When Bristol Observer reporter Sharon Kelly was asked to try out a flying trapeze for a feature in the newspaper, memories of how she once dreamt of joining the circus came flooding back.

Sharon leapt at the chance to join instructor Mike Wright as he put a group of people through a trapeze taster session at which everyone got a chance to put their skills – and bravery – to the test.

Recounting the experience to readers, Sharon said: “I’m not great with heights and so it was very daunting to walk in and see the trapeze I was going to be holding on to hanging in the rafters.

“The I spotted the platform, which I can only describe as a ‘shelf’, suspended at one end of the building, from where I would have to launch.

“But the presence of a very large net and safety harness did make me feel marginally better about what I was about to do.”

But that reassurance soon faded as Sharon was attached to the safety harness and began to climb the ladder.

She said: “As I began to ascend the ladder rung by rung the realisation of what I was about to do came flooding over me.

“Half way up I froze, pure terror gripped me and I knew I couldn’t do it.”

But with a few words of encouragement from the group, Sharon was soon in position, leaning forward over the edge of the platform and then gripping the trapeze for dear life as she flew through the air.

She said: “It was an absolutely amazing feeling, I was airborne and loving every second of it.

“After a couple of minutes my arms began to ache and Mike instructed me to let go of the bar at the front of the next swing and land on the net.

“It was brilliant. I was trying to crawl across the net but my whole body was shaking with pure adrenaline – I had to do that again.

“Despite my primary fears about going on the trapeze I am really glad I did it.

“But although I loved every minute of it I don’t think I’ll be running off to join the circus just yet!”

Do you have a story about the regional press? Ring 0116 227 3122/3121, or
e-mail [email protected]