2009 Show report
Tractors top billing at Belvoir Castle show • Report from Old Glory magazine
Commonly known as ‘Moose’, this is Tony Ledbury’s Canadian-built Geo White traction engine of 1916. PETER LOVE
UNFORTUNATELY the weather didn’t quite ‘play ball’ at the 2009 Belvoir Castle Steam Festival on 16-17 May, with heavy showers being the order of the day at this magnificent site in the Vale of Belvoir, writes Peter Love.
The rally is well organised by Paul Appleton, Phil Wing and their team and it was good to see Phil out and about and making a good recovery following a major illness. This was a ‘high class’ event however with an excellent selection of machinery to be seen.
It was good to see Ian Houlgrave’s beautifully restored Garrett 4CD No 34461 of 1924 Victoria – featured last month on page 74 when it was in the former Chris Lambert yard at Horsmonden, Kent.
Tony Ledbury’s 1916 George White of Canada traction engine No 1198 is now just starting its second year of rallying, demonstrating what a Dominion standard traction engine design looks like. Making its restored debut at Belvoir was M Davison’s Marshall No 17134 of 1889 Mary Margaret.
This engine featured as one of the NTET’s rarely seen engines at Dorset 2004, when still unrestored.
However, the real stars of this year’s Belvoir Castle event were the tractors, and section leader Andy Watson came up with a superb show. Taking presidence was the Ford and Fordson Association’s Expo V.
Over 223 Ford and Fordsons assembled, from 1917 to the present, co-ordinated by FFA secretary Rob Rushen-Smith. On the ground, chairman Peter Godwin from Oxfordshire and Rodney Gibson from Kent sorted out the tractors and positioning. Just outside the tent stood three stunning tractors, all concours winners, two from George and Cathy Yarwood, Roadless 118 and Roadless 980, and from Ireland the Michael Hoey PJ Savage restored 1975 Ford 7000.
The 7000 is now on its second restoration, but this time it’s a proper authentic job from the skid unit up and it took the top award at Expo V. FFA chairman Peter Godwin was very pleased with the way the show turned out – producing 30 new members.
Making its restored debut at Belvoir was M Davison’s Marshall No 17134 of 1889 Mary Margaret. MALCOLM RANIERI
David Aylward and his very rare 1949 Nuffield M3 petrol paraffin rowcrop. David has been crowned National Concours champion four times with four different tractors over the past 10 years – a feat that’s never been matched! PETER LOVE
Andrew Bettney and Paul Marriott’s Caterpillar D8 8R E245206 of 1941 was used in the 1944 D-Day landings. It was with the 79th Armoured Division 819 dozer squadron at Gold sector near Arromanches on the fourth day of the campaign. PETER LOVE
• Report from Old Glory magazine
