The Nidderdale Charity Tinsel Tractor Run, which took place around Ripon last weekend, raised more than £1,500 for Yorkshire Cancer Research.
17 tinsel-covered tractors departed from F Tate & Sons Garden Centre.
In sub-zero degree temperatures, drivers followed a 21-mile route which passed through Bishop Monkton, Roecliffe, Boroughbridge and Skelton-on-Ure before returning to Ripon Market Place at around 6pm.
Simon Dickinson, who founded the tractor run, said he “couldn’t have wished for it to go any better”, adding:
“It was just absolutely fantastic.
“People were stood in the middle of nowhere to watch and cheer.
“I was really nervous in the morning, thinking ‘will my tractor get stuck’ but it was great.”
Entry cost £15 per tractor and donations were collected at different points along the route, including Morrisons in Ripon and Boroughbridge.
Caffè Nero, in Ripon, also stayed open late to serve the drivers free hot drinks upon their return.
Mr Dickinson, who is from Ripon but now lives in Northallerton, founded the Nidderdale Charity Tractor Run last year.
It attracted more than 55 vehicles and raised more than £2,000 for the Yorkshire Air Ambulance service in June this year.
Mr Dickinson, who is a member of the West Yorkshire Vintage Tractor & Engine Club, told the Stray Ferret he chose to raise money for Yorkshire Cancer Research this time after his brother-in-law had bladder cancer.
“Luckily, he’s in remission now, but so many of my customers have prostate cancer too.
“It’s just everywhere.”
Mr Dickinson said the event was a great success and he will “definitely do it again” next year.
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Nidderdale tractor run to take place tomorrow
More than 50 vintage and modern tractors are set to take to the streets of Nidderdale tomorrow.
The first Nidderdale Charity Tractor Road Run will start in Kirkby Malzeard at 10.30am and wind its way towards Middleham before heading back.
Masham, Grewelthorpe and Jerveulx will be among the places passed.
Ryan Atkinson, who is managing director of R&J Yorkshire’s Finest Farmers & Butchers in Kirkby Malzeard, is co-organising the event with Simon Dickinson.
The two men are both members of West Yorkshire Vintage Tractor and Engine Club.
Mr Atkinson said:
“Both of us have a love of vintage tractors. We just wanted to put on an event and raise money for charity.”
About 50 tractors have signed up so far. Entries are welcome on the day for a cost of £15, of which £10 goes to Yorkshire Air Ambulance.
People will gather for breakfast at R&J butchers from 8.30am before departing at 10.30am.
Families are welcome to watch the tractors set off and cheer them on around the route.
Tomorrow’s route
The 40-mile parade on public and private roads will take place over two legs, which are expected to last two hours each, with a stop at Brymor Ice Cream at Jervaulx in between.
R&J Butchers is providing hot dogs and drinks at the finish back in Kirkby Malzeard at about 4pm.
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Vintage tractors on show in Ripon next weekend
A collection of around 30 vintage tractors and engines will take over a Ripon garden centre next weekend.
The event organised by the West Yorkshire Vintage Tractor and Engine Club, based in Harrogate, is to encourage its members and the public to enjoy outdoor events once more.
In previous years the club has hosted a wealth of events but coronavirus put a stop to that. Members have frequently put their tractors on display at Newby Hall’s Tractor Fest.
However, next weekend chairman Mark Nicholson said members are travelling from across the area with their machinery.
Tractors and stationary engines will be running throughout the day for people to take a look.
The entry is free and he is encouraging people with an interest to come down and have a look. He said:
“Some of our members have worked with the machinery for decades so have hug amounts of knowledge. We are running it so people can get out again and just have a chat.”
Read more:
The event is free and will be open fro 9am to 4pm next Saturday, September 25 at Tate’s garden centre.
The club has been going for 51 years with some of the founding members still involved. The group meets once a month to talk about their shared interest in vintage machinery.