The Club held their annual Spring Road Run on Sunday 21st April, organised by James Knowles. After many months of rain, it was a welcome relief to wake up to a dry but very cold morning. 31 members and friends of the Club arrived early at Middle Farm, Cheriton, courtesy of Mark Cheyney and family, ready to start at 10am.
After travelling along farm tracks which passed through the battle fields of the 1644 Great Civil War, the convoy headed northwest along Cheriton Lane past the Battle of Cheriton Memorial towards Ropley Dean. Crossing the A31 road, with traffic control from Sam and Mat, towards Bighton village, passing the Watercress Line at Ropley train station. At Bighton the tractors passed the once famous 3 Horse Shoes Pub then on to Alresford pond. Whilst passing through Alresford town, the residents and public took great pleasure in photographing the convoy.
Heading south west from Alresford we passed Arlebury Park Estate then turning towards Fobdown and Abbotstone passing through the River Itchen’s water meadows and after a short pit stop, headed over the downs to Itchen Stoke.
After some breakdowns, the main group now headed along a short section of the A31 towards Winchester, the convoy turned south into Rodfield Lane heading over Gander Down towards Cheesefoot Head whilst a few others took a detour through Tichborne Park back to Cheriton.
On meeting the A272, the convoy headed east towards Cheriton and the final destination was The Flower Pots Inn & Brewery where we received a very warm welcome from the landlord, Simon Osborne. The members quickly made use of the inside and outside seating areas and were soon tucking into a delicious roast lunch and sampling the locally brewed ale!
A collection from members and friends of the club for Wessex Cancer Trust was made and a donation of £320 has been handed over to the Trust.
The Club have been invited to attend and display their tractors at Westland Farm Shop’s open day on the 6th of July and also at the South Downs Show to be held on the 10th and 11th August.
On the 17th and 18th August, the club hold their annual working weekend Tracks Across the Field event at Froxfield and further details of this and other events can be found on the website.
