Stonham
Barns
Park is
hosting
a
tandem
launch
for
Eastern
Region
Balloon
Club
members
at
the
same
time
as
other
competitors
who
are
racing
in
a
prestigious
and
historic
UK-wide
hot
air
balloon
competition.
The
Queen’s
Cup
will
challenge
competitors from
the
UK
to
see
how
far
they
can
fly
in
a
unique
sporting
trophy
that
is
held
in
October
(the
weather
will determine
the
date).
The
national
race
will
be
‘officially’
launched
from
Gloucestershire
with
balloons
participating
in
tandem
launches
at
the
same
time
across
the
country.
The
winner
of
this
UK-wide
event
will
be
the
pilot
and
crew
that
touches
down
furthest
away
on
the
evening
from
their
take
off
point.
The
tandem
balloon
launch
will
see
the
Eastern
Region
balloon
pilots
and
their
crews
take
off
from
Stonham
Barns
Park
on
the
same
weekend
date
in
October
(weather
permitting)
and
head
wherever
the
winds
steer
them.
Our
Eastern
Region
pilots
will
be
flying
in
support
of
the
main
Queen’s
Cup
competition,
as
part
of
the
“Great
British
Balloon
launch”.
Eastern
Region
Balloons
recruit
members
from
Suffolk,
Norfolk,
Cambridgeshire
and
Essex.
The
club
is
affiliated
to
the
British
Balloon
and
Airship
Club
(BBAC)
and
members
attend
a
busy
calendar
of
ballooning
events
around
the
country
each
year.
Speaking
about
The
Queen’s
Cup,
Jo
Scott
from
Eastern
Region
Balloons
said:
‘This
is
one
of
the
most
important
dates
in
the
club’s
calendar
to
date
–
one
which
significantly
elevates
our
profile
–
and
we
are
delighted
to
be
able
to
use
the
parklands
at
Stonham
Barns
Park
for
our
tandem
launch
this
year.
We
have
used
the
venue
in
the
past
as
a
launch
site
and
it
has
everything
we
need
including
exceptional
viewing
opportunities
for
spotters
and
photographers.’
‘The
Queen’s
Cup
balloon
race
will
test
pilot’s
skill,
stamina,
and
team
tactics.
The
competition
rules
can
be
found
on
their
webpage
for
all
those
who
are
interested.
Pilots
and
their
crews
have
to
quickly
consider
and
calculate
a
number
of
things
–
including
meteorological
data
for
the
whole
of
the
UK,
the
likely
tactics
of
the
other
teams
and
refuelling
and
landing
plans.
It’s
all
very
exciting.
We
look
forward
to
every
flight
but
this
competition
–
the
oldest
and
most
prestigious
sporting
trophy
in
the
UK
–
is
hugely
special.’
‘While
we
love
nothing
more
than
a
serene
balloon
flight
across
our
beautiful
counties,
this
is
an
exhilarating
challenge
that
we
are
very
proud
to
be
a
part
of!’
The
Queen’s
Cup
–
usually
stored
at
the
Royal
Air
Force
Museum,
was
entrusted
to
the
Royal
Aero
Club
by
its
patron,
the
late
Queen
Elizabeth
II,
who
originally
received
the
trophy
as
a
wedding
gift
in
1947.
The
weather
is
impossible
to
predict
more
than
around
24
hours
ahead
which
is
why
the
date
of
the
event
is
fluid.
It
cannot
be
fixed
in
advance.
The
official
“go-ahead”
of
the
event
will
be
given
on social
media during
the
week,
as
close
to
the
date
as
possible.