Bull

Simpler than the gauze tower, we had to come up with a quick release system for the bull.

Initially, when the bull was being worn by a performer after it was flown in, my first thoughts were to use webbing to create a 3 way bridle inside the bull, to one webbing clip that could be used to release the bull.

However, webbing was not particularly attractive, and after discovering the Wichard Fixed Eye Snap Shackle (bought for production, Flints #WIRWD2471), we decided to use 1mm black cat gut from stock to create the same bridle.

The QR shackle was the shackled onto a drift, which was in turn shackled onto a single hemp line.

Annoyingly, we found the bull spun on its axis because it was rigged on one point. So another QR shackle was bought and we rigged the bull on 2 2-way bridles. The cat gut allowed for easy adjustment for finding the right balance and it was invisible to the audience.

The two lines for the bull worked perfectly. We also moved it from a hemp line to a counterweight bar to maintain level, and for ease of flying. To turn it slightly SL rather than straight DS, we swapped one of the barrel clamps for a boom arm. The remaining barrel clamp was then turned 90-degrees so the hole faced down, and replaced the shackle with an eyebolt.

Close up of the QR shackle