For the past week we have been hosting the British National Balloon Championships, an event that is entirely compatible with gliding because flights take place before we have got out of bed or after we've finished flying. Thirteen balloons took part but the weather was awful for most of the week with just two flights on one day. Both flights involved remote starts and finishes so Aston Down didn't see much action. The pictures show an early morning launch at Frampton on Severn and the balloons over a target on Minchinhampton Common.