By DAVID COULTER david.coulter@hexham-courant.co.uk

Published at 09:39, Friday, 23 July 2010

FOR the second year running bad weather thwarted Otterburn Festival’s eagerly-awaited parachute display.

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But this did not prevent thousands of visitors jumping for joy at a star-studded line up at ground level.

This included a motorbiking monkey, swooping birds of prey, and even a goalkeeping dog.

And just in case the animal kingdom was in danger of stealing the show, there was a display of vintage vehicles to keep enthusiasts happy.

Organisers hailed the event as a triumph, despite the weather – and thousands of pounds were raised for the Help The Heroes campaign.

The main business of the day was in the main ring.

Grounded by strong winds and thick cloud, the Royal Artillery’s Black Knights parachute team at least got the chance to enjoy an exhilarating performance from the Flying Gunners motorcycle display team.

The daredevil stuntmen were the highlight of the two-day festival and gave four adrenaline-fuelled performances.

Their appearance at the event was a major coup for organisers as the team is regarded as one of the best in the world.

The high octane 30 minute performance had the audience gasping as the team, made up of serving soldiers, rode quads on two wheels and steered their motorbikes while standing on the seat.

They then managed to squeeze three riders on one bike – but this was surpassed as six riders formed a flower shape while riding around the festival ring.

All the while the display was disrupted by crowd pleaser Cilla the Gorilla.

The mischief-making motorbiking monkey stole the show by using a quad bike as a surf board and pretending she was Superman.

If regular festival fans wondered why the main arena was larger than normal, it was to accommodate the motorcyclists’ audacious stunt of jumping three cars.

For its grand finale on the Sunday though, the display team went one further and extended the jump. Their new target was to clear the equivalent of four cars.

As the crowd watched through their fingers, the team successfully, and safely, touched down on the other side of the vehicles.

Festival organiser Wesley Turnbull said: “The Flying Gunners are of the top motorcycling display teams in the world and Otterburn is one of the smallest events they have displayed at.

“There are lots of things to look at and I am very pleased we got them here.

“The line up this year was fantastic and to get something of this high standard was great.

“We will now have a look around for something as exciting for next year.”

The motorcycle display was not the only attraction that thrilled the appreciative crowds at the weekend.

People stopped in their tracks to watch the Battle of Britain Memorial Flight as the Dakota aircraft passed by as a reminder of the RAF aircrew killed during the Second World War.

Guests were also treated to flying demonstrations from Simonburn’s Falconry Days on both days.

The birds were given the chance to show off their flying skills by their handlers and they did not disappoint.

Children at the event were allowed to take penalties at a goalkeeping dog, whose owner reckons he could have place on the England team after this summer’s World Cup flop.

The penalty shoot out was just part of the dog agility displays from Northumberland Canine Centre.

A large selection of dogs were put through their paces as they went head to head in competitions to find out which pair of pets were the fastest.

As they jumped fences, hurried through tunnels and made their way over elevated beams, the dogs raced for the right to be named top dog.

And, true to form, dogs Patch and Shadow won three of the four events that took place at the weekend.

The festival this year attracted more vintage vehicles than ever before to again add extra colour to the event.

Over 430 old motorcycles, cars, tractors, steam engines and commercial vehicles were on display.

Mr Turnbull said: “There was a good turnout in the vintage vehicles and there was a very good standard in all of the classes.

All festival proceeds will be split between the Great North Air Ambulance and military charity Help For Heroes.

Published by http://www.hexhamcourant.co.uk