PREPARATIONS are now well underway for the 2018 National Vintage Tractor Road Run (NVTRR) in Knighton, hosted by Teme Valley Vintage Club (TVVC).

The event will see hundreds of tractors descend on the town on Sunday, April 1.

The club has been selected to host the National Vintage Tractor Road Run 2018 with the featured county of Radnorshire. It will also be assisted by other tractor clubs of Radnorshire and the Borders.

The first ‘national’ was held in Herefordshire in 1985 organised by Ashley Godsall. It has been held in a different county of the British Isles every year since then, except for the year of the foot and mouth epidemic and has never been to the same county twice. Still overseen by the founder, Mr Godsall it will start from Benson's Factory Yard at Knighton, by kind permission of Roy and Dave Edwards of M.A. Evans Transport, who are the main sponsors.

The site is one of the former homes of County Tractors and Bamfords Machinery. McConnel also used the site as an extension of its Ludlow factory and the swing-over hedge trimmer was built here. Also on the same site are Clayton Engineering which manufactures and services lifeboat launch and recovery vehicles and trailers for the RNLI for the use of lifeboat stations around the British Isles and Ireland, some examples of which will be on display on the Saturday. Brian Hughes, consultant engineer for the company will be on hand on the day to oversee the display.

The run commences from Benson’s Yard at 9.30am prompt and does a figure of eight route encompassing Presteigne and then over Stonewall Hill with scenic views of several counties and back to Knighton for a lunchtime stop at Knighton Community Centre. In the afternoon those taking part will be travelling on the Shropshire side of the River Teme, which enables the run to go up and across Offa's Dyke, then via Llanfair Waterdine back to Knighton, by which time the tractors will have crossed the border many times to include Herefordshire, Shropshire and Radnorshire.

The organisers are expecting up to 500 entrants and are also organising a charity raffle with prizes of £1,000, £500 and £250 and many other prizes. All proceeds will be distributed between the chosen charities, the RNLI, Wales Air Ambulance, Hope House Children’s Hospice and East Radnorshire Day Centre. The raffle will be drawn at the social evening on Saturday, March 31 at Knighton Community Centre. Raffle tickets are £1 each and are available from TVVC members. They are also available at Bradfords Ironmongers in Knighton and East Radnor Day Centre in Presteigne.

Teme Valley Vintage Club was formed in 1980 by a small group of enthusiasts from Knighton. Three of the original founders are still club members to this day.

The annual club programme comprises a charity tractor run, vintage rally and ploughing match, together with various social events. Money is raised annually for local charities. The club meets on the first Tuesday of every month at the Castle Inn, Knucklas and new members are always welcome.

Entry forms are available to download from the website www.temevalleyvintageclub.co.uk or Teme Valley Facebook page. Telephone enquiries should be made to members of the organising committee, Steve Weaver (chairman) on 07891 909325, Phil Evans on 01544 267944, Pat Caine on 07966 387815 or Gordon Morris on 07989 894022.