?ABSOLUTELY brilliant!? ? that was the reaction from organisers following last weekend?s Westcountry Balloon Fiesta and Day at the Races, held in the grounds of Tavistock College. Blessed with sunny skies and light winds, more than 60 balloons made 166 ascents during the weekend, using every available flying slot between Friday evening and Monday morning. Steve Grummitt, spokesman for the fiesta, organised by Tavistock Lions and Tavistock Round Table, said: ?It?s been absolutely wonderful ? it?s difficult to believe after all the horrendous weather we?ve had this summer that we should be blessed with a virtually perfect weekend for balloon flying. ?Sunday was incredible. The weather conditions were most unusual, they all started flying off towards Plymouth and a sea breeze came up and they were scattered all over the place. ?I think three landed back where they started. They call that flying the box and one of the air marshalls said he?d only ever seen that done twice.? Steve estimated around 15,000 people visited the fiesta this year ? and the overwhelming reaction from everyone was very positive. ?People were coming up to us afterwards saying thank you for such a great weekend, which was lovely for us,? he said. In addition to the balloons, there were the popular pantomime horse races to entertain the crowds, displays of falconry, plenty of trade stands and several performances by the Kangaroos Gymnastic Display Team. Fiesta sponsor Somerfield funded a free fall parachute display in which four members of the Royal Signals jumped from balloons which flew in to the fiesta from Brentor. ?They landed virtually in the centre of the arena which was very impressive,? said Steve. Profits from this year?s event, which have yet to be totalled up will be donated to local youth sporting charities. l The organisers have several items of lost property which were retrieved after the fiesta, including house keys, sunglasses and watches. Anyone who has lost items at the event can call Steve Grummitt on 01822 615526. The organisers are also enquiring after a piece of lost property themselves. A large balloon fiesta advertising banner which had been placed on the far left hand side of the railings at the roundabout on Dolvin Road has gone missing, the cable ties attaching it to the railings having been cut. Anyone with any information should call Steve on the above number.
