Ras falwnau / Balloon race 1921

(Gwelir y Gymraeg isod)

The 10th GORDON BENNETT Auronautical Cup race set off from Brussels, Belgium on September 21st 1921. This was to be the year that Pembrokeshire featured in the race route.

The race was first held in 1906, leaving from Paris, France. “Coupe Aéronautique Gordon Bennett” is the world’s oldest gas balloon race, and is regarded as the premier event of world balloon racing – it’s ‘Blue Ribbon’.

In 1921, fifteen  balloons from several different nations, left Brussells and proceeded across the channel via Oxford in the direction of Hereford. The competitors encountered a gale resulting in one competitor touching down at Carmarthen, another at Llanelli. The County Echo carried a report of another balloon at Tresinwen, Pencaer. The auronauts were Henry Spencer and Raymond Coulson who were becalmed at Strumble (- in it’s self, unusual!) and stayed at the Bay Hotel while planning to move on to Cork.

The Cup is awarded to the balloon which travels most miles from the starting point. 2019 was the date of the last race.

Cychwynnodd 10fed ras Cwpan Balwnau Awyr GORDON BENNETT o Frwsel, Gwlad Belg ar Fedi 21ain 1921. Hon oedd y flwyddyn i Sir Benfro fod ar lwybr y ras.

Cynhaliwyd y ras gyntaf yn 1906, gan adael o ddinas Paris, Ffrainc. “Coupe Aéronautique Gordon Bennett” yw’r ras balŵn nwy hynaf yn y byd, ac fe’i hystyrir yn brif ddigwyddiad rasio balŵns y byd –  y ‘Rhuban Glas’.

Ym 1921, gadawodd yr holl falŵnau Frwsel ac aethant ymlaen ar draws y sianel heibio i Rydychen i gyfeiriad Henffordd. Daeth y cystadleuwyr ar draws corwynt a arweiniodd at un cystadleuydd yn cael ei daro i lawr yng Nghaerfyrddin ac un arall yn Llanelli. Cariodd y County Echo adroddiad am falwn arall yn glanio yn Nhresinwen, Pencaer. Y ddau beilot  oedd Henry Spencer a Raymond Coulson. Collon nhw y gwynt yn llwyr ym Mhenstrwmbwl   (- ynddo ei hun, yn beth anarferol!) ac arhoson nhw yng Ngwesty’r Bae tra’n cynllunio symud ymlaen i Cork.

Yn y ras hon, gwobrwyir y cystafleuwyr sydd wedi teithio bella o’r safle gwreiddiol. Yn 2019 y cynhaliwyd y ras ddiwethaf .