Welcome from the chairman
Welcome to the spring edition of In The Field, bringing you news and updates from Sheffield DA as we all prepare our camping plans for the spring and summer.
Well, it's fair to say it's been a rather damp start to 2024 with lots of DA meets falling victim to the conditions; indeed we had to cancel our planned return to Cawthorne and the AGM meet at Ashover. I would encourage you all to keep checking our website and social media channels for updates but even more so when conditions are challenging. It can take some time to update Out and About via HQ, so check our SDA channels regularly for the latest news. Links to Facebook and Instagram are in the footer of this email and the website address is www.sheffieldda.co.uk. With a bit of luck we will soon see some long overdue sunshine and we can look forward to another superb season of camping.
I'm sure many of you will be aware that 2024 is Sheffield DA's 90th Birthday year and your committee has planned an excellent birthday meet at Darley Dale in July, including two live bands, children's entertainment, a hog roast and much, much more. Once again, if you wish to join us for our birthday celebrations, please do book via the website; the meet is 19th - 22nd July which is the final weekend of our early summer THS at Darley Dale, so why not arrive a few days before and enjoy a few days in the Derbyshire Dales whilst looking forward to a party at the end?
We have a few new sites for 2024 including Elton and a new spring bank holiday THS at Lees Meadow Farm, which culminates with our Cheese and Wine evening on the final weekend. Read on for more details.
I am pleased to say that following the AGM, we once again have a full committee leading us into our 90th Birthday Year. I would like to thank the retiring committee members that put themselves forward for re-election and also to Rob Lees returning to the committee after a short break with John Pashley joining the committee for the first time. I would also like to thank those committee members who have retired this year. Paul Wilmot who retired from the committee, but has agreed to continue as Sheffield DA Webmaster and Communications, and also to Lee Storey for his time on the committee.
We have a full complement of stewards for this year so I would like to extend thanks to these volunteers, without whom we would not be able to run our Meets or Temporary Holiday Sites.
There's a lot of camping ahead of us so please read on for details of the Sheffield DA 2024 programme. There's something for everyone so hopefully we'll see you out in the field very soon.
Iain Bonfield
Chairman
May Day at Osmaston Polo Ground
Join us once again at Osmaston over the weekend of 3rd - 6th May for our traditional May Day bank holiday programme of fun and games: marquee events, family sports, CCY Penny Fair and fundraising events.
Evening marquee events will include a 'decades' quiz on Saturday in honour of our 90th birthday year; Sunday evening entertainment is bingo and quiz night.
On Saturday afternoon a packed programme is planned, including family sports and our CCY fundraiser featuring Penny Fair with tea and cakes for a small donation to youth funds.
Sunday kicks off in traditional fashion with 'Alfresco's Diner', offering breakfast butties, once again supporting youth funds.
We round off events on bank holiday Monday with a family walk around the beautiful Osmaston Park. This is well worth joining because Osmaston is a picture postcard Derbyshire village and the Park offers wonderful scenic lakes and woodland walks.
Donations welcome for raffle prizes, tombola prizes and pre-loved items to sell at the CCY Penny Fair.
Timings are subject to change. This is a very popular meet and is well on the way to being fully booked, so advance booking is strongly advised.
Cheese and wine weekend
This year our cheese and wine weekend will take place at Lees Meadow Farm on the final weekend of our spring bank holiday THS, 7th - 9th June. Enjoy a few days in the stunning Derbyshire Dales and top it off with an evening of fun: just bring a bottle and join in. The wines will be unlikely to impress Oz Clarke but we will vote for a winner, with the loser getting the slops bucket! The DA provides the cheeses and it is always an impressive spread.
Boules and barbecue weekend
Note the date and join the fun. The competition this year will take place at Tansley on Saturday 22nd June. All members are welcome to participate in this fun event, with with both adult and junior categories attracting trophies and prizes. Booking is not required for this meet.
90th birthday meet
The highlight of our 90th birthday year is our birthday meet at Darley Dale on 19th - 22nd July. This is the final weekend of our early Summer Temporary Holiday Site which starts on 5th July, so why not plan to spend a few days in the beautiful Derbyshire Dales and then look forward to the birthday meet on the weekend?
We have two excellent live bands booked. We kick-off on Friday evening with The Covers Brothers, an acoustic duo playing harmony-laden classic songs from the fifties to the noughties, followed on Saturday evening by Breaking News, a 4-piece covers band from Nottinghamshire known for their electrifying performances.
Saturday fun will include family sports and games, presentations with birthday cake and fizz, professional children's entertainer, a photo booth to create a record of the weekend and a hog roast in the evening.
The meet will close on Monday 22nd, so no need to dash off on Sunday afternoon.
Booking is strongly advised because capacity is limited - simply use the THS booking and select the dates you intend to arrive and depart.
CCY news
At Easter, the 72nd FICC Youth Rally was hosted by Great Britain at the Black Isle Showground, Muir of Ord with Sheffield DA CCY Leaders and Yorkshire Region RYLO taking a 19-strong contingent to Scotland, including 5 of Sheffield DA CCY. Joining the UK contingent were youth from Portugal, Holland and Ireland.
A huge thanks go out to the leaders team for giving the youth such a wonderful experience.
Yorkshire Region organises two main Region Youth Rallies which are exclusively for youth members and their leaders. Additionally, the National Youth Rally brings together CCY from across the country. Youth rallies are a great opportunity to spend time away from parents in a safe and supervised environment, enjoying games and activities. Often there are parent's meets organised in the vicinity of the youth rally.
There really is a packed programme of youth events for our CCY this year, so if you have a child 12-17 and they want to get involved with the Camping Club Youth, have a chat with the youth leaders or drop us a line via the contact form on the website. All Youth Leaders and Testers are subject to enhanced D.B.S. checks and safeguarding training.
Upcoming CCY events:
Summer Yorkshire Region Youth Rally will be at Wetherby race course over the weekend of 10th - 12th May.
Yorkshire Region Meet. There will be a Youth area at the Yorkshire Region meet where youth can compete in the sports and practice in preparation to represent Yorkshire Region in the Austin Trophy at the National Youth Rally.
The National Youth Rally 2024 will take place at Hickstead Showground, Brighton on 5th - 7th July.
Hognaston, Sheffield DA late Summer bank holiday. There will be pre-booked CCY water sports on Sunday at our Hognaston meet over the late Summer bank holiday, August 22nd - 26th, along with cream teas on Sunday afternoon, with donations to SDA youth funds.
CCY test weekend. Save the date for the CCY test weekend, September 27th - 29th, venue tbc.
Autumn youth rally is scheduled for October 4th - 6th at Alton The Star camp site. Youth spend a day in Alton Towers theme park.
As a footnote, a request from the RYLO: if you are attending the Yorkshire Region Meet with a CCY member (or even if you don't), please can you bring along a bottle (of anything) for a wheelbarrow raffle, and/or donate cakes for the CCY cake stall. These are for a great cause because the proceeds contribute towards the subsidies that the CCY receive from the region.
Yorkshire Region Meet
Yorkshire Region Meet will celebrate Yorkshire Region's 75th birthday with a packed programme of fun, games and entertainment at Grange Park, Wetherby between Thursday 27th and Sunday 30th June.
As usual, Sheffield DA has a block booking for our members to be pitched together, so if you wish to book and take advantage of a £5.00 early booking discount, just hit the button below, fill the form and then ensure payment is received by the treasurer by the end of our May Day meet at Osmaston.
Be prepared
Autumn events the need a bit of planning
Feast of Lanterns
Ashover Showground
20th - 22nd September
Looking ahead to September, the FOL theme for 2024 is 'The last 90 years'. This is in honour of our 90th birthday year but the theme is not confined to camping: creative interpretations are welcome - think lateral or literal, it's entirely up to you.
Photography Competition
Ashford in the Water
11th - 13th October
Remember your camera or phone when you are out and about this summer because the photo competition will once again be at Ashford in the Water in October.
Categories this year: All Creatures Great and Small| The Greatest Showman| Carry On Camping | The Great Escape | Frozen | The Railway Childen.
New for 24 | video category with the theme of 'The Producers' . Enter a short video of up to 15 seconds.
Holiday sites 24
We have four excellent Temporary Holiday Sites for 2024 with old favourites alongside a new site at Lees Farm Meadow, close to home in the Derbyshire Dales.
Hutton Le Hole site is located right in the heart of the village, where Hutton Beck winds casually through the village green. In the village, the visitor can enjoy browsing artisan craft workshops and the Rydale Folk Museum tells the story of the area through the ages, including over 20 reconstructed buildings ranging from an Iron Age roundhouse to a tudor mansion, and many more. The North York Moors National Park covers an area of 554 square miles, including 26 miles of coastline. With over 1,000 miles of Public Rights of Way, the park is perfect for outdoor enthusiasts, including the 109 mile (176km) Cleveland Way national trail.
Lees Meadow Farm is a new holiday site for 2024 and offers a superb base to explore the charming Derbyshire Dales. The High Peak Trail can be accessed directly from the site, offering a traffic-free route along the old goods railway stretching from Cromford high into the peaks, joining the Tissington Trail to the north of the site. Today, the High Peak and Tissington trails are popular with walkers and cyclists, with visitor centres and a bike hire adjacent to the THS.
Darley Dale almost needs no introduction. This holiday site is an ideal base for exploring the Derwent Valley in Derbyshire, from Matlock to Bakewell and beyond. Chatsworth House and Haddon Hall are within fifteen minutes drive, with buses serving all within walking distance of the site. The nearby A6 makes Darley Dale extremely accessible, however it is now possible for the cyclist or pedestrian to avoid this main route by taking the Derwent Valley Cycle Way, a 5 mile off-road trail from Matlock to Rowsley, which passes directly by the site. Walkers can also enjoy a slightly different perspective meandering to Rowsley or to Matlock via the Derwent Valley Heritage Trail.
Criccieth "The Pearl of Wales" is a North Wales coastal town located between Porthmadog and Pwllheli. Sheffield DA’s Camping and Caravanning Club Temporary Holiday Site is located at Bron Eifion Farm, situated less than a mile from the town centre, with a bus stop conveniently located for direct services between Pwllheli and Blaenau Ffestiniog. This fascinating area of North Wales provides a wealth of activities for all ages, set in a beautiful scenic context: from sedate coastal walks through to adrenaline adventures, our THS at Criccieth provides the perfect base.
Outstanding in the field
Congratulations to Julie and Chris Brown on their award of the prestigious "Outstanding in the Field" trophy, in recognition of their support for the DA and DA Youth. Sheffield DA is fortunate to have fantastic support from our members and this trophy is awarded to recognise this.
The story so far
Rounding off with some images of the season so far, from the Sheffield DA website Gallery 2024. Keep checking the website for updates throughout the season because you may well be part of the story!
To see more or browse previous years, click the button below.
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