Uttoxeter Racecourse

DavidKlyne
DavidKlyne Club Member Posts: 13,856 ✭✭✭
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edited January 16 in UK Campsites & Touring #1

I notice that on the Club website they say, and I quote:- "We have taken the decision to close Uttoxeter Racecourse Club Campsite for the foreseeable future" Most are aware that the Club have had issues at this location because of site invasions. However today, looking at my Facebook updates I noticed a post with a screen shop which appears to come for the Race Course Owners saying that the site will be open for three day stays around each race meeting. I have not researched prices but have added the screen shot below for anyone who might be interested. 

David

Comments

  • SteveL
    SteveL Club Member Posts: 12,297 ✭✭✭✭✭
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    edited January 16 #2

    Looks like £140 for two including admission to the races. Seems a reasonable deal.

  • Takethedogalong
    Takethedogalong Forum Participant Posts: 17,027 ✭✭✭
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    edited January 16 #3

    Another one gone then☹️ I said last year the Club wouldn’t re open it. Well done to the Racecourse though, at least providing something. We have continued to use Racecourse sites even though they are no longer Club related. Thanks for the update DK.

    Why hasn’t the Club let Members know, why is it most information comes from other sources🤷‍♀️

  • Tinwheeler
    Tinwheeler Forum Participant Posts: 23,134 ✭✭✭
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    edited January 16 #4

    The Racecourse ran the site on occasion outside of the months the club leased it and it looks like they’ll do that more often but with limited opening based around race days.

    TDA, you know as well as I that camc doesn’t do communications at all well🙄

  • Hja
    Hja Club Member Posts: 846 ✭✭
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    edited January 16 #5

    Not only do the club not do comms well, one part of the club doesnt know what the other is doing. Several times recently, in the magazine, they have highlighted activities or tourist sites and flagged nearest Club sites that are closed, either for when the attraction is taking place, or more permanently. I am not totally sure, but I think Uttoxeter has been one. High Onn certainly has.

  • Takethedogalong
    Takethedogalong Forum Participant Posts: 17,027 ✭✭✭
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    edited January 16 #6

    Sure do. You hope things will get better, but the years are passing by with that sliver of optimism wearing thinner🤣

    HJA, it’s a well known fact that the Magazine is often geographically challenged. And that intelligent proof reading isn’t always a given. 🤣

  • mickysf
    mickysf Forum Participant Posts: 6,474 ✭✭✭
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    edited January 16 #7

    It was a sad day for us when the ‘club site’ at Market Rasen Race Course closed a few years back. It was the closest to us and had good access to The Viking Way and many other Wolds walks. Several trout steams and lakes near by which I used to fish at too where just a short drive away. I’m sure that what is now in effect almost a closure of Uttoxeter to many but the horse racing fans will be much lamented. 

  • DavidKlyne
    DavidKlyne Club Member Posts: 13,856 ✭✭✭
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    edited January 16 #8

    TDA

    We are not privy to the discussions between the Club and the Racecourse so we don't fully know the background to the decision which rightly should remain between the two parties. Suffice to say that it is no longer currently operating in the site network. Whilst it might be in the members, in or of, interest to know the new arrangements I very much doubt it is in the Clubs commercial interest to publicise the change? Likewise when CL's appear to close but actually become independent campsites?

    David

  • peedee
    peedee Club Member Posts: 9,381 ✭✭✭✭✭
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    edited January 16 #9

    It was a sad day for us when the ‘club site’ at Market Rasen Race Course closed a few years back.

    Way back in my caravan owning days I used to use Walesby Woodland Caravan Park in that area.

    peedee

  • eurortraveller
    eurortraveller Club Member Posts: 6,828 ✭✭✭
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    edited January 16 #10

    Market Rasen race course campsite is still open ,but run separately  from the Club - as is Stratford on Avon and others. Sounds as though Uttoxeter will follow that arrangement.

  • Takethedogalong
    Takethedogalong Forum Participant Posts: 17,027 ✭✭✭
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    edited January 16 #11

    I agree the Members don’t need to know the full in’s and out’s of any discussions, but a simple message to the membership along the lines of…

    ”we are sad to inform the membership that due to unforeseen circumstance, we will no longer be offering stays at Uttoxeter Racecourse, as from (date). Thank you to everyone who has used this site in the past, and we hope you will continue to use our alternatives in the area”

    But no, we get it third hand via someone luckily reading a Facebook post. (Again thank you for mentioning it) what is the “news section” at the top of the page for, if it’s not for keeping Membership informed🤷‍♀️ 

    Has anyone seen this elsewhere via the Club? (Magazine?, Club Facebook page? Announcement via CT? ) Happy to be corrected if I have missed something.

  • mickysf
    mickysf Forum Participant Posts: 6,474 ✭✭✭
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    edited January 16 #12

    Sorry, I should have said a sad day when the club severed all connection with the site and relinquish its running of it. I think our nearest club site would now be Sutton on Sea. We have a distinct lack of club sites in north and mid Lincolnshire, it’s a big county, second only to Yorkshire I think. Having said that we do have some fabulous CLs.

  • DavidKlyne
    DavidKlyne Club Member Posts: 13,856 ✭✭✭
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    edited January 17 #13

    Those members of a certain vintage will remember using lots of racecourse sites in the past. I can think of Wincanton, Newcastle upon Tyne, Hexham, Weatherby, Brighton, Folkestone, and there may be more? As I mentioned up thread we don't know what goes on in discussions between the Club and the Racecourses. I know in a couple of cases the racecourses pulled out of having campsites to concentrate on other options. In other cases they have carried on as independent campsites. As I have mentioned in the past any site held on a lease of management contract are vulnerable to loss from the network and I suspect we will loose more sites as the years go by. As to areas of the Country being under presented by the Club there are several, Essex being one and the North Bucks/Beds/Northampton is another are without much representation.

    David

  • peedee
    peedee Club Member Posts: 9,381 ✭✭✭✭✭
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    edited January 17 #14

    Hereford reacecouse was another lost one. The Club used to have a site near Newport Pagnell, somewhere just off the A509. Last time I passed by there the area was being turned into a housing estate.

    peedee

  • Hja
    Hja Club Member Posts: 846 ✭✭
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    edited January 17 #15

    Interestingly the market rasen site is a Listed Site on the CCC web site. 

  • DavidKlyne
    DavidKlyne Club Member Posts: 13,856 ✭✭✭
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    edited January 17 #16

    Lovat Meadow, about two miles from where I live. We stayed there once when we got a new van to test it out. Trouble was it was a bit muddy and Simon decided to help by giving me a push and promptly got covered from head to toe in mudcool Lucky we were so close to home!

    David

  • Takethedogalong
    Takethedogalong Forum Participant Posts: 17,027 ✭✭✭
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    edited January 17 #17

    Hexham Racecourse has a lovely independent site nowadays. We stayed a few years ago, during COVID and really enjoyed it. Couldn’t use the (brand new) facility block, as things were still shut up and restricted, but everything was well organised and spectacular views. Mainly grass pitches, but there were some huge MHs on there, and the one thing racecourses do know about is maintaining good ground conditions.

    We really miss Wincanton Racecourse, sadly nothing replaced the Club Site when this finished. It was a great location, good views, close to places of interest, Wincanton town we enjoyed, good dog walking, and some good events on at the Racecourse itself. I used to go to a big annual craft fair there each year, on our way down to Cornwall.

    We stayed at Wetherby, Market Rasen campsites (Trax) before we were married, nearly 40 years ago.

  • Goldie146
    Goldie146 Club Member Posts: 2,448 ✭✭✭
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    edited January 17 #18

    We celebrated our Silver Wedding at Bangor-on-Dee racecourse in 1995. I think it was run by CCC. 

  • Takethedogalong
    Takethedogalong Forum Participant Posts: 17,027 ✭✭✭
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    edited January 17 #19

    We had a tiny little camper van and toured Northumberland as part of our honeymoon, mid 1980’s. Hexham Racecourse was our first and last stop in Northumberland, as we wanted to see Hadrian’s Wall as well as the beautiful coast😁

  • JollyKernow
    JollyKernow Forum Participant Posts: 2,629
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    edited January 17 #20

    You're certainly right about racecourses and ground conditions Ttda. I thought I knew about grass until my time at Exeter Racecourse (fond memories of working there and all the invasions. Notyell). I learned an awful lot from the head groundsman there and apart from Godrevy Park my grass pitches have always survived the season well.

    JK