On Sunday, Oct. 4, Harvest Homecoming held its annual balloon race.
The 13 racing balloons launched at 5 p.m. from the grassy field south of the Activities Building and close to Southern Drive.
Prizes were awarded to the three balloonists who landed their balloons closest to the designated “X” landing mark, which was located just north of the Clark County Airport.
Polly Niemeier, Harvest Homecoming office manager, said she was impressed with the balloonists.
“One year, we had a balloon land about an inch away from the “X,” Niemeier said, “but these guys still did remarkably well.”
The balloons traveled about eight miles from IU Southeast to the airport.
Bill Smith, balloonist for the Kentucky National Guard, won first place. He landed about 8 feet 5 inches away from the center of the “X.”
Smith won $600 for getting first place.
Charlie Hurst, balloonist, won second place. He landed 67 feet away from the mark and won $400.
Niemeier said Hurst wasn’t racing with any particular company, but he was just racing for the fun of it.
Jerry Cowles, balloonist for the Sunny Side of Louisville balloon, got third place. He landed 109 feet 7 inches away from the mark and won $200.Niemeier said the top three balloonists are paid, but only if they are within 400 feet of the mark, which all of them were.
The balloon racing style is called a Hare and Hound race, which means the winner from the previous year landed in the area where the X was placed.
Harvest Homecoming does pay for the balloons’ gas and insurance.
By JOSEPH DEVER
Editor
jwdever@ius.edu