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High-flying doc is a record-breaker

by Sue Carr
26/ 9/2007

A HADFIELD balloonist is on a high after flying her way into the record books.

Doctor Ann Webb (pictured) had planned to take part in the Gordon Bennet race in Brussels - the world's oldest gas balloon race where competitors must fly as far as possible in a single flight.

But after the annual event was cancelled earlier this month, the Manchester University lecturer decided to take to the skies in the Stuttgart Cup instead.

Together with Janet Folkes from Nottingham, the only woman in the UK with a gas balloon licence, the pair are thought to have set a new British women's record for the time spent and distance travelled.

They are waiting for official confirmation, but are confident of success as an official observer for record attempts was there to witness their amazing feat.

One of eight teams from around the world, Ann and Janet flew almost 400km over 19 hours, reaching altitudes of more than 8,000ft and a top speed of 28km per hour, before landing near to Linz in Austria.

The gas balloon flight was a first for Ann, 46.

"It was an amazing experience," she said. "We took off in the dark and that was quite special, taking off with all the lights of Stuttgart spread out before you.

"It was very quiet - you don't have the noise of the burner that you get with a hot air balloon - and you could hear church bells ringing from the little villages below.

"It was very cold as the balloon got ice all over the top of it, but I'd borrowed some clothes from my neighbour who used to be in Glossop Mountain Rescue, so I was toasty warm most of the time.

"We had self-heating meals so we even made ourselves a full English breakfast at 6,000ft!"

Despite missing out on the Gordon Bennet race, Ann says she feels ready to take it on next year.

"I'm confident we could have gone a lot further," she added.

"We don't yet know where the challenge will take off from, but Great Britain may make a bid to host it and it would be fantastic if we could win it."