The Longest and Most Contrived UK Steam Rally Title

Longest and Most Contrived UK Rally Title
(sponsored by Steamfair.co.uk)

Here are the results of the "Longest and Most Contrived UK Rally Title" for the last eleven years:

1997 Winner: WESSEX HISTORIC TRACTOR AND IMPLEMENT CLUB
Rally Title: "Wessex Historic Tractor And Implement Club 2nd Tracks Across The Field Vintage Tractor And Stationary Engine Working Event"
Date: 23rd and 24th August 1997

1998 Winner: WESSEX HISTORIC TRACTOR AND IMPLEMENT CLUB
Rally Title: "Wessex Historic Tractor And Implement Club 3rd Tracks Across The Field Vintage Tractor And Stationary Engine Working Event"
Date: 22nd and 23rd August 1998

1999 Winner: BUCKINGHAMSHIRE RAILWAY CENTRE
Rally Title: "The Buckinghamshire Railway Centre's 30th Anniversary Celebrations, with Rover Car Rally Sunday And Veteran And Vintage Car And Historic Commercial Vehicle Rally Monday"
Date: 29th and 30th August 1999
Runner Up: WESSEX HISTORIC TRACTOR AND IMPLEMENT CLUB
Rally Title: "Wessex Historic Tractor And Implement Club 4th Tracks Across The Field Vintage Tractor And Stationary Engine Working Event"
Date: 21st and 22nd August 1999

2000 Winner: GLOUCESTERSHIRE AND WARWICKSHIRE RAILWAY
Rally Title: "The Gloucestershire And Warwickshire Railway Steam And Vintage Gala With West Of England Vintage Commercial Vehicle Run Finishing On Site Sunday"
Date: 14th and 15th October 2000
Runner Up: WESSEX HISTORIC TRACTOR AND IMPLEMENT CLUB
Rally Title: "Wessex Historic Tractor And Implement Club 5th Tracks Across The Field Vintage Tractor And Stationary Engine Working Event"
Date: 19th and 20th August 2000

Unfortunately the 1999 winners, the Buckinghamshire Railway Centre, failed to qualify in 2000, with the hilarious entry: "Classic Car Weekend With Main Event Monday". Having set the record for the longest entry, it looks like they are now going for the silliest - especially as a weekend does not include Monday.

2001 Winner: WIRRAL AND CHESTER VINTAGE ENTHUSIASTS CLUB
Rally Title: "Wirral Classic Car Club and Chester Vintage Enthusiasts' Club 2nd Wirral Historic Vehicle Rally with Road Run from the Village Leisure Hotel Bromborough via Woodside Ferry to Arrow Park Upton for Display."
Date: 29th July 2001
Runner Up: WADEBRIDGE ROTARY CLUB
Rally Title: "The Rotay Club of Wadebridge Wheels 2001 Classic Vehicle Rally and Model Railway Exhibition, with Replica of Reputed Earliest Steam Road Vehicles"
Date: 15th July 2001

After appearing in the winners table for the last four years, the Wessex club were totally outclassed in 2001. Can they come back in 2002? It looks like the 18-word Wessex title is now in need of a serious reworking if they are to compete with the latest long-winded rally titles being developed by the opposition. The Wirral entry is a stroke of genius. Their astounding 32-word title was made possible by combining the resources of two separate clubs. Will this winning formula now be adopted by the opposition in 2002?

2002 Winner: BUCKINGHAMSHIRE RAILWAY CENTRE
Rally Title: "The Queen's Jubilee Veteran Transport Extravaganza with Miniature Traction Engine Rally, Veteran Cycle Display Sunday, and Annual Bus Rally Monday"
Date: 2nd and 3rd June 2002
Runner Up: CRASH BOX AND CLASSIC CAR CLUB
Rally Title: "29th Annual Historic Vehicle Gathering by the Crash Box and Classic Car Club, including Steam and Historic Commercial Vehicles"
Date: 13th and 14th July 2002

Congratulations to the Buckinghamshire Railway Centre for regaining the title again after a 3-year absence. Standards were disappointing this year after the inspired competition of 2001. The newcomers Crash Box and Classic Car Club could be the ones to watch out for in the future though, after leapfrogging the opposition to claim the runners-up prize on their first year.

2003 Winner: WALTON HALL MUSEUM
Rally Title: "Walton Hall Museum and National Motor Roller Collection's Easter Vintage Rally and Exhibition of Motor Rollers and Other Bygone Attractions"
Date: 18th to 21st April 2003
Runner Up: FOPS North West Group
Rally Title: "Fair Organ Preservation Society North West Group and Halton Borough Council's Fair Organ and Vintage Rally"
Date: 27th and 28th September 2003

Congratulations to Walton Hall for winning the competition at their first attempt. It's also nice to see the FOPS North West group showing in the winners' table at last, after being continually pipped at the post in previous years. Their tactic of bringing in the council for support seems to have finally paid off. Well done. Will they win it in 2004?

2004 Winner: CAMBORNE TREVITHICK DAY
Rally Title: "Camborne Trevithick Day With Replica Road Run And Traction Engine Street Parade Including Vintage And Steam Cars, Exhibitions, Organs And Other Entertainment"
Date: 24th to 25th April 2004
Runner Up: Edith Weston Steam Fair
Rally Title: "Edith Weston Steam And Vintage Vehicle Country Fair Including Exhibition To Celebrate The 60th Anniversary Of The Normandy Landings"
Date: 5th and 6th June 2004

Congratulations to Camborne, especially as I understand that the street parade was stopped by the police and didn't actually take place! However, as this was not their fault, I have decided to let their entry stand, as I am sure that this prestigious award will afford complete compensation for their disappointment.

2005 Winner: CAMBORNE TREVITHICK DAY
Rally Title: "Camborne Trevithick Day With Replica Road Run And Traction Engine Street Parade Including Vintage And Steam Cars, Exhibitions, Organs And Other Entertainment"
Date: 30th April 2005
Runner Up: FOPS North West Group
Rally Title: "Fair Organ Preservation Society North West Group and Halton Borough Council's Fair Organ and Vintage Rally"
Date: 24th and 25th September 2005

Congratulations to Camborne again, and also to the FOPS North West group for their re-entry into the runner-up position this year after their disappointment last year.

2006 Winner: SOMERSET STEAM AND COUNTRY FAIR
Rally Title: "The Somerset Steam Spectacular And Country Fair Including A Friday Vintage Vehicle Run To Some Obscure Corner Of Somerset The Usual Barn Engines Popping And Wheezing To Themselves And A Few Old Bikes Tractors And Cars For Good Measure With Additional Attractions Of Trade Stands To Keep The Missus Out Of Your Hair For A Few Hours"
Date: 14th to 16th July 2006
Runner Up: East Anglian T.E. Society
Rally Title: "East Anglian Traction Engine Society In Conjunction With The Mid-Suffolk Light Railway Wetheringsett Steam Road Run To Debenham"
Date: 29th April and 1st May 2006

Congratulations to the Somerset Steam And Country Fair for their splendid record-breaking 57-word entry. They really entered into the spirit of the competition and their audacity paid off handsomely, leaving the opposition stunned and reeling from the unexpected attack from the rear. Who is going to beat this next year?

2007 Winner: BOURNEMOUTH & POOLE PRESERVATION CLUB Ltd.
Rally Title: "Bournemouth And Poole Preservation Club Ltd. Vintage And Classic Vehicle Annual Road Run Starting From Hamworthy Social Club Driving Around Hants And Dorset On A 52-Mile Route With A Coffee Stop Half Way And Re-assembling At Plowman's Nursery Centre At West Parley For Late Lunch And Awards."
Date: 15th April 2007
Runner Up: North Worcestershire Vintage Tractor & Engine Club
Rally Title: "The North Worcestershire Vintage Tractor And Engine Club Annual Vintage Gathering And Rally"
Date: 9th and 10th June 2007

Congratulations to Bournemouth & Poole Preservation Club for their superb entry. It doesn't beat the 2006 record but Somerset were mysteriously absent from the competition this year. Were they giving the opposition a chance to catch up? Note that the runner-up entry is still relatively short, thus still giving newcomers a good chance of appearing on next year's awards table.

2008 Entries now being accepted for 2008

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1997	Winner: WESSEX HISTORIC TRACTOR AND IMPLEMENT CLUB Rally Title: "Wessex Historic Tractor And Implement Club 2nd Tracks Across The Field Vintage Tractor And Stationary Engine Working Event" Date: 23rd and 24th August 1997
1998	Winner: WESSEX HISTORIC TRACTOR AND IMPLEMENT CLUB Rally Title: "Wessex Historic Tractor And Implement Club 3rd Tracks Across The Field Vintage Tractor And Stationary Engine Working Event" Date: 22nd and 23rd August 1998
1999	Winner: BUCKINGHAMSHIRE RAILWAY CENTRE Rally Title: "The Buckinghamshire Railway Centre's 30th Anniversary Celebrations, with Rover Car Rally Sunday And Veteran And Vintage Car And Historic Commercial Vehicle Rally Monday" Date: 29th and 30th August 1999 Runner Up: WESSEX HISTORIC TRACTOR AND IMPLEMENT CLUB Rally Title: "Wessex Historic Tractor And Implement Club 4th Tracks Across The Field Vintage Tractor And Stationary Engine Working Event" Date: 21st and 22nd August 1999
2000	Winner: GLOUCESTERSHIRE AND WARWICKSHIRE RAILWAY Rally Title: "The Gloucestershire And Warwickshire Railway Steam And Vintage Gala With West Of England Vintage Commercial Vehicle Run Finishing On Site Sunday" Date: 14th and 15th October 2000 Runner Up: WESSEX HISTORIC TRACTOR AND IMPLEMENT CLUB Rally Title: "Wessex Historic Tractor And Implement Club 5th Tracks Across The Field Vintage Tractor And Stationary Engine Working Event" Date: 19th and 20th August 2000
	Unfortunately the 1999 winners, the Buckinghamshire Railway Centre, failed to qualify in 2000, with the hilarious entry: "Classic Car Weekend With Main Event Monday". Having set the record for the longest entry, it looks like they are now going for the silliest - especially as a weekend does not include Monday.
2001	Winner: WIRRAL AND CHESTER VINTAGE ENTHUSIASTS CLUB Rally Title: "Wirral Classic Car Club and Chester Vintage Enthusiasts' Club 2nd Wirral Historic Vehicle Rally with Road Run from the Village Leisure Hotel Bromborough via Woodside Ferry to Arrow Park Upton for Display." Date: 29th July 2001 Runner Up: WADEBRIDGE ROTARY CLUB Rally Title: "The Rotay Club of Wadebridge Wheels 2001 Classic Vehicle Rally and Model Railway Exhibition, with Replica of Reputed Earliest Steam Road Vehicles" Date: 15th July 2001
	After appearing in the winners table for the last four years, the Wessex club were totally outclassed in 2001. Can they come back in 2002? It looks like the 18-word Wessex title is now in need of a serious reworking if they are to compete with the latest long-winded rally titles being developed by the opposition. The Wirral entry is a stroke of genius. Their astounding 32-word title was made possible by combining the resources of two separate clubs. Will this winning formula now be adopted by the opposition in 2002?
2002	Winner: BUCKINGHAMSHIRE RAILWAY CENTRE Rally Title: "The Queen's Jubilee Veteran Transport Extravaganza with Miniature Traction Engine Rally, Veteran Cycle Display Sunday, and Annual Bus Rally Monday" Date: 2nd and 3rd June 2002 Runner Up: CRASH BOX AND CLASSIC CAR CLUB Rally Title: "29th Annual Historic Vehicle Gathering by the Crash Box and Classic Car Club, including Steam and Historic Commercial Vehicles" Date: 13th and 14th July 2002
	Congratulations to the Buckinghamshire Railway Centre for regaining the title again after a 3-year absence. Standards were disappointing this year after the inspired competition of 2001. The newcomers Crash Box and Classic Car Club could be the ones to watch out for in the future though, after leapfrogging the opposition to claim the runners-up prize on their first year.
2003	Winner: WALTON HALL MUSEUM Rally Title: "Walton Hall Museum and National Motor Roller Collection's Easter Vintage Rally and Exhibition of Motor Rollers and Other Bygone Attractions" Date: 18th to 21st April 2003 Runner Up: FOPS North West Group Rally Title: "Fair Organ Preservation Society North West Group and Halton Borough Council's Fair Organ and Vintage Rally" Date: 27th and 28th September 2003
	Congratulations to Walton Hall for winning the competition at their first attempt. It's also nice to see the FOPS North West group showing in the winners' table at last, after being continually pipped at the post in previous years. Their tactic of bringing in the council for support seems to have finally paid off. Well done. Will they win it in 2004?
2004	Winner: CAMBORNE TREVITHICK DAY Rally Title: "Camborne Trevithick Day With Replica Road Run And Traction Engine Street Parade Including Vintage And Steam Cars, Exhibitions, Organs And Other Entertainment" Date: 24th to 25th April 2004 Runner Up: Edith Weston Steam Fair Rally Title: "Edith Weston Steam And Vintage Vehicle Country Fair Including Exhibition To Celebrate The 60th Anniversary Of The Normandy Landings" Date: 5th and 6th June 2004
	Congratulations to Camborne, especially as I understand that the street parade was stopped by the police and didn't actually take place! However, as this was not their fault, I have decided to let their entry stand, as I am sure that this prestigious award will afford complete compensation for their disappointment.
2005	Winner: CAMBORNE TREVITHICK DAY Rally Title: "Camborne Trevithick Day With Replica Road Run And Traction Engine Street Parade Including Vintage And Steam Cars, Exhibitions, Organs And Other Entertainment" Date: 30th April 2005 Runner Up: FOPS North West Group Rally Title: "Fair Organ Preservation Society North West Group and Halton Borough Council's Fair Organ and Vintage Rally" Date: 24th and 25th September 2005
	Congratulations to Camborne again, and also to the FOPS North West group for their re-entry into the runner-up position this year after their disappointment last year.
2006	Winner: SOMERSET STEAM AND COUNTRY FAIR Rally Title: "The Somerset Steam Spectacular And Country Fair Including A Friday Vintage Vehicle Run To Some Obscure Corner Of Somerset The Usual Barn Engines Popping And Wheezing To Themselves And A Few Old Bikes Tractors And Cars For Good Measure With Additional Attractions Of Trade Stands To Keep The Missus Out Of Your Hair For A Few Hours" Date: 14th to 16th July 2006 Runner Up: East Anglian T.E. Society Rally Title: "East Anglian Traction Engine Society In Conjunction With The Mid-Suffolk Light Railway Wetheringsett Steam Road Run To Debenham" Date: 29th April and 1st May 2006
	Congratulations to the Somerset Steam And Country Fair for their splendid record-breaking 57-word entry. They really entered into the spirit of the competition and their audacity paid off handsomely, leaving the opposition stunned and reeling from the unexpected attack from the rear. Who is going to beat this next year?
2007	Winner: BOURNEMOUTH & POOLE PRESERVATION CLUB Ltd. Rally Title: "Bournemouth And Poole Preservation Club Ltd. Vintage And Classic Vehicle Annual Road Run Starting From Hamworthy Social Club Driving Around Hants And Dorset On A 52-Mile Route With A Coffee Stop Half Way And Re-assembling At Plowman's Nursery Centre At West Parley For Late Lunch And Awards." Date: 15th April 2007 Runner Up: North Worcestershire Vintage Tractor & Engine Club Rally Title: "The North Worcestershire Vintage Tractor And Engine Club Annual Vintage Gathering And Rally" Date: 9th and 10th June 2007
	Congratulations to Bournemouth & Poole Preservation Club for their superb entry. It doesn't beat the 2006 record but Somerset were mysteriously absent from the competition this year. Were they giving the opposition a chance to catch up? Note that the runner-up entry is still relatively short, thus still giving newcomers a good chance of appearing on next year's awards table.
2008	Entries now being accepted for 2008