright white fireflies. As this segment rose to a climax, many shells of brilliant colour stars were fired including bright yellow. There were some shells which were an interesting combination of colour stars with a long golden glitter comets which made the shape of long twinkling fingers, almost like a starfish, surrounded by a sphere of colour. There were many multi-break shells fired and there were many large salutes including several very powerful bottom shots which could be felt as a thump in the chest. It was certainly a dramatic opening to the display.

The next segment opened with many multi-colour bombette candles. Above these were fired some really huge charcoal comet shells and then some incredibly large multi-colour change shells. These would star off with say red stars, these would then turn into gold comets which would then turn into blue stars which would then turn into silver comets and would finally change colour once more. These were fired at very high altitude and completely filled the field of view.

A long line of white fountains opened the next segment. Bright orange star shells were fired above these and then a great number of mines which contained extremely bright stars. The most dramatic of the mines contained the most incredibly bright orange stars that I have ever seen. Then the colour switched to a dazzling yellow and then many white and gold crackling star mines were fired. Above these were shells containing the white and gold crackling comets followed rapidly by very nicely shaped burst charcoal shells. These switched to colour star shaped bursts including a very pretty four pointed star (formed from two overlapping ovals of stars).

The next segment began with some beautiful gold glitter comets with golden frond shells above. Then the ground fired comets became a mixture of gold glitter and dramatic purple stars. Above this were fired large flower type shells with beautiful mixtures of colours. The ground fired comets switched to bombettes. Above these were fired some shells with very long tailed charcoal comets which seemed to fill the air with long orange-gold fingers. Then there were shells of tourbillons with purple and gold glitter comets below. Following this the air became filled with bright yellow firefly stars - the first time I have seen yellow twinklers. After these had faded the air was filled with shells of charcoal crossette comets which left a delicate criss-cross tracery in the air.

White was the opening theme in the next segment with brilliant white fountains on the ground, slow rising white comets above these and white long-tailed comet shells at the top level. The white comets from the shells all turned into loud salutes at the and of their burn, including some more bottom shots. Then the combined colour star and golden glitter shells made a return. As these faded, a vast number of fluorescent orange mines were fired followed by a volley of salutes and titanium salutes. Above this there were a mixture of orange star shells and orange fireflies. The climax of this segment was a vast number of screaming tourbillons screaching their way high into the air.

Then shells of small white comets began the next segment with crackling comets fired from below rising high into the air. Then a large number of bouquet shells of colour stars which all contained bottom shots. Next were some shells containing screaming whistles and above this some really huge flower shells with nice contrasing inner and outer sphere colours. Finally in this segment a large number of crackling mines were fired with screaming raucous whistle shells above.

A more serene start to the next segment with bright white strobe pots. Since the music was Colonel Bogey it was most appropriate that a large number of whistles were fired which whistled along with the music! Then the pace quickened with a huge volley of salutes and colour shells. After these died down, shells of colour stars which turned into tourbillons and shells containing crossette stars and go-getters. At the climax a vast number of crackling comets were fired together with a huge volley of titanium salutes and bottom shots.

Brilliant white fountains seemingly fired from within the display-site lake itself began the next segement with silver (instead of the more usual gold) glitter fronds above. As the white fountains faded gold and silver crackling fountains roared to life with brilliant gold glitter comets and gold glitter comet shells above. This was followed with some beautiful glitter comets which rose extremely high and suddenly many mines of tourbillons. Then mines of crossette stars and mines of many colours. Above this were shells of crossette stars and finally the enormous multi-colour changing shells at a vast altitude.

The next segment consisted mainly of shaped burst shells with single rings in purple, hearts in red, double rings in red and blue with aquamarine star candles below. This lead rapidly into a sequence of colour bouquet shells and shells of crossette stars which turned into salutes which turned into yet more colour stars. Below this were some beautiful candles with some fantastic colours and then the huge multi-colour changing shells above. Then mines of brilliant yellow stars which all exploded into much smaller yellow stars. Above this were shells which mixed charcoal comets and colours such as lilac and turquoise. There were also mines of pink and lilac stars.

The finale began with the music Jerusalem with crossette star mines at the bottom, white comet shells above with the white comets turning into colour stars. Then some very large palm tree charcoal shells. As the music reached a climax, a huge number of brilliant colour mines with dazzling orange, yellow, lilac, green and every other imaginable colour were going off at ground level; at medium level colour star shells with brilliant orange and other colours, then blues and turquoises, then charcoal comets and colours; at a high level the enormous multi-colour changing shells and finally a truly thunderous volley of salutes, titanium salutes and some chest thumping bottom shots.

Overall, this was a magnificent display. The range of colours produced certainly lived up to the promise before the start of the show. Particularly memorable were the amazing fluorescent oranges and yellows; the beautiful purples and turqoises and the brilliant blues. These were particularly effective in the many mines fired. The only negative comments I can think of is the fact the synchronization to music could have been a little better, especially in the finale when the music ended several seconds before the fireworks. Also, some of the colours were spoiled by the fact that the smoke lingered and at some times enveloped the crowd.