The Great British Long Jump sees pilots attempt to make the longest possible non-stop, straight line flight over the British Isles and 2002 winner Mike Scholes of Chad Ballooning in Lindfield was delighted to take the winner's trophy for a second time.

Competing against 14 rivals, he set off on his adventurous flight from Innerleithen in the Scottish Borders and encountered the Red Arrows aerobatics team as he flew over Lincolnshire.

Braving sub-zero temperatures, Mike manoeuvred his way over and under military and commercial airways to win the race by just over ten miles.
He flew on three tanks of propane and began his epic journey as the morning sun rose above Scotland's breathtaking scenery.

Mike said: "The views over Scotland were spectacular and I was amazed at the frost covered hills. To the north I could see across the Forth Estuary, Solway Firth to the south and the North Sea to the east, but it was slow going at first and even at 6,000 ft I was only doing 19 knots."

Mike picked up speed over north eastern England and followed the course of the A1 over Catterick and Leeming airfields. Just north of the historic city of Lincoln he came across something he had not expected - smoke trails from the Red Arrows aerobatic pilots who were practicing near their base at RAF Scampton.

Air space was restricted because of the manoeuvres, and Mike was forced to look for a field to land on. At that point his propane supplies reached critical levels.

Mike said: "The whisper burner spluttered and the flame became rather pathetic. Just as I reached a little set aside field the whisper flame gave up the ghost and died. But my relief at having landed was shortlived. I caught my right foot in a strap getting out of the basket and fell over, and before I could get up a gust of wind dragged the balloon and me to a ditch."

Fortunately for Mike, a neighbouring farmer came across on his tractor and gave him a lift, scooping up the balloon using a front loader.
Mike had flown just over 182 miles with an average speed of 31 miles per hour. His voyage, which took five hours and 47 minutes, was not quite as far as the 231 miles he covered when he won the event five years ago, but he was pleased to take home The Frog - The Great British Long Jump's aptly named trophy.