National Rally 2007

80th NATIONAL RALLY
BLENHEIM PALACE
WOODSTOCK
OXFORDSHIRE
Spring Bank Holiday Weekend 2007

Years
Celebration

Message from the SCCC Chairman

David and Tracy would like to thank all the members that attended the National Rally at Blenheim Palace for all their support. We would also like to thank our CLO's who once again this year, were up against bad weather.

Congratulations and well done to all our competitors. We hope you enjoyed the rally as much as we did.

Picture courtesy of Denis Mattocks

Rally Report from Blenheim Palace

We had a very early start for our journey to Blenheim (5.00 am to be precise)! We arrived around 7.45 am and left the boys eating croissants whilst we got the caravan and awning sorted. There were a few Suffolk Centre members already there so goodness only knows what time they were on the road.

We went and got our goodie bag and had a look around the trade stands. It was going to be a long day – by 10.00 am I was convinced it must be nearer 11.30!

Saturday came and, although not a hot day, we didn’t have any rain (yet)! The sports took place and we entered teams in everything. Everyone tried really hard. Rosanna and Bob did a fab job of trying to be in 10 different places at once! Once the sports had finished we took the opportunity to grab some lunch before the opening ceremony. Charlotte Maples did a fab job as pennant girl. The rest of Saturday was taken up with more sports and more browsing around the trade stands.

Mick and Eve ready to compete for the Suffolk Centre team - Picture courtesy of Denis Mattocks

Flagpole took place on Saturday night with cheese and wine. The weather didn’t manage to hold off for too much longer and by the end of Flagpole the brollies were out! The rain continued for the rest of Saturday, Sunday AND Monday with the field getting rather muddy and wellie boots being the main form of footwear.

Bethany in the lawn darts competition - Picture courtesy of Denis Mattocks

The tug-o-war competition - Picture courtesy of Denis Mattocks

Several of us took part in the Fun-Run (although it’s not to be recommended trying to run in Wellington boots and a rain jacket) and we all got a medal at the finishing line.

We visited the May Day Club once over the rally where Jack made a bumblebee facemask.


Mick & Eve and Dave & Tracy - Pictures courtesy of Denis Mattocks

The judging of the decorated float took place and the team spent several hours trying to get it ready. We were told we couldn’t take the float up to the main arena because of the weather so the judges came to us instead. Unfortunately we didn’t win this year but we did have to give someone else a turn after our victory last year!

Everyone decided to wear their fancy dress outfits for the closing ceremony. This was held in the marquee, as the weather was still awful. It was announced that next year’s rally would be held at Holkham Hall in Norfolk. Having looked this up on the web it looks really nice.

And so we packed away a reasonably dry awning as, typically on the day of departure, the weather had changed for the better. We headed off to our follow on site at Broadway (and had an impromptu gathering of the Suffolk Centre in Bourton on the Water later in the week)!

It’s such a shame that the weather was so awful (but we’re still planning on going next year)!

Berry Bunch

Rally News

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