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22nd International Balloon Meeting “City of Mondovì” (Italy)

The 22nd International Balloon Meeting “City of Mondovì” - also popularly known as the “Epiphany Meeting” - was held between January 4-6, 2010, in the Italian town of Mondovì near Cuneo. The meeting followed the highly successful races of the 2009 World Air Games, last summer. As usual, the event was organized by Giovanni “John” Aimo, President of the “Aero Club Mongolfiere di Mondovì”, and was backed by the Municipal Administration and a number of local sponsors.

A total of 38 balloons from 8 countries took part (see the list) including entries from France, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Norway, Principality of Monaco, Switzerland and the United Kingdom. Many pilots were long-standing habitués of the Mondovì Meeting while others were newcomers, among those being Stefan Zeberli of Switzerland, the 28-year old 2009 European Champion.

A number of balloons belonging to specialized Italian operators took part in the event. At the beginning of 2010, the following seven enterprises hold active air-work licences: Aeronord di Enzo Cisaro & C. SAS, Aeropubblicità Vicenza Srl, Balloon Promotion SaS di Contegiacomo Pietro & C., Charbonnier Nello & C. S.n.c, Comunicazione in Volo Srl, Diamante SaS di Lanzoni Luciano & C. and Fly In Balloons Srl.

The 2010 Meeting was characterized by four different competitions, all completed despite the uncertain weather conditions. The 5th of January, races included an early-morning "Judge Declared Goal", followed by a “Fly-in” in the afternoon. The target of the JDG was, as usual, the Belvedere Garden, near the upper Mondovì “tower”. Many pilots were able to pass very close to this historical target.

The 6th of January, races began with a “Judge-Declared Goal”, with the target this time being the “Giancarlo Filippi” airfield, north of the town. In the afternoon, a “Fox Hunt” was set up, where the fox was John Aimo piloting Mondovicino-sponsored Cameron Z-105 G-NERO. The day proceeded with a final “Fly-in” towards the Parco Europa (the take-off site), where many pilots were able to put their “marker”.

Gianfranco Curti, a local balloonist, was awarded the 2010 “City of Mondovì” Meeting’s first prize. Second and third were Stefan Zeberli (Switzerland) and Ian Chadwick (UK). Three more honour-prizes were awarded at the end of the Meeting. The “Mondovì Piazza Trophy” was awarded to Andrè Linocier of France and the “Memorial Davide Raschieri” to Paolo Oggioni. As in previous years, Roderick Baker awarded its “Silver Radiator” to the most helpful recovery team. The history of this trophy goes back a number of years to when the radiator of Roderick Baker’s Land Rover sprang a leak, and a number of fellow pilots volunteered to help him recover his balloon from a remote spot. The 2010 Radiator was awarded to Gavin Chadwick, the youngest UK balloonist to take part in this year’s Meeting, who helped other pilots along the countryside dirt roads.

Worthy of mention - as a side event - was the skill shown by Mauro Oggero’s dirigibile ad aria calda Thunder-Colt AS-105 GD on the 6th of January. He performed a series of precision landings, putting the nose-wheels on the small target placed in one corner of Parco Europa, to the enthusiastic appreciation of the crowd.

(Thanks to the collaboration of Aeroclub Mongolfiere di Mondovì and Annonay Berceau de l’Aérostation)

In the picture: Balloons and airships, for the first time, at the 22nd International Balloon Meeting “City of Mondovì” 2010. (Aeromedia)

(Aeromedia, January 2010)