What Was Bike Packing Before It Was Bike Packing?
Welcome to York Cycle Rally
The York Rally has a long history, and we hope to expand this section of the website extensively in due course with historic images, recollections and stories from Rallies past. This page covers the years from the founding of the Rally in 1945 to its temporary demise after the 2012 event, during which time it ran under the auspices of the CTC.
The York Rally is born
Dave Bishop has kindly provided this summary of the Rally’s foundation in 1945 to start the ball rolling.
This year, 2014, it is 70 years since the first Rally was held on the Knavesmire.
The idea of a cycle rally originated from an idea from the Hull and East Riding District Association at a meeting of the District Association committee on 18th December 1944. C.A.Pratt raised the question of the possibility of organising an annual inter-DA meet with the object of encouraging closer collaboration between neighbouring DAs. This led to a meeting held in York on 18th March 1945 when the Yorkshire Inter-DA Committee came into being.
Those attending the meeting were:
- Mid-Yorkshire DA: Mrs L.Bennett, R.G.M.Carmichael-Riddell, A.Fox, W.Firth.
- Sheffield DA: Mrs J.Brufton, E.Gill, H.Lancaster, K.E.Stainton.
- Teeside DA: L.Dawson, G.Jeffcote, F.Rowntree, G.Claxton-Smith.
- Hull & East Riding DA: Mr & Mrs C.A.Pratt, H.E.Harland, G.E.Munson.
A simple decision was made to hold a rally “in or near York” in July 1945. Each DA was asked to donate ten shillings towards initial expenses. The title of the event would be “The Grand All-Yorkshire Cyclists Rally”.
Right from the never-to-be-forgotten Sunday in September 1945 when the very first York Rally was held on the beautiful Knavesmire, the event proved to have tremendous appeal. And it was repeated for 68 years until its temporary demise in 2013.
