BELVOIR CASTLE STEAM FESTIVAL AND FAMILY SHOW

Despite worries resulting from bad weather in 2009, the 2010 rally took place over the weekend 22-23 May. The rally was a huge success, partly because of the scorching hot weather!

The number of tractors on display was 328, which is the highest total so far except for 2009 when we were boosted to over 400 by the Ford & Fordson Association EXPO 2009.

The featured tractors were John Deere and Single Cylinders.

The John Deere line totalled 28 tractors ranging from 1929 to 1995, plus three more on the working displays - and every one that had been entered was present on the day. Five brand new tractors loaned by John Deere at Langar added to the display.

The Single Cylinder tractor display was dominated this year by the Marshalls.  All those entered turned up resulting in an uninterrupted line of 32 Marshalls from 12/20 to Series 3A, all in serial number order.  One other Marshall was part of the threshing display.

The other Single Cylinders totalled 26 with examples from Lanz, Ursus, Pampa, HSCS (a very rare R25), SF Vierzon, Orsi, Landini, OTO (including a crawler), Deutz and Allgaier. The link between Lanz and John Deere was well illustrated with a number of John Deere-Lanz on both lines, representing the last of the Lanz production at Mannheim and the first of the German-built John Deere models.

Working displays were provided by The Vale of Belvoir Machinery Group - threshing, AJB Engineering - rack saw bench, Chris Collier - dynamometer.

Club displays were provided by The Nottinghamshire Group, NVTEC, The Rutland Group NVTEC, and The David Brown Club (Lincolnshire Branch).

Mortons Media prize for Best Tractor in Show, judged by Michael Hart, went to Mr.Wilkin from Norwich with his International Harvester Super BW6. Prize for Best John Deere went to Gordon Carson from Wisbech with his Model D.

A group of enthusiasts known as Tractors Ancient and Modern sold raffle tickets to a value of £1,130.50 to raise funds for the Royal Agricultural Benevolent Institution. The raffle was drawn at Newark in November and the prize was a 1965 Ford 2000.

Four parades took place on both days: Single Cylinders, John Deere and General Tractors 1 and 2.

A road-run took take place on the Saturday evening.

Finally a big thank you to all exhibitors who supported the rally this year, to Michael Hart for being commentator and judge, and to all those who helped steward tractors in and out of the arenas. Thank you also to John Deere, Langar for their support.

Until next year (20-21 May 2011),
Andy Watson, Tractor Section Steward

Belvoir Castle is situated on the Lincolnshire/Leicestershire border, six miles west from the A1 at Grantham and 12 miles from Melton Mowbray.  Postcode: NG32 1PE.

See also www.steamfestival.co.uk which is the main rally website.

Report from the Belvoir Castle Steam Festival, 2009

A DVD of the Single Cylinder Gathering in 2009 is now available from Sovereign Videos.

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