AFTER the storm Hannah’s best efforts, 80 tractors assembled at the old Benson’s Yard, Knighton for the annual Teme Valley Vintage Club’s tractor run on Sunday, April 28.
This year, the club had decided to support a prostate cancer charity which promotes early diagnosis of the disease after the recent death of club member, Graham Roberts from it. Starting at 10am, Mrs Roberts was on hand to present the cup to the best turned out tractor which was won by Ludlow’s Lyndsay Gould with his International McCormick 434.
Then it was time for the off with Lewis Weaver on his Dexta playing the pied piper leading the tractors. This year’s route was a re-run of last year’s National Vintage Tractor Road Run and was a chance for last year’s helpers and marshals to drive the route.
Up Ludlow Road to take the turn for Penybont, climbing up past the pipeline works to turn across to Rhos Y Meirch, down to Norton and on through Presteigne. Here the tractors crossed over the Lugg into Herefordshire, onwards to Stapleton and Reeves Hill, past the observatory and back to Knighton for a dinner stop.
Here, time seemed to whizz by, as no sooner the drivers had much needed refreshments, chatter and the prize raffle was drawn it was time for the off again.
Crossing over the railway bridge into Shropshire, and taking the left turn for Skyborry Green, up to Selley Hall before picking up the track that runs alongside Offa’s Dyke to Stoney Pound before dropping down to Cwm Cole and Black Hall and Llanfair Waterdine.
Back across the River Teme and into Wales at Lloyney and down to Knucklas and back to Knighton where everyone thanked the organisers for lovely day out.
Report and photos by EA Bates