1996 l'International Benson & Hedges Montréal Pyromusical Competition Report

Australia Emotions in Colour Sunday July 7^th, 1996

Foti's International Fireworks

Some early evening showers and ominous looking clouds threatened to spoil this show but fortunately the rain held off until the last minute of the display.

The display began with a large volley of salutes with some interesting go-getters being fired. These were extremely bright and moved in a slow downwards zig-zag fashion. After these faded, the sky became filled with firefly shells. Then some large white comet shells followed by large colour shells and shells of colour stars and charcoal comets. Especially effective were golden glitter frond shells which also contained blue or other coloured stars. The end of the segment consisted of a number of simple white star shells, then colour shells, then some very large multi-coloured flower shells and finally some really huge multi-colour changing shells which changed from blue, to gold glitter and then to red.

The next segment began with high rising crackling comets with golden glitter frond shells above. Then slow spinning tourbillons with salutes at the end rose from the ground with the glitter frond shells now containing salutes. Then there were more of the multi-colour changing shells progressing from golden glitter to colours. Also, some shells of tourbillons some of which turned into golden glitter and golden strobe stars. The end of the segment was composed of a lot of the multi colour change shells, which, incidentally, were huge, and a lot of tourbillons.

The next segment began with more and more glitter frond shells being fired, getting progressively larger. These were unusual in that the fronds were bright silver rather than the more usual dim gold. The final shells were huge and the sky was completely filled with thin silver fronds, slowly drifting to the ground in the breeze. Then there were some multi-break shells with gold glitter, colour stars and tourbillons. Then a change of atmosphere with a lot of very high rising charcoal comets and crossette comets and shells. A number of charcoal spinning wheels then burst into life and after a while turned into glitter. Then the glitter turned to gold and finally to bright white then dazzling white. Suddenly a number of white horizontal spinning wheels came to life and after a few seconds these rose into the air as girondelas bursting into colour stars at the apex of their flight. Above these were fired some very large glitter frond and colour stars shells and then some shells which changed from blue or red stars into white comets.

A combination of charcoal comet and blue star shells began the next segment with charcoal and red stars as well. Then shells of crackling glitter with lots of salutes and also big toubillons ending in salutes fired from the ground. Then a number of very bright white star shells and then yellow stars and yellow glitter shells. These then turned into shells of gold fireflies, some of which were huge. The segment ended with some large flower shells and shells of glitter and colour stars.

THe next segment began with crossette comets and shells of small white fireflies. Then bright white rising comets with golden tails. Above these shells of charcoal comets turning to colour stars turning to glitter fronds. Then shells of white comets and blue stars. Next were some shells of slow falling stars and also go getters. Then some more really huge flower shells and shells of charcoal comets, glitter and colour stars. Next some very good yellow star shells and shells of brilliant silver glitter. There were a few shaped-burst shells of rings and crossed ovals. Finally in this segment were some really really large multi-colour change shells and then some shells of glitter fronds which were also go-getters - pretty unusual.

The next segment began with more shape-burst shells and also a mixture of glitter and go-getters. Then lots of shells of vivid green. Next some charcoal comet shells and a volley of large titanium salutes followed by more golden glitter shells and high rising crackling comets. Once again, the segment ended with some huge glitter and colour shells and some multi-breaks as well.

Two large fountain set-pieces composed the next segment. These each contained several wheels which formed the shape of a kaliedoscope. This was very effective as the fountains changed from gold, to crackling and finally to bright white. A very unusal and vivid effect.

Lots of bright white rising comets and ring-effect shaped-burst shells started the next segment. Then a large number of whistles and very bright white star shells. Then there were literally thousands of deafening screaming whistles as large multi-break colour shells were fired above and the whistles were replaced by a very noisy set of bombette comet candles. Then a lot of very large and colourful multi-break shells above, followed by dazzling white and finally a barrage of large white mines.

The next segment began with a mixture of white and glitter comets with glitter frond shells above. Then a number of crossette comet shells followed by some very large charcoal comet shells. Then white comet shells followed by multi-break colour shells. This sequence was repeated a few times and moved into a sequence of colour and white star shells, high rising white glitter comets which was also repeated a few times. Then some golden glitter shells followed by very large white comet shells and some large crackling comets. Then large shells of colour followed by a large number of very big glitter and colour shells.

The final segment with a volley of titanium salutes followed by multi-break charcoal comet shells and candles. These then switched to white comet candles and shells and shells of crossette comets. Then a large number of crackling bombette comet candle with glitter frond and colour star shells above with a really deep blue. Then a lot of multi-colour star shells followed by glitter comet shells then some really dazzling white comet shells. Next some white glitter mines, then some very big white glitter mines, then mines of tourbillon salutes. Meanwhile, above all this, lots of shells of various types, including large flowers, glitter and colour, colour ending in multi-break small stars then a huge volley of salutes and some enormous multi-colour changing shells finally ending in some very very large glitter frond shells.

This was an excellent display. Particulary enjoyable were the large multi-colour changing flower shells and the mix of glitter and colour shells. The only criticism is that the display was a couple of minutes shy of the expected thirty minutes.