Balloons Inflating

The first full weekend in the month of August was upon us, which could mean only one thing; the annual Balloons Over Basingstoke event had come round to us again.  Since the ending of The Southampton Festival back in 2004, this has been the only commercial balloon event in Hampshire.  On odd years Basingstoke normally clashes with the finale of Metz, so this being an even year it was good to see before and a half promising weather forecast beforehand.

Friday morning’s press launch started in true style, giving Hampshire its first glimpse of Slick the Dragon, sponsored by Palletways.  Other notable mentions go to Steve Roake flying his new Ultramagic H-31 Cloudhopper and new pilot Richard Phillips, along with Dave Triggs flying the ex-converse shoe balloon (conventional shape).  Others flying included balloons from Skypower, Go Ballooning and Adventure Balloons.  All in all 12 balloons flying towards the Chineham area.

Friday afternoon had already seen rain and also present were winds gusting 20 knots that

Ready To Launch

put pay to any flying, although with conditions getting slightly better in time for the nightglow seeing 3 balloons tether and glow to the music with the lasers, lights and pyrotechnics with have a accustomed to making it a good show.

Conditions had not improved enough to see any flying on Saturday morning although a slim chance grew ever promising of flying in the evening.  Afternoon tethers: – G-BTHX COLT 105A – Skypower G-CRBV KUBICEK BB26 – Charter Ballooning G-BVBK COLT FLYING COFFEE JAR – Maxwell House Coffee Jar G-WAYS LBL 105A – Palletways (getting caught in a slight shower).

Going into the evening balloon crews were readying, the ride balloon passengers were being briefed and a test balloon was sent up.  Reports came back of instability at higher levels seeing only one more balloon flying, with all other crews deciding against flying and packed away with promise that Sunday’s weather would be much improved.

Balloons Landing

Sunday’s weather was a great improvement with the morning launch going off on a hazy north Hampshire morning with 15 balloons flying towards Lasham.

Good weather continued throughout the day with two notable tethers of special shapes – Thomas the Tank Engine and the Berentzen Bottle.

Sunday evening’s launch had seen winds drop further but with added unpredictability on directions, balloonists setup to head east towards Old Basing, although all balloons ended up flying slowly North West towards Winklebury and Sherborne Saint John area.

Some teams elected not to fly and the Palletways shape again tethered for the crowds.  A lovely end to the 2010 Balloons Over Basingstoke event, hopefully we’ll see a 2011 event!

Photos and report © Paul Carew Ridout