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 wife Nicola; and has placed well when representing Australia at World Championships. Nicola & Matt have flown competition balloons throughout Australia and overseas, often accompanied by their young son; and are both Commercial Balloon Pilots in the Hunter Valley.

   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 husband Matt; and 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; and are both Commercial Balloon Pilots in the Hunter Valley.

   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 is a 23 year old pilot from the United Kingdom. He won the World Junior championships in 2014. Dominic became involved with ballooning through his father and enjoys flying for fun and competitively. He has held a licence for 7 years and has represented the UK in international competitions several times. U.K National champion 2015, 2016. 6th place World championships, 2016.

  The Clements family have 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 in Northam. He met his wife Belinda through ballooning. He has attended balloon events throughout Australia and overseas.

  Paul says that he 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 five times Australian National Champion. Paul sends special thanks to his crew who have travelled a long way to support the team. His balloon is an Australian made Kavanagh EX-60.

  Daniel is a commercial Balloon pilot. He spends 6 months of the year flying passenger balloons in Myanmar. He represented Australia at the two most recent junior World Championships, and has participated in other European events.

  Curtis has flown at balloon events in Canowindra, Mildura, Canberra, and Northam in 2015. He is a full-time balloon crewman in Melbourne, and (apart from the Championships in Northam!) he reckons that a ballooning highlight was crewing at the World Ballooning Championships in Battle Creek, Michigan, for Australian Peter Wright.

  Stuart has been flying hot air balloons for 27 years, having been fascinated by hot air balloons since he saw one at the Sydney Royal Easter Show when he was in Primary School. He flies mainly in Canberra & south eastern NSW, and has also flown in SA & VIC. This will be his first time ever in WA.
Stuarts wife Elizabeth designed the colour layout for his new balloon, inspired by two other balloons, Kingfisher and Passion Fruit. He sees ballooning as a great way to have fun and spread joy.

  Paul has been involved in ballooning with his family, since 1973; eventually succumbing to the lure and gaining his licence in 2008. He has been flying competitively since 2013, and after working with our top pilots in international competitions recently, he looks forward to now going up against them. Paul will be flying a Kavanagh EX 65 for a second stint competing in Northam.

  Born and bred into ballooning, Sean has been flying balloons since 1994. He works at Kavanagh Balloons, designing and manufacturing Australian balloons; but also worked and trained with Qantas as an Aircraft Engineer. Sean has flown balloons commercially over Melbourne, Sydney & Mareeba, and has represented Australia in numerous World Championships. In 2008 he flew a Kavanagh B-400 balloon up to 37,834 feet, setting a new Australian Altitude record.

  Anton is a barista and a commercial pilot in Canowindra NSW. He is flying his parents' balloon (Thanks Mum and Dad) and wishes he was in a racer.

  Andrei has been involved in ballooning since 2004. Born in 1969, he studied navigation and served as a submarine officer in Russian Navy. Andrei was Russian Hot Air Ballooning Champion in 2011 & 2015; and participated at the World Championships in 2012 & 2015, and European Championships in 2013 & 2015.

   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.

   This is Claire’s first time competing in a National Championships, 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 flys a cute ladybug!

  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“.

  ’Pato’ hails from the Yarra Valley, and was brought up in a family of aeronauts. He has chased balloon jobs around the world including Brazil, Qatar, Slovenia, Ireland; and has flown on the frozen Arctic Ocean from a nuclear icebreaker. Keen to make ballooning appealing to a younger crowd he formed ’The Flying Lemmings’, young balloon pilots that hope to open up the world of ballooning to the next generation. Watch out for the new Zonzo balloon as it wanders across the Nullarbor!

  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 participated in all 3 previous Northam National Championships. Les flies “Volare“, which is Italian for “To fly“.

  Peter learnt to fly balloons 2 years ago in Mondovi, Italy and has since been building experience in the Avon Valley. His balloon Mario, can be recognised by the big M on the side. This will be Peter’s first competition.

   Zenya is a ‘quasi public servant‘ in the Watarase area of Fujioka, Tochigi City, which is where he usually flies balloons, and is also his favourite place to fly. The first race of the famous Japanese Ballooning Grand Prix series will held here in 2017. Since he was a child he has longed to fly a balloon, and is now realising his dream. Zenya says that he is "most honoured to have the opportunity to fly in Australia". This will be his first overseas competition.

   Sven is from another local Northam ballooning dynasty, learning to fly balloons in his teens (he has not chosen to tell you how long ago that was!). He is now ensuring the continuity of the dynasty by training his own three children to be balloon pilots. Sven previously flew passenger balloons in Cairns and Alice Springs.

   Jeff joined the RAAF in 1993 gaining his command on C-130E/H Hercules aircraft. By 2001 he had surpassed all of his peers to be selected for the coveted and prestigious position of RAAF Hot Air Balloon pilot. He then spent some time instructing on PC9 at 2 Flying Training School, then back to the C-130J. Jeff now lives in Hong Kong flying 747s with Cathay Pacific Airways, where he was handpicked (from a crop of 1) to join Nigel on the Cathay Pacific Hot Air 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, getting his ABF Private Pilot Balloon Certificate in Easter 2014. He is a PhD student at the ANU and has a penchant for unusual pilot headgear. James is assisted by Jacob Brown and Nikki Coleman

   Another member of the local ballooning dynasty, Michael has been involved in ballooning since 1977, crewing with the family for his father. He has been a pilot himself for more than 20 years, and has also flown in the ACT. Michael says that a highlight of his flying experiences was in a D96 airship over Northam. He also enjoys scuba diving, and his life on the farm, spending time with his young family.

   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 also enjoys cricket, football and volunteering at his children’s sporting activities. His ’real job’ is electrical contractor.

  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 looking forward to flying the 'cloud hopper' in this year event. This is a one man balloon with a chair rather than a basket.

   Richard lives in Canowindra in 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 participated in other overseas ballooning events in Portugal, France and Thailand. Recently he purchased this smaller balloon to transport to Northam and other ballooning events around Australia.

  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, and he came to Northam to conduct 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 just about everywhere in Australia.

Just bring your cursor on Paul's photo...

  Stephen is a second generation balloon pilot after becoming involved in ballooning through his father, Paul. He obtained his ballooning licence in 2006 and enjoys ballooning around NSW. Stephen is a regular participant at the Canberra Balloon Fiesta, and lists a recent highlight as ballooning at a cloud-hopper meet in Alice Springs.

   Ed is from the Yarra Valley, and grew up surrounded by balloonists and balloons, and became involved from a young age. He gained his private balloon pilots certificate on his 16th birthday in 2014, and has already amassed more than 130 flying hours since then. He has flown balloon at various events in Australia.

   The Asthma Balloon and Pilot Donna Tasker will be providing our VIP's and media with a birds-eye view of the Championships.

   Also getting a birds-eye view of all the other balloons will be passengers with Windward Adventures and Pilot Damien Hays.

   Ryan Bristow-Stagg is a third generation pilot from Northam, and will be one of the Local Mentor Pilots, providing local knowledge and guidance to visiting pilots from interstate & overseas.