 | Tandem 2013 - UK National RallyAugust 10th. - 17th. 2013Dulhorn Farm Holiday Park |  |
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This year’s National Rally was held in the beautiful county of Somerset known for its water meadows, cider and flat countryside ideal for tandeming. The village of Lympsham lies in the heart of the Somerset countryside with Brean Sands, Brean Down and the Bristol Channel to the west, the Mendip Hills and Cheddar Gorge to the east and the Somerset Levels close by to the south-east. From our camp site it was only five miles either to Weston-super-Mare or the small seaside town of Burnham-on-Sea. The Mendip Hills were just a short distance away. Dulhorn Park is a quiet family-run farm close to the sea.
Saturday dawned bright and Sunny. Everything was in place to welcome around two hundred and fifty tandemists to the rally. Early arrivals were able to check out the local area with a choice of two short rides to either Weston-super-Mare or Burnham-on-Sea. In the evening we were welcomed to Somerset by Councillor Peter Downing, chairman of Sedgemoor District Council and John Bowden, owner of Dulhorn Farm. The evening concluded with the traditional welcome drinks and socialising.
The Velocio trophy, which is a treasure hunt type of event, occupied most of Sunday with tandems seeking clues on the way to lunch in Burnham-on-Sea. The event was won by Tim Deal and his son, Oliver. Tandem Games and a cycle jumble filled out the evening.
Monday saw us heading off towards Shapwick Heath Nature Reserve, Langport, Street & Glastonbury. Other campers on the site were invited to join us for a cider tasting and local produce market in the evening.
Axbridge and Chew Valley Lake were the destinations for Tuesdays ride with a lively Barn Dance in the evening led by the ‘Get Reel’ band.
Wednesday was set aside for people to choose their own activity for the day. Some opting for a coach trip to Bristol and others visiting the West Somerset Railway or Weston for Fish and Chips.
Listen to 'Get Reel'
Wednesday was free from organised rides. A coach trip to Bristol was an option for some who visited the S.S. Great Britain and other Bristol venues. The evening choices were a skittles evening, taking part in a local time trial or listening to FreyaDolphine singing in the Marquee.
Thursday saw the first really wet morning although many were tempted by the ride visiting Cheddar Gorge, Wookey Hole, Wells and Priddy. A quiz with an eclectic range of questions, including what do all the pro cycling team sponsors do?, kept us entertained in the evening.
After a damp start the sun came out for the last day of tandeming. Rides took us out to Lulsgate and back through Weston-super-Mare. Those coming through Weston mid-afternoon would have been privileged to see the tide in! The day and the rally ended with the traditional last night barbecue/picnic with musical entertainment by the Rainbow Choir.
Listen to The Rainbow Choir
A big thankyou is due to the following people for helping to make the rally a success:
Peter Weeks for taking on the event management
Malcolm and Grace Gammon and Linda and David Bailey for organising the routes, bar and evening events
Phil Harmer for organising the games.
Jacob Stinchcombe, Louise Barnaby and Dawn Barnaby for preparing the welcome bags and manning the arrival reception.
David Jones for sourcing the t-shirts and the rally badge.
And not least the Bowden family and their wardens who did so much to make the site welcoming.
Details of the rally rides can be found here.
Location of Dulhorn Farm
Participants comments -
- We just wanted to thank you for another splendid rally and all the hard work you put into it. Everyone thoroughly enjoyed it.
- Thank you for a great rally. This was our first, and we had only just joined the Tandem Club. We will certainly be looking out for other such events as we had such a good time. The rides were so well put together and so varied, and the evening events were much appreciated. There was such a friendly atmosphere and we really enjoyed ourselves.
- Thank you all for all your hard work, our first camping holiday was a great success!
- Another superb rally, many thanks from myself, the kids and Vanessa for all the effort and work.
- Many Thanks to you and 'the Team' for all your time and hard work spent organising this years Rally - very enjoyable.
With six of my grandchildren attending we managed to work out some Very Short Rides from your directions still seeing a few other riders on the road and at refreshment stops. - A very big 'thank you' for all the work you put in to make the rally the resounding success it most undoubtedly was. Even staying offsite we and our friends found five or so on-site events to enjoy... and that doesn't even begin to count a wonderful programme of well designed routes.
- Just a quick email to thank you all very much for organising such a wonderful week’s tandeming and other activities.
It was brilliant! Everything was just perfect. Thank you all for your hard work. - Let me take this opportunity of thanking you and the team on putting on another brilliant rally. Look forward to next years event,probably Brittany for us.
- Many thanks for a great rally and the interesting rides.