Welland Steam & Country Rally, 2022

Posted by Chris Graham on 14th October 2022

Chris Graham reports from the amazing Welland Steam & Country Rally that’s grown so large that many now refer to it as ‘Little Dorset’!

Roy Stokes with his impressive, 1965 County Super 4 654 taking a turn around the main show arena at Welland.

The Welland Steam & Country Rally (July 29th-31st) is organised by the Ross-on-Wye Steam Engine Society, and I have to say that it does an incredible job pulling this event together. It’s an immensely impressive rally and, thanks to the sheer breadth of the show, I can appreciate why more and more people now refer to it as ‘Little Dorset’, likening it to the Great Dorset Steam Fair.

Andy Boyle brought his 1969 County 1004/CT4504 with mid-mounted Cotil crane, and it was great to see.

The variety of attractions was incredible, and the organisers’ aim of creating a genuine ’working event’ was certainly achieved. I shall definitely be returning next year but, in the meantime, here’s just a few of the interesting machines I spotted during my visit.

Berkley Dando’s 1952 Fordson E1A Major on its way to the ring with a trailer-full of enthusiast behind.

I think this crawler was wrongly numbered on the day as, judging by the programme listing, it’s J Hardstaff’s Perkins P6-engined Fordson County Fulltrack.

This vehicle is Bernard Lobb’s 1952, Fordson Four-Drive. He brought it to the show all the way from Newquay, in Cornwall.

This pair of wonderfully preserved Fordson Major Industrials are both 1958 models, and belong to George and Stephen Crump, from Stourport, Worcs.

Taking a well-earned break in the working field. The 1970 County 1124 on the right belongs to Simon Priestner, from Warrington, in Cheshire.

This sensitively-restored, 1937 Fordson Standard N water-washer is owned by Mark Pugh, from Leominster, in Herefordshire.

It was great to see Wyn Mathias’ 1930, Irish Fordson N long wing running sweetly around the ring.

This show report comes from the latest issue of Ford & Fordson Tractors magazine, and you can get a money-saving subscription to this magazine simply by clicking HERE