Well, last year I opened this newsletter with (There is a Chinese curse, “may you live in interesting times”) because 2009 was interesting! 2010 became too interesting for lots of us. The repercussions of the banking system fiasco, short time workings, redundancies, a new government who say one thing and do something else. Way too interesting for me. Personally the Hancock clan are just about getting back on an even keel after my redundancy early this year. A 5 month “holiday” ended this August when a joined a company that at various times in the past was a competitor and supplier, that was an interesting job interview!
Get on with it I hear someone say!
Well 2010 RBR certainly lived up the interesting classification. I was very concerned that 2010 would be very quiet. But entrants steadily come in and finished slightly down at 221compared to 233 last year and the busiest year of 2008 with 273. Quality shone through and 153 people submitted photos this year again slightly down on previous years but considering the financial conditions prevailing I think is marvellous.
We started the year in style having a super venue and excellent turn out for the ARSE down near Bath. The trustees of Claverton Pumping Station really pulled out the stops and made us very welcome with tea and coffee and cake.
What a superb pump! Thanks folks!
Now for the statistics.
156 people submitted photos
26 people achieved 100% ALL ROUNDER award. That 2 more that 2009!
3 more who visited ALL locations but got a couple wrong for All Rounder Awards
The average score was 1003 that’s 58 points higher than in 2007 the old record, for a mid SILVER award.
The most visited landmark this year was Nottinghamshire with 108 visits.
The least visited was Argyle & Bute with only 49 visits.
The most popular Scottish landmark was Dumfries & Galloway 1 with 68 visits.
The most popular Welsh landmarks were Aberconwy & Colwyn + Powys 2 both with 107 visits.
The least visited Welsh landmarks were Carmarthen 82.
The least visited English landmark was Tyne & Wear with 56.
There were a total of 7054 visits to landmarks. I have lost count of the photographs / images that were inspected and marked as many people submit multiple photos of various LMs, a rough estimate is 15,000+.
Entrants of note
100% All Rounder’s:
Graham Flint, Bob Badger, Neil Hodgson, Gordon Tuck, Michael Smith, Julie Wallis, Christa & Trevor Fairbanks, G.C. Cook, Spencer Robinson, Jack Milton , Kevin Bittlestone, Jim Josey , John Douglas , Kate Davies, Arthur Davies, Tony & Mary Skerritt, David Sanford, David Clarke, Neil & Ro Gomersall, Philip Sargent & Debbie Sargent, Dave & Viv Hughes, Ken Canham, Brian Stern, Tim Stiles, Steve Martin, Scott M. Hodgson, Steve Hodgson
ALL Rounder’s;
Keith Dunster, Stuart & Sandra Fielden, Rob Abbott
Scott M. Hodgson, completed his 100% All Rounder on a Royal Enfield 350 single. Which as many of the grey haired amongst us know is based on a bike originally built in the mid 1950’s but now built in India. With only about 20 b.h.p. (about the same as a good modern 125 bike). It obviously did the job and again shows that one doesn’t need loads of power and track trick handling to enjoy a good ride. Well done
A bit of sad news
One of our family Mark Dicker from Huddersfield sadly passed away on November 2nd following a major heart attack when on holiday in the south west. He was only 44 years old.
Mark has been an entrant for seven years riding a variety of machines , MZ sidecars and solo, Jawas, and an old BMW + sidecar etc. due to the age of many of his machines he tended to only visit landmarks in the north of England. Last year he treated himself to his first “new” bike a Moto Guzzi V7 classic. Using that for some of the longer trips plus his other bikes completed his best RBR score ever with a very creditable 650 points for Bronze award. As a change this year I decided to email all entrants confirming safe receipt of submissions and a confirmation of their marked score. I had a couple of email conversations with Mark in late October because he sent his submission in via email before going away on holiday. I just got the confirmation back before he went. According to his friend Kevin he was really pleased with is score. Marks award will be sent to his sister via Kevin.
Praise from an Land Mark
We received a lovely note from the owner of The Stronachlachar Pier Tearoom, saying how much they enjoyed the various visitors who came and brought their own stories of the rally. They really enjoyed your visits. They certainly considered you great ambassadors for motorcycling. Well done folks!
Favourite Landmark
From the comments received and on the Forum it would appear the favourite landmark this year has to be the Greenway Cross, Cheshire. Due to the view and relative tranquillity.
Bloopers of the rally,
Once again I do believe there weren’t any real bloopers this year, no disappearing land marks or moving county boundaries. I supposed the closest one was Balcarres Folly Tower, Fife with no sensible access and on private land. Fortunately one could see it up on the hill from the road and snap it from there.
Cornwall 2, PUT ON stone & TAKE OF stone. These caused a few problems the put on stone being a little hidden at the end of a wall. For those who need to know. These marker stones are at the bottom and top of a steep hill on the old turnpike road. The hill was too steep for an ordinary team of horses to pull a coach up. So extra horses were attached and unhitched at the stones. Years ago these were common but its believed that these are the last remaining pair in existence.
Devon 1 Lamp post gift, Teignmouth caught a few out. A number submitted the light house on the front beach, but the correct LM is a colourful and ornate cast iron Victorian gas lamppost down on the back beach just beyond the RNLI boat house. The lamp was gifted to the fishermen of Teignmouth by the conservators of the river to help then unloading their boats.
Cumbria 1, Guide Stone " Lancaster over sands 15 miles. Ulverston over sands 7 miles, there are a number of similar guide stones or way markers in the area but only the one will those exact words on it.
Oxford, Tooley's Boat Yard, Ok this is easy to find but a bit tricky o get a photo of it with bike. But so are others. However leaving ones bike in a car park at a busy retail centre is not ideal. But I have wanted to use Tooley’s for a number of year’s. Its been in constant use for over 200 years. It has been under threat of being gobbled up by the concrete blight of the developers for years but due to lots of campaigning has been saved (shame about the rest of the area) What is of more significance is LTC Rolt, rebuilt the working narrow boat Cressy there in 1939-1940. Before embarking on his and wife Angela’s voyage around the waterways of central England. The voyage prompted his seminal book Narrow boat published in 1944. The book is a wonderful insight into the England of 1940 and the canal systems decline. In 1946 Rolt and Robert Ackerman met at Tardebigge nr Birmingham to start the Inland Waterways Association to campaign for the preservation of the canal system. This year a number of historic boats have retraced Cressy voyage on its 70th anniversary starting from Tooley’s yard. The boat yard staff has joined in with the RBR madness. I have a number of photos sent with various yard staff holding cards. Even a welder in the bottom of the dry dock!
Low points
The Suffolk LM - the Memorial to the 34th Heavy Bombardment Group, was stolen early in the rally.
Also The Derby LM - Stellarsphere Memorial to John Flamsteed (1646 - 1719) was spirited away during the summer.
Shame on the low life’s I hope they choke on their ill gotten gains.
I have been asked why didn’t I offer an alternative for Suffolk knowing the theft early in the rally. Well the rally was underway and most of the LM was intact (the brick wall etc) it was not as ascetically pleasing but for those who researched it have seen what it looked like and can appreciate its loss. My view is that too abandon it just hides the crime, we as a community need to register such anti social behaviour and condemn it.
Very special thanks must go out to Graham for his sterling work on the website.
Also to every one (to many to list) who have contributed with suggested new landmarks helping to keep the rally going. Keep them coming in.
Trophies will be presented at the dinner in February or posted to those who don’t attend.
Copyright Round Britain Rally 2010.