THE BALLOONS AND PILOTS

Matthew Scaife Defending Champion Northam (2015)	NSW	VH-FEQ Felix	Matthew is the current (and twice) Australian Champion, winning in 2014 in Canowindra & 2015 in Northam. He is the current Japanese Grand Prix Champion (2016) along with other team-member pilots, including his wife Nicola. He has represented Australia at World Championships and placed well. Nicola & Matt have flown competition balloons throughout Australia and overseas, often accompanied by their young son. They are both Commercial Balloon Pilots in the Hunter Valley.
Nicola Scaife Runner-up Northam (2015)	NSW	VH-NKS Flow	Nicola has been a pilot for 10 years. She is the current (and twice) Women’s World Champion, current Japanese Grand Prix Champion (2016) along with other team-member pilots, including her husband Matt. She was runner-up in the 2015 National Championships in Northam. Nicola & Matt have flown competition balloons throughout Australia and overseas, often accompanied by their young son. They are both Commercial Balloon Pilots in the Hunter Valley.
Peter Wright Third place Northam (2015)	VIC	VH-PWM Mistral	Peter is a commercial balloon pilot from Melbourne and has been flying balloons since 1997. Competition ballooning is his flying hobby, and he has placed third in the National Championships in four of the last five events, including Northam in 2015. He has represented Australia at World Championships in 2010, 2012 & 2016. Peter loves coming to Northam, where his Uncle Keith was one of the founding members of the Northam Aero Club.
Dominic Bareford World Junior Champion (2014)	UK		Dominic is a 23-year-old pilot from the United Kingdom. He won the World Junior Championships in 2014. He became involved with ballooning through his father and enjoys flying both recreationally and competitively. Dominic has held a license for seven years and has represented the UK in international competitions several times. He was the UK National Champion in 2015 and 2016 and placed 6th in the 2016 World Championships.
Andrew Clements	WA	VH-ACU Jenna	The Clements family has been flying balloons in the Avon Valley for forty years. Andrew is a second-generation pilot, born in Northam, and two of his brothers also fly balloons here. He met his wife Belinda through ballooning and has attended ballooning events throughout Australia and overseas.
Paul Gibbs	NSW	VH-UED Huey	Paul has been interested in wind-powered craft forever! He has been a balloon pilot since 1987. He was the 2004 FAI World Bronze Medallist and is a five-time Australian National Champion. He sends special thanks to his crew for their long-distance travel in support of his team. His balloon is an Australian-made Kavanagh EX-60.
Daniel Gillespie	ACT	VH-BVJ	Daniel is a commercial balloon pilot who spends six months of the year flying passenger balloons in Myanmar. He represented Australia at the two most recent Junior World Championships and has participated in various European events.
Curtis Greenwood	VIC	VH-CQK Gecko	Curtis has flown at balloon events in Canowindra, Mildura, Canberra, and Northam in 2015. He is a full-time balloon crewman in Melbourne and considers crewing at the World Ballooning Championships in Battle Creek, Michigan, for Australian Peter Wright one of his ballooning highlights.
Stuart Gregory	ACT	VH-VZN Veraison	Stuart has been flying hot air balloons for 27 years, inspired by one he saw as a child at the Sydney Royal Easter Show. He flies mainly in Canberra & southeastern NSW, and has flown in SA & VIC. This is his first time flying in WA. His wife Elizabeth designed the color layout of his new balloon, influenced by Kingfisher and Passion Fruit balloons.
Paul Kavanagh	VIC	VH-EXT Vertigo	Paul has been involved in ballooning since 1973. He earned his license in 2008 and has been competing since 2013. He has worked with top pilots in international competitions and is looking forward to competing again in Northam. He will be flying a Kavanagh EX 65.
Sean Kavanagh	NSW	VH-CVX Paddy	Born and bred into ballooning, Sean has been flying balloons since 1994. He works at Kavanagh Balloons, designing and manufacturing Australian balloons, and also trained with Qantas as an Aircraft Engineer. Sean has flown balloons commercially over Melbourne, Sydney & Mareeba and has represented Australia in multiple World Championships. In 2008, he flew a Kavanagh B-400 balloon up to 37,834 feet, setting a new Australian altitude record.
Anton Kerr	NSW	VH-VPI Yippi	Anton is a barista and a commercial balloon pilot in Canowindra, NSW. He is flying his parents' balloon (Thanks Mum and Dad) and wishes he was in a racer.
Andrei Kulkov	Russia	Hola	Andrei has been involved in ballooning since 2004. Born in 1969, he studied navigation and served as a submarine officer in the Russian Navy. Andrei was the Russian Hot Air Ballooning Champion in 2011 & 2015. He participated in the World Championships in 2012 & 2015, and European Championships in 2013 & 2015.
Tomoko Kurahashi	Japan		This is Tomoko’s second time in Northam. She and her crew/manager Maki enjoyed the hospitality of their Northam host family, and the great times with their local crew so much at the 2015 Championships, that they are back for more! Tomoko has represented Japan in Women’s World Championships and has competed in the Japanese Honda Grand Prix series for more than ten years.
Claire O'Brien	VIC	VH-IIR Dot	This is Claire’s first time competing in a National Championship, and she says that Team ‘Dot’ plan to have a fun time in Northam. Her balloon ‘Dot’ originally had Honda logos on it, but with a LOT of unpicking, and some help from Kavanagh Balloons, she now flies a cute ladybug!
Andrew Robertson	NSW	VH-YXY Shadowfax	Andrew started ballooning 38 years ago (at the age of 4) and has been a pilot for more than 20 years. He represented Australia at the World Championships in 2006 and 2012, and has flown in the USA, Japan, and most of the states in Australia. Andrew flies a red, orange, yellow, and black Kavanagh EX65 Racer called "Shadowfax."
Paterson Saunders	VIC	VH-ZOW Zonzo	"Pato" hails from the Yarra Valley and was brought up in a family of aeronauts. He has chased ballooning jobs around the world, including Brazil, Qatar, Slovenia, and Ireland. He has even flown on the frozen Arctic Ocean from a nuclear icebreaker! Keen to make ballooning appealing to a younger crowd, he formed "The Flying Lemmings," a group of young balloon pilots aiming to open up ballooning to the next generation. Watch out for the new Zonzo balloon as it wanders across the Nullarbor!
Les Springett	NSW	VH-ROI Volare	Les has been ballooning since 1979. He holds the AX7-10 Australian Duration Record and won the Great Australian Long Jump. He represented Australia in the World Championship in Austria in 2008, Pre-Worlds in Saga, Japan in 2015, and Coupe d’Europe in France in 2002. Les won the 2016 Canowindra Challenge Key Grab and has participated in all three previous Northam National Championships. He flies "Volare," which is Italian for "To fly."
Peter Stephenson	WA	VH-MNS Mario	Peter learnt to fly balloons two years ago in Mondovi, Italy, and has since been building experience in the Avon Valley. His balloon, Mario, can be recognized by the big "M" on the side. This will be Peter’s first competition.
Zenya Taguchi	Japan		Zenya is a ‘quasi public servant‘ in the Watarase area of Fujioka, Tochigi City, which is where he usually flies balloons and his favorite place to fly. The first race of the famous Japanese Ballooning Grand Prix series was held here in 2017. Since childhood, he has longed to fly a balloon and is now realizing his dream. Zenya says he is "most honored to have the opportunity to fly in Australia." This will be his first overseas competition.
Sven Tetlow	WA	VH-EEX Piro	Sven comes from a local Northam ballooning dynasty, learning to fly balloons in his teens (though he has not disclosed how long ago that was!). He is now ensuring the continuity of the dynasty by training his own three children to become balloon pilots. Sven previously flew passenger balloons in Cairns and Alice Springs.
Jeff Vella	Hong Kong	G-CXCX Cathay Pacific	Jeff joined the RAAF in 1993, gaining his command on C-130E/H Hercules aircraft. By 2001, he had surpassed all his peers to be selected for the prestigious position of RAAF Hot Air Balloon pilot. He later instructed on PC9 at 2 Flying Training School before returning to the C-130J. Jeff now resides in Hong Kong, flying 747s with Cathay Pacific Airways. He was handpicked (from a crop of one!) to join Nigel on the Cathay Pacific Hot Air Balloon.
James Ansell	ACT	VH-LFS Scout Balloon	Started in 2012, the ACT Scout Balloon Team is a unique program offered by Scouts ACT, training youth members to be both pilots and crew. James was the first pilot qualified through the Scout Balloon program, earning his ABF Private Pilot Balloon Certificate in Easter 2014. He is a PhD student at ANU and has a penchant for unusual pilot headgear. James is assisted by Jacob Brown and Nikki Coleman.
Michael Clements	WA	VH-OTR Bradley	A member of the local ballooning dynasty, Michael has been involved in ballooning since 1977, initially crewing with his family for his father. He has been a pilot himself for more than 20 years and has also flown in the ACT. One highlight of his flying career was piloting a D96 airship over Northam. He enjoys scuba diving, his life on the farm, and spending time with his young family.
Peter Clements	WA	VH-NTF Fandango	The youngest member of the Clements ballooning dynasty (so far!), Peter has been a balloon pilot for more than 15 years. He has also flown in Renmark and Canberra. Peter enjoys cricket, football, and volunteering at his children’s sporting activities. His ‘real job’ is electrical contracting.
Geoffrey Howe	ACT	VH-IGH Poppy	Geoff has been a pilot for 17 years and has flown passenger balloons in Canberra and Northam. His daughter lives in Northam and is married to local pilot Andrew Clements. Geoff is excited to fly the ‘cloud hopper’ in this year’s event. This is a one-man balloon with a chair instead of a basket.
Richard Swansborough	NSW	VH-PUQ Grasshopper	Richard lives in Canowindra, Central NSW, where he built his first hot air balloon in 2010 before he even knew how to fly one! He took this balloon to New Zealand in 2013, where he was awarded Overall Champion at the annual "Balloons over Waikato" festival. Richard has also competed in ballooning events in Portugal, France, and Thailand. Recently, he purchased a smaller balloon to transport to Northam and other ballooning events around Australia.
Paul Giannotis	NSW	VH-OTT Rainbow Lady	Paul lived in Hong Kong for 20 years and was a founding member of the Hong Kong Balloon & Airship Club. His job as a flight engineer with Cathay Pacific brought him to WA, where he conducted extensive training with members of the Grenade Balloon Group. In 1980, Paul achieved Australia’s first ballooning World Record. Since then, he has flown balloons in Hong Kong, Japan, UK, Canada, USA, and throughout Australia.
Stephen Giannotis	NSW	VH-SSG Super Sonic	Stephen is a second-generation balloon pilot, introduced to ballooning through his father, Paul. He obtained his ballooning license in 2006 and enjoys flying around NSW. Stephen is a regular participant at the Canberra Balloon Fiesta, and a recent highlight was ballooning at a cloud-hopper meet in Alice Springs.
Ed Saunders	VIC		Ed is from the Yarra Valley and grew up surrounded by balloonists. He became involved in ballooning from a young age. He earned his private balloon pilot's certificate on his 16th birthday in 2014 and has already amassed more than 130 flying hours. Ed has flown balloons at various events across Australia.
Donna Tasker	Australia	Asthma Balloon	The Asthma Balloon and pilot Donna Tasker will be providing VIPs and media with a birds-eye view of the Championships, showcasing the spectacular hot air balloon event from above.
Damien Hays	Australia	Windward Adventures	Also offering a birds-eye view of the competition, passengers flying with Windward Adventures and pilot Damien Hays will be able to experience the ballooning event from above, creating a breathtaking perspective of the Championships.
Ryan Bristow-Stagg	Australia		Ryan Bristow-Stagg is a third-generation balloon pilot from Northam. As one of the Local Mentor Pilots, he will provide local knowledge and guidance to visiting pilots from interstate and overseas, helping them navigate the ballooning environment in Northam.

THE BALLOONS AND PILOTS

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