Shropshire, UK (26th September, 2012) – Virgin Balloon Flights, the UK’s leading hot air ballooning company, announces that pilot Lindsay Muir has soared above the competition to be crowned Women’s European Balloon Champion.
Lindsay Muir, an experienced hot air balloon pilot for Virgin Balloon Flights, was the only British representative competing in the 2nd FAI Women’s European Hot Air Balloon Championship, which was held in Frankenthal, Germany, from September 18th to 22nd.
She beat 24 other top flyers after completing a series of six flights and a total of 19 challenging tasks which require the pilot to ‘steer’ the balloon through the air to targets on the ground. Each task requires a huge amount of skill to anticipate wind speed and direction with very fine control of the balloon’s altitude.
Lindsay, 55, from Bishops Castle, in South Shropshire, secured a total of 13,952 points, a comfortable 700 points ahead of runner-up Daiva Rakauskaite, of Lithuania.
The mother-of-one has been flying for 20 years and has competed in numerous ballooning championships, previously holding the British title and winning the Women’s World Cup three times, but she said this result was particularly satisfying.
She said: “I was one of the most experienced competitors and I felt that there was a lot of expectation on me to win. I have competed in many competitions, but to win this one meant a lot. I remember just giving my husband a big hug when I won.
“Competition flying and champagne balloon flights for passengers are miles apart. In competition, the balloon is smaller so you can throw it around a bit to change the direction and there is the pressure to hit the targets. When I’m flying my passengers, the balloon is much bigger and I am more concentrated on entertaining them and making sure they enjoy the flight,” she added.
Virgin Balloon Flights fly from Shrewsbury, Telford, Ludlow and Whitchurch in Shropshire and throughout the UK. Visit http://www.virginballoonflights.co.uk for more information about balloon rides over Shropshire and beyond.
About Virgin Balloon Flights:
Virgin Balloon Flights is the UK’s largest hot air ballooning company, offering Champagne balloon rides and ballooning experiences from over 100 launch sites in England, Scotland and Wales. Follow in the footsteps of adventurer Sir Richard Branson and see beautiful Britain from an amazing new perspective – or make someone’s day with a ticket to the sky.
Contact:
Alexander Ferguson
Virgin Balloon Flights
Jesson House
Stafford Court
Telford
Shropshire, UK
Zip: TF3 3BD
Tel: 01952 212750
Email: AlexF@virginballoonflights.co.uk
