Hot-air balloon race

The Jaroslav Hašek Challenge Cup

Every year balloons rise above Kejžlice airfield and drift wherever the wind takes them. The one who flies the farthest wins.

Winners of the VI. edition · 20/02/2026 Miloš Kovář & Petr Sádlo
182.9 km longest flight
8 h 9 min airborne
15 balloons at the start

Flight map

Where they landed in 2022

II. edition · 03/02/2022 · 4 balloons launched from Kejžlice

Start in Kejžlice Medal places Other balloons Airfield
Map showing the landing sites of the balloons in 2022 PrahaPlzeňKarlovy VaryKladnoRakovníkPříbramBenešovTáborKutná HoraPelhřimovJihlavaRokycany Start Kejžlice 1234

Base map: Natural Earth, Mapzen Terrain Tiles (SRTM). For illustration only, not for navigation.

1.
Michal Kubát & Petra Kubátová Balloon Kubíček 3400 m³ · OK 3008
218.1 km as the crow flies
8 h 15 min airborne
landing time 50.07151 N, 12.45384 E
Full results 2022 Show / hide
Full results 2022
RankCrewBalloonRegistrationLandingAirborneLanding siteDistance
1.Michal Kubát & Petra Kubátová 3400 m³OK 30088 h 15 min50.07151 N, 12.45384 E218.079 km
2.Miloš Kovář & Aleš Vašíček 4500 m³OK 16087 h 7 min49.87507 N, 13.01926 E174.124 km
3.Vladimír Lacina & Pavel Štol 3400 m³OK 24074 h 18 min49.61876 N, 14.29713 E79.673 km
4.Tomáš Pirner & Petr Květenský 4500 m³OK 71173 h 47 min49.62413 N, 14.44891 E68.771 km

Challenge cup holders

All editions

Photo gallery

From the launch, the sky and the landing

Videos

The race on video

  • O putovní pohár J.Haška v balónovém létání 2022 Kejžlice

    edition 2022 · kenarfas

In the press

What the media write about us

About the race

Where the wind takes us

The race for the Jaroslav Hašek challenge cup takes place every year at Kejžlice airfield. The crews start together and the one that lands farthest from the start wins. The cup then travels with the winners until the next edition.

The VII. edition takes place on 27–31 January 2027, with reserve dates on 17–21 February 2027. Crews can apply through this website.

Balloons at the mass start from Kejžlice airfield
From where Letiště Kejžlice LP 17 km from the centre of Czechia
Where it is N 49°35′31″
E 15°24′05″
The winner is the longest flight
For the winner

Challenge cup, a diploma of lead and steel and a barrel of beer.

When we do not fly

Lipnice and Švejk – the castle, the U České koruny inn, breweries.

Rules

Start from 8:00, crews of two, landing by 17:00 in Czechia. The crew that flies the farthest wins.