The Pink Ladies Tractor Run takes to the roads and lanes around Harleston.
PHOTO BY SIMON FINLAY
A record number of entrants, including three generations of the same family took part in the Pink Ladies Tractor Run across part of south Norfolk, which celebrated its 10th anniversary, on Sunday.
A convoy of 161 tractors driven by ladies dressed in pink and decked out in pink bunting, ribbons and balloons set off in glorious summer weather from Thorpe Abbotts airfield on Sunday morning for the annual event to raise money for Cancer Research UK.
And organiser Annie Chapman said the 163 women taking part, with some travelling as tractor passengers, was a record for the extravaganza, which last year attracted 136 participants.
The convoy set off from the airfield on a 10 mile route that took them through Thorpe Abbotts, Brockdish and Sylham before travelling through the centre of Harleston, where they were greeted by thousands of cheering and applauding spectators lining the streets.
The procession then had a two hour break at Gawdy Hall near Harleston where they enjoyed a picnic with family and supporters, before setting off again on the rest of the route back to the airfield, which took them via Pulham St Mary and Rushall.
Mrs Chapman said participants could come from all walks of life, not just farming and some had come from as far afield as Edinburgh to take part, often motivated by a personal experience of breast cancer and a desire to help fund research into the disease.
Sunday?s run was dedicated to the memory of Wymondham woman Rachel Lane, who died aged 27 in October last year. She was a prolific fundraiser and carried the Olympic torch through Aldeburgh prior to last year?s London games.
?There have been so may tractors and so many people here. I have never seen so many, it is just fantastic and the weather has been stunning.
?I don?t think there were many ladies who got through Harleston without tears. I suspect that people were still cheering and clapping even as the last tractor went through. It is just incredible,? Mrs Chapman said.
She started the event with her husband John in 2003, after he suggested she start her own women?s version of male tractor runs that were taking place following her retirement.
The first event involved 50 tractors and raised ?16,500.
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