³ÉÈË¿ìÊÖ

In the run up to the 2007 International Balloon Fiesta, the overriding hope was that the weather wouldn't lead to a repeat of the 2006 event. Due to the unfavourable conditions that weekend only one mass balloon launch took place, and even that was limited to 35 or 40 balloons.

Thankfully though, Thursday 9 August, the first day of the 2007 Fiesta, greeted us with blue skies and low winds - perfect conditions for ballooning and for a great Fiesta.

I arrived in the late afternoon to catch up with the opening evening's events. The Fiesta was already buzzing by the time I reached the site; a vibrant mix of fairground rides, fast food, entertainment and of course, the balloons.

Special shapes

The new Cabot Circus balloon, its hot pink decoration shining brightly in the sun, was the first to be inflated in anticipation of the evening launch. "It's brand new," a member of its team explained. "It's only flown once before, and this is the first time it's been tethered."

The special shapes soon followed Cabot's lead – old favourites including the Chubb fire extinguisher and the Churchill nodding dog inflated and come 7pm, ascended to float serenely across Bristol.

How exactly the mind-bogglingly humongous Jaguar sports car balloon managed to get off the ground I shall never know, but it was joined in the air by balloons from Ikea, Stroud & Swindon building society and a particularly delicious looking Creme Egg.

You can view the photographs I took during Thursday using the link below.

Amazing spectacle

Once the special shapes had departed, the attention of the crowd turned to the highlight of the day, the Nightglow. About 20 balloons tethered in the arena, and as the sun went down, the crowd was treated to an amazing spectacle.

Following the Nightglow there was a spectacular fireworks display eliciting a satisfying chorus of "ooohs" and "ahhhs" from the crowd gathered on Heaven Hill, and this display was an excellent way to round off a highly successful opening day of the 2007 Fiesta.

Majestic

Friday morning started just as Thursday night had left off, and at 5.30am more than 100 balloons climbed majestically into the sky and drifted south across Bristol.

The skies were clear and the views from the balloons spectacular - the trouble-free ascent calmed the nerves of those worried that the weather wouldn't hold throughout the weekend.

Included in their daring display was a stuntman being dragged by two motorcyclists through a 60 ft strip of flaming straw, and display rider Chris Haynes leaping over the 20 volunteers from the crowd who were laid out in front of his ramp.

Wild Cheers

As the sun continued to beat down and the exhibitions drew to a close, balloonists from all over the globe gathered in the arena to prepare for the second ascent of the day.

Canopies of all shapes, sizes and prints (those who saw the Sloggi balloon will know of what I refer to!) inflated, and as the 127 decibel cannon blew out the eardrums of anyone within 100 yards, they lifted off to the wild cheers of the audience.

According to the official statistic, 101 balloons left the Fiesta to traverse the skies, but I would like to state it was actually 102 – although despite the valiant attempts of its pilot, the GHOP balloon didn't manage more than 50 yards in the air, before bumping back down to earth.

When combined with all the other events that are on show – the stunts and the fairground, the exhibitions and the awe-inspiring Nightglow, Bristol’s International Balloon Fiesta was yet again a superb weekend, and I am already in anticipation of next year’s 30th anniversary.