Paragliders from all over light up the sky in a riot of colour

During the last week of June national and international paragliders descended on Barberton.
For the next week until Friday July 1 the sky above town was filled with an array of brightly coloured paragliders enjoying what has been said to be one of the best places to fly in the country.
After the initial air raid, which was the build-up to the yearly championships, the competition commenced in all earnestness on June 31.
This year there were 74 entries and the prize-giving was held on Saturday afternoon at Jathira.
Top male pilots:
Anton Naude
Jan Pio
Leon Viljoen
Top ladies pilots:
Khobi Jane Bowen
Tracy King
Iolandi Roth.

Astrid Christianson from Barberton Tourism said a huge thank you to Lowveld Slope Soaring Club for choosing Barberton for this event. “Yes we do have the best place, but they also have the opportunity to give other places exposure, so this meant a lot.”
She also thanked Ems and JP Steyn for their ongoing support manning the food stall at Lone Tree Hill every year, as well as the following sponsors without whom the event would not have been a success:
Sappi
Barberton Mines
Westvaal Barberton
Minuteman Press
Puma Petrol Station
Eagle eyes
Nashua Lowveld
Barberton Golf Club
Jathira Guesthouse
Kokkopelles
Sheryn Nader Barberton Bliss
Friends of the Barberton Daisy
Barberton Tourism.

“A big thanks to the media, Barberton Times and Suburb News for all the coverage,” said Christianson.
During the event an amount of R1 700 was also collected for Ronnie Dlamini who has been working at the golf course for the past 27 years and has been part of the paragliding event since it started in Barberton. This was also the last event he attended and he also received a T-shirt that was signed by all the pilots.
“Great event again. Pity that the final day, Saturday, was really bad as the weather did not allow flight. But it gave Barberton the chance to showcase all our activities. See you next year.”