Organisers of a new car rally through France’s Champagne region are hoping classic car enthusiasts will be fizzing with enthusiasm for it.
Restaurant owner Tony Cole is encouraging people to sign up for the inaugural Green Park Oval Ball Run from various starting points in the UK to Chateau de Fontainebleau in August.
And if you are a rugby fan like Tony, so much the better – you can stock up on Champagne to celebrate a big year for the sport in the UK.
The charity run starts off on August 10 and finishes on August 12 and the route takes in places like Lille and Reims – “Reims is important as this is Champagne territory,” says Tony, “so there’s a chance to visit some of the Champagne houses and pick up some lovely fizz.”
The Green Park Oval Ball Run is not a race but a chance for classic car fans to enjoy a spin in the beautiful French countryside and meet fellow enthusiasts - with a bargain £240 entry price. This entitles them to take a vehicle and up to nine people to France for five days – not to be missed.
The cost includes:
FREE 5 day Dover-Calais return P&O ferry crossing for a vehicle and up to nine people
FREE tulip-style route book and app
FREE rally plate to attach to the car
FREE Autoglym valet pack worth c.£25 for the first 500 entrants
There will be a chance to socialise at each stop, along with fun activities and a quiz en route and prizes for winners. Tony, chef owner of Zest restaurant at Green Park business park in Reading, said: “We’re coming up with lots of fun elements to add to the run and social media will be very much involved, with prizes at the end of each day for things like the best picture taken on that day’s route.”
A reception will be held at the finish in Chateau de Fontainebleau to celebrate the end of the run.
In the year the Rugby World Cup comes to the UK, the Green Park Oval Ball Run is backed by rugby legends Lawrence Dallaglio and Will Greenwood. Charities to be helped include the Dallaglio Foundation, Spinal Injuries Association, Pied Piper and Child Bereavement.
There are seven starting points in the UK, including Brands Hatch and Williams F1. For full details and how to enter please visit http://www.ovalballrun.com or call Amy on 07795 600080.
Pictures show:
Rugby legends Lawrence Dallaglio and Will Greenwood with the new rally number plate at the launch of the run at Twickenham
Other pic of chaps with cars – info from Amy
GREEN PARK OVAL BALL RUN - FACTS
What? The Green Park Oval Ball Run is a new charity car fun run from seven UK venues, featuring vehicles from classic cars to the family motor, from Morgans to Mondeos, arriving at the historic Chateau de Fontainebleau in France via Calais, Lille and Reims
When? It starts on August 10 (August 9 in Newcastle) and finishes on August 12
Where? Starting venues include Reading Rugby Club, Brands Hatch in Kent, Williams Formula 1 Conference Centre in Oxfordshire, Highnam Court in Gloucester; Newcastle Falcons Club; Ricoh Arena home of the Wasps in Coventry; and Haynes Motor Museum in Somerset
Who? The run is open to all types of car or motorcycle and all are welcome to take part (sorry no HGVs!)
Why? To raise money for charities in the run-up to the Rugby World Cup in the autumn and have a bit of fun on an inaugural car rally in France’s Champagne region – the perfect place to collect fizz for celebrating the RWC!
Which charities? These include Will Greenwood’s Child Bereavement UK, the Dallaglio Foundation, the Spinal Injuries Foundation and Pied Piper. Fundraising is not mandatory but teams are asked to make a voluntary donation to any of the four charities. Why not set up an online giving page and help raise awareness of the charities by getting yourself sponsored. After costs are met from the entry fees the remainder will go towards converting unused squash courts at Reading Rugby Club to ladies’ changing rooms
Cost and benefits: Event registration fee will be £240 per vehicle which includes:
The chance to have fun and stock up on fizz in France’s Champagne region. There will be opportunity to meet other entrants at overnight stops/hotels with quizzes and challenges en route and prizes for winners, and a final Champagne reception at the spectacular and historic Chateau Fontainebleau
FREE 5 day return P&O ferry crossing for up to nine people
FREE tulip-style route book and app
FREE rally plate to attach to the car
FREE Autoglym valet pack worth c.£25 for the first 500 entrants
Who’s backing the run? The Green Park Oval Ball Run is backed by rugby legends Lawrence Dallaglio and Will Greenwood, F1 owner Sir Frank Williams and Alexandra Matthews, who was in the 2014 England Women’s World Cup winning squad. Sponsors of the Green Park Oval Ball Run include Oxford Properties/Green Park, Reading Audi, Autoglym, Harrison Clark Rickerbys, Zest, Indent Design and MBA Group.
For more: For full details and how to enter please visit http://www.ovalballrun.com or call Amy on 07795 600080
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