Mark Neal Ballooning- Event Reports
Tiverton Balloon Festival 2011
The first Tiverton Balloon Festival, was a overall success with some slots being flown and a Nightglow put on both nights; Saturday basket's only sadly for the public.
The event begun with many balloons heading out south on a lovely friday
evening with light wind speeds. I think the total number of balloon was
44 or something like that, not bad for a first balloon festival on a
friday evening. The nightglow was soon the centre of attention with 8/9
balloons tethered to the sound of music, including these balloons was
the Old Sainsburys Flying Circus Hopper and The Gatsweiler Beer Glass. A
fair few thousand had come to see a spectacle of bright illuminated
balloons, the event had begun it's first day on a dream platform. Too
good to be true?
As
the second day loomed, the early riser's were welcomed to the site of
30+ balloons dotted around the Tiverton area as light winds and a
glorious start to the morning prooved to be worthwhile for balloonists
who were flying from the event. Among the balloons flying were The 2
passenger carrying balloons of Aerosaurus Balloons, sky balloons
operated by craig thompson, .bt balloon,robert hitchins. The event had
only just started to flourish until the news that the winds would pick
up as a atlantic weather front had a massive say on the weather as it
was sat out west waiting to come in after sunset on Saturday. By this
point i had arrived, the site which to be fair resembled a village fete
looked empty, but as soon as it opened the crowds started to flock.
Aeroplanes had been giving demonstrations, live music and childrens
ride's for the children. The merchandise and information point had some
lovely items; Pin badges which i opted to get to commerate the event. I
then met Chris hayden and Aflie Jobblins the wind by this point had
become strong and not even tethering could take place. By 3:30 some of
the balloon teams had left, but there was plenty left. The public
demonstrations had then started as many people would come into the arena
and pick a balloon team to help out. I was with the zigzag balloon
team. 10 balloons then inflated for the crowds the pictures can be seen
below. It was great to be part of it.. As 5:15pm went by it was time to
say bye to the event as we had to get back to Oxford. No flying took
place the Saturday evening due to Windy conditions on the ground and
severe wind speeds up at altitude higher than the hills of Tiverton
neighbourhood. After i left, there was another crew inflation race which
took place. Before the book people balloon tethered for the crowds and
the media sources. The Evening Nightglow was reduced to baskets only
where 7 balloon baskets burned to the sound of music in the darkness
which surrounds Tiverton.
As
the event was said to be opening on The sunday the wind had picked up
and caused damage to tents, there had been no flying the Sunday morning
slot also. The event organisers took the wise and important decision to
cancel the event. For its first balloon festival it had plenty of
postive features, but to become a sustainable festival, the public's
pleas will need to be heard, with nice and better weather the event can
become a huge part in the british ballooning calendar and the Devon's
event season. I enjoyed the event.
The
first Tiverton Balloon Festival, was a overall success with some slots
being flown and a Nightglow put on both nights; Saturday basket's only
sadly for the public. 
