Daffodil Run 2025

Daffodil Run 2025

This event has been blessed with good weather in recent times and although we didn’t have the warmer temperatures of early April it stayed bright, sunny and dry all day. Perfect, then!

Entrants gathered at the Fox Valley retail complex to admire the 75 cars on show, predominantly MGs of course, but great to see classics from Jaguar, Porche, Morgan, Triumph, Alfa Romeo, Mazda, Fiat, Volvo, Austin Healey and even BSA; a Scout from 1937. This year also saw our first full electric MG entrant; a ZS Trophy.

Signing-on also gave the opportunity to natter with fellow participants, try your luck at the tombola (all donations to Marie Curie), get in some last-minute polishing, a vital hot drink and bacon sandwich, a pork pie from the specialist butchers shop and in one case, a change of a thermostat in super-quick time.

The day took a ‘Last of the Summer Wine’ theme so, with a Route Book containing guidance notes, sight-seeing information and a quiz to add to the fun, we left Stocksbridge in sensible stages, following our Tulip diagrams firstly heading east along the A616 and A628 towards Holmfirth. The route took us through the glorious and panoramic Summer Wine countryside, taking in the towers at Castle Hill and Emley Moor at the first recommended stop. Ten miles further on, options included a walk along Standege Tunnel – the highest, deepest and longest canal tunnel in the UK. Alternatively, a walk to the Little Lock café and the Britannia pub could be taken! Another beverage stop was available along Netherton Moor Road at Hinchcliffe’s Farm Shop & Restaurant, the oldest in Britain.

After leaving Marsden Moor and Saddleworth Moor we drove through the centre of Holmfirth, where Sid’s Café, Nora Battey’s house and Compo’s house can be visited.

Thanks to our hosts at Fox Valley and at the Carding Shed finishing point in Holmfirth for accommodating us so brilliantly. Our chosen charity – Marie Curie Cancer Care benefitted massively from the event so thank you to all those that contributed.

A big thank you also to the organizers who put a lot of effort into making days like this so enjoyable for everyone. Malcom Perry once again did a fantastic job of devising a route; 66.2 miles, unless you took a wrong turn, or two! A big mention too for the ladies at the signing-on desk, especially those who wore outfits befitting the theme of the day, the marshals at both ends of the route and others in the South Yorkshire team. A couple of entrants have uploaded their vlogs onto YouTube so, have a search and re-live this year’s trip.

In the meantime, here’s to a summer that lasts forever and a gearbox that never whines!