Unbelievably it has taken almost a year for the specific weather conditions to be ‘just right’ for Year 9 students, Vibhushan Manchanda and Brian Robinson, and Year 12 student Tom Matthews to take their rides.

Open to all secondary students, the competition task for Years 8 to 10 was to research the history of hot air balloons and for Years 11 and 12 it was to complete complicated Physics calculations regarding a hot air balloon and the specific conditions that were affecting it.

Vibhushan and Brian were accompanied by a friend and a member of staff on their rides. Unfortunately Tom was unable to attend. This worked to the advantage of two bystanders from the Prep School. Head of Science, Julie Harris, selected them to go for a ride with School Prefect, Richard Stevenson. They had the time of their lives.