The Canowindra Challenge is hugely excited that Supagas has come on board as the naming rights Sponsor for the next 2 years. Starting on Sunday 21 April, the Canowindra Challenge will commence with a seven day competition featuring pilots from all over the world competing with a variety of challenges. In 2019, there will be a huge line up of competing pilots coming from Australia, New Zealand, China, United States, United Kingdom, France, Chile and the Czech Republic.
It’s pleasing to see that 20% of the competing field is made up of female pilots including two-time Women’s World Champion (2014, 2016), Nicola Scaife from the Hunter Valley. She competed at her first event here in Canowindra in 2013 and on, only her fourth competition in 2014, Scaife won the World Championships in Poland.
Joining Scaife, is current 2018 World Champion hot-air balloon pilot Dominic Bareford from the United Kingdom. At just 25, Bareford is the youngest ever winner at just 25 years old. In what was only his second time taking part in the historic worldwide contest, Bareford was genuinely surprised in being crowned World Champion in August 2018. To make the competition really strong we also have the current French Champion, Clement Seigot and Andrew
Robertson, from Sydney, who came in the top 30 at the 2018 World Championships.
A new generation of up and coming pilots will be joining with 30% of the field under 25 years of age. This is a great sign for the future of the sport as well as a chance for the younger generation to give the old timers a run for their money.
With only 3 weeks to go this year’s Challenge it is looking fantastic with several events planned over the 10 day period in Canowindra. The week’s highlight is of course the Cabonne Country Balloon Glow to be held on Saturday 27th April with Iwi the Kiwi Balloon heading to Australia for the first time. Tickets have been reduced to $30 in 2019, with children 17 years and under FREE.
“An indication of the growth and popularity of the event is the speed with which the camp sites at the Showground have booked out (from Anzac Day) with sites at the Sports Ovals filling fast with people now being referred to other regional towns,” said Chairman, Graham Kerr. A shuttle bus from the showground doing a circuit around town, will be available on Saturday 27th April.
For more information visit www.canowindrachallenge.org.au or phone 1300 908 825.