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 2026

VI. edition · 20/02/2026 · 15 balloons launched from Kejžlice

Start in Kejžlice Medal places Other balloons Airfield
Map showing the landing sites of the balloons in 2026 PrahaPlzeňKarlovy VaryKladnoRakovníkPříbramBenešovTáborKutná HoraPelhřimovJihlavaRokycany Start Kejžlice 123456789101112131415

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

1.
Miloš Kovář & Petr Sádlo Balloon Kubíček 4500 m³ · OK 1608
182.9 km as the crow flies
8 h 9 min airborne
16:09 landing time 50.15892 N, 13.00567 E
Full results 2026 Show / hide
Full results 2026
RankCrewBalloonRegistrationLandingAirborneLanding siteDistance
1.Miloš Kovář & Petr Sádlo 4500 m³OK 160816:098 h 9 min50.15892 N, 13.00567 E182.945 km
2.Ondřej Beneš & Ladislav Kouba 4500 m³OK 880415:497 h 49 min50.06350 N, 13.04122 E177.287 km
3.Břetislav Liška & Jan Mánek 3400 m³OK 900914:586 h 58 min50.00313 N, 13.05665 E174.449 km
4.Michal Kubát & Petra Kubátová 3400 m³OK 300815:147 h 14 min49.99691 N, 13.12599 E169.477 km
5.David Línek & Zbyšek Prokop 4500 m³OK 099013:475 h 47 min49.97500 N, 13.88289 E117.114 km
6.Pavel Kostrhun & Jindra Lančarič 4500 m³OK 695312:504 h 50 min50.01088 N, 13.93974 E114.850 km
7.Martin Činčala & Radka Činčalová 3000 m³OK 405014:176 h 17 min50.03553 N, 13.97221 E113.863 km
8.Tomáš Pirner & Petr Květenský 3000 m³OK 177113:055 h 5 min49.94689 N, 13.99971 E108.193 km
9.Jiří Hembal & Andrea Vavrušková 3400 m³OK 717512:384 h 38 min49.89836 N, 14.03734 E103.830 km
10.Jan Bartoň & Marcel Nigrin 3700 m³OK 201212:284 h 28 min49.87205 N, 14.12599 E96.878 km
11.Petr Vítek & Ondřej Veškrna 3400 m³OK 707214:406 h 40 min49.79518 N, 14.18730 E90.266 km
12.Adéla Borkovcová & Mirek Borkovec 3400 m³OK 688613:355 h 35 min49.79027 N, 14.19123 E89.860 km
13.Vladimír Lacina & Pavel Kyzlink 3000 m³OK 500611:473 h 47 min49.42202 N, 14.50712 E67.295 km
14.Martin Motyka & Hana Vávrová 2600 m³OK 76739:351 h 35 min49.46394 N, 15.00401 E32.018 km
15.Tomáš Habán & Jan Mléčka 3400 m³OK 04209:471 h 47 min49.46379 N, 15.10570 E25.649 km

Challenge cup holders

All editions

Photo gallery

From the launch, the sky and the landing

Videos

The race on video

  • V. ročník O pohár Jaroslava Haška 2025

    edition 2025 · kenarfas

  • Balónový závod, 4. Ročník O putovní pohár Jaroslava Haška, letiště Kejžlice 2024

    edition 2024 · Lukasgo

  • 4. ročník O pohár Jar. Haška v balónovém létání, letiště Kejžlice 2024

    edition 2024 · kenarfas

  • 3. ročník O pohár Jar. Haška v balónovém létání letiště Kejžlice 2023

    edition 2023 · kenarfas

Show more videos (2) Show less
  • O putovní pohár J.Haška v balónovém létání 2022 Kejžlice

    edition 2022 · kenarfas

  • O pohár Jar. Haška v balónovém létání Kejžlice 2021

    edition 2021 · kenarfas

In the press

What the media write about us

Show more articles (8) Show less

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.