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V international hot-air balloon festival Caucasian Mineral Waters - Russian Pearl-2003 timed for the 200th anniversary of the ecological resort area including, together with Zheleznovodsk, a place of fiesta, such resort towns as Pyatigorsk, Yessentuki, and Kislovodsk. The bishop of Stavropol and Vladikavkaz Feofan who visited the opening of the event blessed participants. Representatives of the region authorities and mayor of Zheleznovodsk wished brave sportsmen good luck.
Over 20 crews from Russia and the CIS took part in the festival. Pilot Naidenov won the first prize, pilots Morev and Denisenko took the 2nd and the 3d places respectively. Pilot Valery Shkulenko from the Augur Aeronautic Centre won the 4th place. "Surrounding landscape generates such air currents that allow reaching full potential of non-propelled lighter-than-air vehicles," he said. |
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