The finest farming tractors will turn out on Sunday, May 7 for the Bluebell Run, the annual trip through the north Cotswolds.
Organised by Moreton Show in conjunction with the North Cotswold Tractor Club, this year’s tractor run will cover a 42-mile route from Moreton in Marsh to Hazleton and back, on a circular route taking in lovely country lanes, fords, farms and estates and will keep to the west side of the Fosse Way. Top speed for these modern-day workhorses will never exceed 12mph and a mid-route stop is planned at Lower Hampen Farm.
From the Batsford Estate, the route will take in Cutsdean, Sudeley Hill, Brockhampton, Sevenhampton, Shipton Oliffe, Cold Aston, Lower Harford, Upper Slaughter and Condicote.
The Bluebell Run, sponsored by Norton Air, Cotswold Petroleum and Bearings Plus, starts with registration from 9.30am at Downs Farm, on the Batsford Estate, courtesy of David and Bruce Minett. Taking part costs just £10 per tractor, payable on the day and money will be raised throughout the day for Cancer Research UK (www.justgiving.com/fundraising/BluebellTractorRun). The tractors take to the road at 10.30am.
All types, models and makes of tractor are invited to take part and participants can simply turn up on the day to register. In 2016, the hottest day of the year to date saw 26 tractors of all vintages take part in the Bluebell Run. John Mitchell from Mickleton took the trophy for the best tractor on show with his much-sought-after 1950 International Farmall H.
Richard Ward, Chairman of Moreton Show Tractors Committee and Farm Manager at The Barton Farms Ltd, said: ‘Everyone and every type of tractor is welcome to join us on the Bluebell Run this year. It’s great to see the vintage machines but we want to see lots of tractors, whatever their age. It’s a wonderful way to spend a Sunday and the scenery this year will be spectacular on some of the Cotswolds’ loveliest and quietest roads.’
Vintage tractors will be joined by children’s favourite, Tractor Ted at Moreton Show on Saturday, September 2. Their modern counterparts will be put through their paces later in the year, in the Annual Ploughing Match on Sunday, October 29. All the details are at www.moretonshow.co.uk
