Last weekend saw the 79 participants encounter weather varying from torrential rain to bright autumnal sunshine for the annual Rhosgoch YFC tractor run.

This year the Run was again contributing to the year-long fundraising efforts of the Club to raise funds for three chosen causes.

Run leader through Newchurch
The run leader passing through Newchurch (E A Bates)

This included two local causes of Joey’s Warrior Fund and Molly’s Rehabilitation Fund, as well as the mental health agricultural charity the DPJ Foundation.

Joey’s Warrior Fund is raising money for five-year-old Joey and his family as he undertakes treatment in Great Ormond Street Hospital with a life-changing operation.

Joey was born with situs inversus with Dextra Cardia meaning his organs are on the opposite side of where they are meant to be, but also has congenital scoliosis, as some of his vertebrae aren’t formed properly and some are missing.

Molly’s Rehabilitation Fund is raising money for the teenager, who, three months ago was admitted to the Queen Elizabeth Hospital, Birmingham for an emergency brain operation for an Intracranial Haemorrhage.

Molly suffered a further two setbacks but is entering Unit 1 rehab centre to concentrate on her rehabilitation, which will take many months of hard work, effort and determination.

The DPJ Foundation was set up in July 2016 in Pembrokeshire after the death of the founder’s husband, Daniel Picton Jones. Over the years the charity has grown, and it now supports all in the agricultural sector covering the whole of Wales with all areas of support to help provide an accessible and flexible service.

Leaving at 10:30am, the tractors headed to Newchurch, taking a left to Colva, and over to Glascwm and Cregina.

Martyn Nicholls leading a convoy of his Countys
Martyn Nicholls leading a convoy of his Countys (E A Bates)

Then the procession, climbed over Rhulen Hill in a torrential rain storm, where the drivers of the open tractors cowarded into their coat collars before dropping down into Painscastle and the shady hedge lined lanes, before taking the road over the Begwyn’s to Clyro.

Katie with her John Deere
Katie with her John Deere (E A Bates)

Now crossing the River Wye, in bright autumnal sunshine, where the assembled townsfolk watched the procession into Hay, turning left, heading to Clifford before reaching the dinner stop at Hardwicke Church Hall, next to the mid 19th-century Holy Trinity Hardwicke Church.

Lewis Duggan in his Fendt
Lewis Duggan in his Fendt (E A Bates)

After refreshments, the raffle was drawn and the presentation of the John Haydn Meredith prize for the best turned out tractor was awarded to a brand new Massey Ferguson for its innovation.

Turning out from the Hall, the convoy headed to Dorstone before returning to Hay on Wye and crossing back over the River Wye to Clyro and returning to Rhosgoch.