Head in the Clouds Ballooning

05/09/2026

What a fantastic race, fantastic organisation and prize giving and most deserving winners (apparently I am now official cameraman for Switzerland-2, invoice is in the post!) 😅

30/08/2026

What a race, what an experience. The result doesn't really matter, we beat our distance from last year but that means nothing. So many experiences, so many phenomenal things we flew by; this morning alone I had so many experiences I never had in 32 years of ballooning as man and boy. What an event. See many of you back in Gladbeck, many of you round the world! ❤️

29/08/2026

Getting ready for launch of GBR1 early this morning. 🇬🇧

28/08/2026

New year, new team name, new shirt.

GBR1 are ready for action!

Didn't quite pull off the quick change magic camera trick though! 😅

27/08/2026

Our team hard at work preparing sand (our fuel) for the race ahead!

26/08/2026

24/08/2026

With the Coupe Aéronautique Gordon Bennett fast approaching, Belgium 3 🇧🇪 took the opportunity of good weather for a final shake down flight to make sure everything is in working order. Tom Hilditch and Celia Morley from Team GBR1 🇬🇧, already in Germany, came out to lend a hand alongside Mike Lavoie from the US contingent.

With Gladbeck busy in pre race preparations, it was great to check out another local gas balloon launch site in the Ballonstartplatz Düsseldorf-Eller.

Belgium 3 comprises of Anja Gõtte and her daughter Victoria Lebrun. Unlike many balloon pilots who first learn to fly hot air balloons, before going on to gas later on, Victoria got her licence by learning to fly gas, specifically for this race. At 19 years old we believe she will become the youngest pilot to compete in this prestigious competition and alongside Anja, they will make the first ever mother / daughter team.

Previous examples of parent / child teams include Hervé André Moine and Herve Moine coming in 3rd place in 2021 for France and most successfully Wilhelm Eimers and Benni Eimers, having also competed together in 2021, winning the competition for Germany in 2022 before following that up with a 2nd place finish in 2023 and an 8th place in 2024.