By Jean Kingdon
If you look to the heavens during the Bank Holiday weekend you may see the majestic sight of a hot-air balloon moving slowly and almost silently upwards.
The British Hot Air Balloon Competition Club is up, up and away tomorrow holding its first event of the season.
It is expected that 15 hot air balloons, many of them racer-style balloons, will take to the skies over Ludlow for this training and social event.
The ultimate purpose of the competition season is to choose a team to represent Great Britain at the European Championships in France in 2009.
The event is based at Ludlow School on Bromfield Road. There are four flights scheduled for the weekend: Saturday evening, Sunday dawn and dusk, and Monday morning.
“Balloon flights are weather-dependent – light winds and blue skies are perfect conditions – and take place in the early morning and late evening when the air is cool and there is no thermic activity,” said Jo Slade Competition Club secretary.
“We are thrilled to be coming back to Ludlow for this competition weekend,” added Jo. “The people are always so welcoming and hospitable. We would like to ask spectators that if they see markers falling from balloons not to move them from their landing place – one of the official team will be along shortly.”
Tim King, South Shropshire District Council’s tourism development officer, said the event was “wonderful” for the area’s tourist trade.
“After the disappointment of the rained-off Festival last year it is great that this can happen now.
“With some 70 people coming in, it helps our hotels and our traders too.”
