NORTH YORKSHIRE MOORS RUN - SUNDAY 4th JULY 2004
Sunday dawned (or rather didn’t, as there was a fair bit of
cloud in evidence) and Andrea and I drove up to Coulby Newham McDonalds just
south of Middlesborough for the start. Most other people had met at the North
East club’s regular venue the Church Mouse at Chester-le-Street
an hour earlier. As we waited for the Church Mouse convoy I pondered the route
and the weather. The forecast was for sunshine and showers, so hopefully there
would be more sun and fewer showers -
we all know how T-bars take on the water retention capabilities of T-bags in the wet.
After about 10 minutes the Church Mouse contingent arrived,
ably guided by Michael Sheavills and Joanne Thom since they knew where Coulby
Newham McDonalds was (not surprising). After Mac and Jacqui Sheavills turned up
we were off.
Armed with our maps we headed south to Stokesley and along
the B1257 down through Bilsdale and into the picturesque town of Helmsley,
then along the A170 skirting the southern section of the Moors to
Kirkbymoorside. We then headed back onto the Moors through Hutton le Hole
(it’s not a hole: it’s actually a rather nice Moors village with the sheep
replacing the need for mowers on the village green). After that we tackled the
very excellent Blakey Ridge road.
If there’s one road to drive on the Moors it has got to be
this one. Blakey Ridge is used by the motoring media for their photoshoots and
test drives and you can really see why. Great corners and an undulating
landscape make this a picturesque and interesting road. Just keep an eye on the
sheep that have a nasty habit of wandering onto the road just in front!
Unfortunately there were a few “Harry and Hildas” out (Sunday drivers,
generally elderly, driving Proton Wiras or Ford Fiestas, and doing about 35mph).
However, we managed to get past one in a good display of MR2 vs. Ford Fiesta
acceleration and I was delighted to see Fred and Doris Sanderson and Bob Pollock
making short work of the said car also.
Time for lunch and we rolled into the highest pub on the
Moors – the Lion Inn. We had to make do with a fairly muddy field for parking
as the usual car park was packed. Alan Jones joined us for lunch as did Irvine
and Pat O’Connor from East Ayton near Scarborough. A few weeks earlier I had spotted
Irvine and Pat’s silver MK1 parked in the driveway and decided to invite them on the
run – I was delighted they were able to make it.
As our food orders were being taken our waitress said “So,
you are part of the MR2 club then?” Various nods, to which she confessed “I
had a Mark 1 for 14 years” which we found amazing considering the relative
rarity of the cars. We all enjoyed a very good meal at the Lion Inn and I am
sure we will use it again.
After the Lion Inn, we set off south down Rosedale and
through Rosedale Abbey towards Pickering. At Pickering
we headed north up the A169 heading towards Heartbeat film location Goathland,
where we enjoyed a drink in the Goathland Arms opposite Scripps’ garage. The
weather was getting really bad now so we headed north to Sandsend, which is just
north of Whitby on the North Sea coast. Since the weather had improved a bit we had a final photoshoot of the
cars before parting company at just gone 5pm.
Those who were able to attend the day were:
Can I thank everyone who came for supporting the event and
for their encouraging comments. I think everyone enjoyed the day, even if the
weather was a bit pants at times. Andrea and I are happy to organise a Moors Run
every year in the summer months – next year it would be good if we could have
12 cars!
STEVE RAETTIG
Well done to Steve and Andrea for a truly breathtaking run through the
North York's Moors. I appreciate a lot of time
had gone into organising the route and in preparing the maps and lunch stop on
the day. On behalf of the club thanks for a great day, we look forward to the
run next year.
Michael Sheavills
Overspill car park
This is the organiser of the run - Steven Raetigg
Michael Sheavills and Joanne Thom
Mac and Jacqui Sheavills
Gordon Moffett and his son Stuart
Irvine and Pat O’Connor
Bob Pollock
Damon and Ross Herring
Fred and Doris Sanderson
Alan Jones
Steve and Andrea Raettig
There were 8 cars on the run which I felt was a good turnout
for our first run.
