THE FIRST NIDDERDALE ROAD RUN

Report by Mark Nicholson Chairman West Yorkshire Group NVTEC photos by Tyler Parker Photography

In April 2022, two new members of the National Vintage Tractor & Engine club, West Yorkshire Group, attended the first ‘Brian Chester Road Run’. They enjoyed it so much, they decided to organise a road run themselves.

The two members, Simon Dickinson from Northallerton, and Ryan Atkinson from Kirkby Malzeard, only needed a start and a finish point to enable them to design a route.

As Ryan’s family business is R & J Yorkshire’s Finest Farmers and Butchers they had the ideal premises in Kirkby Malzeard; the start and finish points were obvious. This only left the route to be decided upon. Simon and Ryan took to the lanes on their tractors to select the route. On one occasion, they endured monsoon rain conditions, and returned home looking like the proverbial drowned rats! They were not deterred and, despite the conditions, were determined to give the participants a wonderful day out and raise as much money as possible for the Yorkshire Air Ambulance.

A little help was given by some members of the West Yorkshire Group to ensure that all regulations, according to the NVTEC code of practice, were complied with and the date was set for Saturday 9th July.

The day was warm and sunny, and a very large field had hoped for everyone before setting off. Over 50 tractors turned up, of varying ages and sizes, much to the delight of Simon and Ryan, and everyone collecting for the Yorkshire Air Ambulance.

The tractors were led off by Ryan on his recently acquired Massey Ferguson 175. The route took everyone through some of the most stunning Dales countryside, including some off road sections through the Swinton Estate. Our first stop was West Witton to allow the local villagers to enjoy the tractors and nostalgia.

Our next stop was Brymore Ice Creams, ice cream parlour, café and gift shop. All the tractors parked up in the adjacent field to allow the drivers a much needed ice cream and a cool drink. The sound of clinking coins into the Air Ambulance buckets reminded us all why we were enjoying this wonderful day.

The return journey took in even more stunning views. Ryan and Simon’s ambition to give the tractor drivers some of the most awesome views of Yorkshire was truly fulfilled. A slight misinterpretation of the route through Masham gave the general public a fantastic display of synchronised tractor driving, which a military display team would have been proud of!

The Icing on the cake of this fantastic day was on return to the starting point we were all invited to a delicious barbeque, kindly provided by R & J Yorkshire’s Finest Farmers and Butchers.

The tractors were taken through some of the most beautiful scenery in Yorkshire. Local residents enjoyed the display of tractors, spectators young and old were amazed. The weather was a beautiful hot sunny day, and the

Yorkshire Air Ambulance collected £1,400.00. Ryan and Simon, you did an amazing job of making this a memorable day, Thank You.

The Yorkshire Air Ambulance would like to thank R & J Yorkshires Finest Farmers and Butchers, Skell Gill Farm Meats, Brymore Ice Creams, and everyone who took part and gave generously to make this such a successful day.

The second Nidderdale Road Run will be held on Sunday, 2nd July 2023. For further information please contact marknicholson952@gmail.com.