Vintage motors descend on Trim

Vintage car enthusiasts from all over Ireland and a large local crowd gathered at The Porchfields in Trim last Sunday for the 23rd annual Trim Vintage and Veteran Car Rally. The annual rally is a major outing on the Irish vintage and veteran event calendar and this year attracted some 800 vintage and veteran cars from all over Ireland. As well as the wide range of vehicles on display, there were also plenty of side shows and attractions to keep the family entertained, including an Air Corps flyover, Garda helicopter, fun fair, car boot sale, auto jumble, dog show, dancing, stalls and a football blitz. World record balloonist Pauline Baker was also there with her hot air balloon, though it was too breezy to take off. Committee PRO Anthony Conlon said: 'It was a great day and one of the top shows to date. The last three years have been record-breaking and this year there was a great turnout of about 5,000 people.' He added that there were 800 vintage and veteran cars from the 'four corners of Ireland'. The main prize on the day, the Norman Pratt Award, went to Reg Plunkett from Dublin for his 1899 Sterry Cleveland, which is an electric car. A new award was presented this year for the best commercial vehicle to commemorate former chairman, the late Michael McCormack, and this trophy was won by John O"Neill for his Morris 8 van from the 1930s. The Eddie Thornton Cup for the best Volkswagen Beetle was won by Shane McGuinness from Dublin. Local winners included Mick Martin who won the Mick Harte Cup for the best Wolsley for his 1969 Wosley Hornet and Jim Whelan from Trim who took of the decade category competitions. Donal O"Sullivan from Dunshaughlin won a prize for the best fire engine with his 1952 Dennis example, which has served in Navan, Trim, Kells and Dunshaughlin, and was later restored by Mr O"Sullivan. The soccer blitz organised by Trim Celtic was also a great attraction and the Ollie O"Brien Cup for best player on the day was won by Ann Gunning, the first time the trophy was won by a girl. The show continues to be a great community event and, though run by a relatively small committee, many local people help out on the day as stewards. All proceeds after expenses go to local charities and numerous charities, from Meals on Wheels to St Joseph"s Hospital to Midway, benefit from the event. The greatest amount raised to date was €30,000 and organisers are hoping that they match this figure this year. Chairperson this year is Seamus Quinn who was very happy with the success of the event. Trim Vintage and Veteran Rally was first held at the Diocesan Hall in Trim with just 23 cars in 1985. Founder, the late Norman Pratt, was determined to expand the show and it was later moved to the Porchfields and has grown each year since then to a record 850 cars last year.