York Rally 2016
This is the second year of the re-invented York Rally on the Knavesmire and was undoubtedly an even bigger success than last year.
John Hitchen, myself and a team of helpers including Ian Wood, Georgie Ormerod, Geoff Smith, Jack Aspen, Jane Gill, Nev Cohen and Roger Griffiths manned our publicity stand and put on a couple of Rough Stuff Rides over the weekend. Business was steady but there was a lot of interest from potential new members and a steady stream of existing members coming in to sign the attendance register and reminisce. There was a lot of interest in our new merchandise, a newly designed B*ff and Mug - available now on the website.
The Saturday ride was one I devised for last year and since it proved popular, if it ain’t broke, then don’t fix it. On a pleasant afternoon fifteen riders left the Knavesmire in my tender care and most unusually for me, fifteen returned! The route took us through the picturesque Walmgate Stray, complete with cows and buttercups then through the two ever expanding campuses of York University. Having crossed the busy A 1079 we wended our way on a part of the Way of the Roses to Dunnington where the suggestion of a stop for a pint went down exceptionally well, as well as the excellent pint of Timothy Taylor’s Landlord I had.
Thereafter, apart from an even busier crossing of the A1079, this time without the benefit of pedestrian lights, it was all rural bridleways, passing farms, enjoying the fields of poppies, though not the nettles in Rabbit Warren Woods, and wondering at the colourful place names such as Hagg Farm, Gipsy Corner, Kexby Stray and Heslington Tilmire! Back safely at Walmgate Stray we took a variety of routes back to the river and returned safely to the Knavesmire.
Sunday morning found Geoff eagerly taking down the details of the twenty cyclists intent on a ride from the Sun to Pluto and back. For anyone not familiar with the Solar System ride it is a dead straight former railway line enlivened by a small scale model of the Universe with the Sun at its start and Pluto at its end near Riccall and all the other planets in between.
Other highlights are the bridge over the Ouse at Naburn with its distinctive Fisher of Dreams sculpture and the trust cafe at Naburn Station.
Thanks to everyone who helped out and came on a ride with us. Hope to see you there again next year.
Rob Newton
Roger's photos of Saturday can be viewed on Flickr here: