Torrential rain threatened to spoil the finale of the 1995 Benson and Hedges International Fireworks competition at La Ronde, Montreal. However, Giovani Panzera, the competition organizer and technical director of La Ronde’s own display company claimed to have spent the day praying to Rome for the rain to stop. Whether it was divine intervention of not, the rain did indeed stop and the clouds rolled away for the awards of this years competition.
The display by Panzera then followed and was in typical Panzera style (see my last two years reports!) combining the best of all the year’s competition.
Hence there were a lot of very large comets, a lot of shells with bright yellow stars; tourbillons of many types, including shells similar to those used by Germany producing the “scallop shell” effect.
Panzera’s favourite shells seems to be the multiburst and shell-of-shells types, especially the latter, both with simultaneous bursting of the smaller shells and sequention bursting.
The finale, to the music of Stravinsky’s Firebird Suite, was as dramatic as I have come to expect. Vast numbers of salutes were used, including some extremely large ones. This was a fitting climax to another enjoyable year’s competition.
Results:
- Gold Jupiter: Holland – JNS Pyrotekniek
- Silver Jupiter: France – Societe Etienne LaCroix
- Bronze Jupiter: Italy – Soldi