Live from the National 2018
Are you at the National this year? If so we want to hear from you. Whether you're pitching up in your caravan or motorhome or visiting for the day, tell us all about it on this discussion. If you have any photos to share we would love to see them too.
Don't forget to also tag us on social media @candmclub #ClubNational18
But most importantly of all, have a wonderful time! 
Comments
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Outfits coming in thick and fast today Ro, sadly it is wet
but the forecast for the rest of the weekend is a return to sunshine and warmth. At least it has damped down all the dust we have had from the traffic on site so far.Alison
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A couple of pics from when we first arrived, view from the office, view from our caravan and view of our caravan
Alison
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Might have been showers in Staffordshire DSB, but here, it was a deluge, all day long and it was bitterly cold on the coast
However - reminds me of that "Mother, mother" song - the sun is now out and it's looking good
. Looking forward to our visit tomorrow. Will be the first time I have been to a rally of any sort since the '80s.1 -
Went to Sledmere as a day visitor today. It was a bit chilly to start but the sun came out and it warmed up nicely by mid-afternoon. Here are a few pics of the brass band and the Welsh Horse Yeomanry.
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It's not been bad here today richardndros. Hope it cheers up a bit on the coast.
P.S. I do wish CT would put me in the correct county... not that I've got anything against Staffs (I have many friends who live across the border 😀). We actually live in North Warwickshire - its our postal address that comes out as Staffs - and our postcode is B'ham! CT software won't allow me to live in Warwickshire.. 😉
Just heard that next year's National will be at Ragley Hall in Warwickshire, so even if we can't bring the 'van, hopefully we'll get there as a day visitor.
David
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Be good to see you next year David
Things for the kids, big and small, kites are fab
Alison
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Lovely day here today RichardandRos, Enjoy !
Alison
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A few more photos courtesy of a friend... the Welsh Lines, shire horses, the house through the vans and the opening ceremony...
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Disgrace the grass is almost 3ft high where we are, but nice to see the grass is nice and trim and tidy at the Chairman Row, guess paying campers don’t matter so much, we won’t be back. Give me a Warner’s show anytime. Well organised, grass cut and half the price.
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We're parked in the RV section ground very rough near water and black water dump NO chance of getting near to dump tanks had to use 70 meter hose just to refill water tank as that's as close as we could get to the services
We booked the RV section hoping the different needs would have been thought through, black water dump should have been road side for vehicles of this size.
Other than that no complaints, has been good. 😊
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Hi Reevco and Stewartwebr,
Thank you for your feedback and I will make sure this is sent over to the events team for their reference.
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Hi everyone,
Here's a video from today's BBQ chef of the year competition.
Alison and heedlo, thanks so much for the fantastic photos. It's great to hear from everyone and I hope it's another fabulous day tomorrow.
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Here's another video of our family adventurers at the National.
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Thanks Rowena but we are totally different to motor homes that have cassette toilets we carry 45 gal black water holding tanks and 48 gal grey waste tanks and it's not just a case of wheeling a cassette over to an Elsan point we have to take the whole RV over and connect up a 3" pipe to dump the waste....
oh the generators are quieter this year much better
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Obviously, the sun shines on the righteous! Had a good day, yesterday and bought a few ‘toys’. Went back this morning to pick one of them up - overcast and a sea fret on the coast but glorious sunshine at Sledmere, once again. Seems that the organisers have good connections 😏
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My wife and I have just returned home after attending our first "National". We have been mixing business with pleasure while selling our Sons Pies & Pastries at the F.Leakes Butchers and Bakers stand. I feel compelled to write to express how friendly our fellow club members are. We would like to thank each and everyone of you who called in to see us, we were made most welcome. We have certainly made many new friends over the course of the weekend.
The entertainment was first class and the many activities catered for every taste. I urge anyone thinking about attending next years event to book their place as soon as possible. You won't be sorry.
Warwickshire here we come!
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Radley Hall is a fantastic venue. We go there every year for Camper Calling.
The national coincides with a couple of festivals we enjoy so won't be going but if you get the same freebies they throw in for camper calling it should be a good trip
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Hi Kevlon, hope you are bringing sausage rolls with you - if you happen to be passing the Comms Office come in and say Hi
Alison
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Gutted cos we missed this years National,we cancelled at the last minute cos we didn’t collect our Motorhome in time .Glad some of you enjoyed the weekend. You can’t please everyone all the time.We will definitely be at next years.
Brian & Jo
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Overall we enjoyed it but whoever was responsible for the allocation of pitching areas needs to go away and have a serious think before planning another one.
It seems they need reminding that people with Blue Badges have severe mobility problems. Locating their pitches about 300 yards away across a valley with a rough track to access the main area shows contempt for their problems. Particularly as a large area right close to the arena was given over to Admin!
When I questioned this I was told it was OK as a car park had been set aside to allow us to drive across. So here they go against their request to keep driving on site to a minimum. Motor home owners apparently would have had to pack up each time they wanted to drive over. Talk about making us feel welcome, not!
Also having had all the upset among some members re the rebranding why were all the flags around the arena still the old CC pennants? Surely by now someone would have raided the piggy bank for some new ones.
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I would be interested to ascertain the cost of hosting the national. How much money is created through members pitch fees, vendor fees, entertainment tickets and how much profit is used up on the free camping for Executive Committee Members, Chairmans Drinks reception before the opening ceremony and the cost of the provision of the grand stand for the Chairman to sit on. Is it me, or are things like this so outdated, felt like being back in the 70’s to me.
People dressed up with gold chains around their necks prancing around a field just felt a little too colonial for me, but guess we are all different.
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Hi Stewartwebr, Please be assured that the Executive Committee, as do all other volunteers at the National, pay for their own pitches. We are very grateful for all the hard work and effort that the executive/events committees and our host of volunteers put into making the National the successful event it has become, whilst also acknowledging that without their continued support members would not enjoy the level of entertainment and organisation that goes into the planning and running of the event. The opening ceremony and reception are well-received traditions at the National, and gives the Executive Committee an opportunity to publicly recognise our sponsors and to thank all the volunteers for their participation, as without their support we would not be able to host the National at the level it achieves. Please also note that the grandstand is open to all visitors of the National following the opening ceremony and is an area people can use to enjoy watching the arena shows. I hope this clears up any confusion.
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Thanks everyone for your wonderful pictures and sharing your experiences at the National. All feedback will be forwarded to our events team.
I just want to take this opportunity to thank the events team, all the volunteers, the events committee and the executive committee and everyone who attended the National for making it such a brilliant event. We have had some fantastic feedback about all the activities and I have really enjoyed seeing all the photos here and on our social media pages. We are looking forward to seeing you all again next year at Ragley Hall and please feel free to continue to share your photos of the National here.
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A bit more feedback for the events team.
Why ask for the length of caravans and then pitch the long ones on steeply sloping ground? I had to use all the blocks I carry to get the caravan nearly level - to complete the job would have required digging a hole for the rear end. As it was the tow hitch still ended up almost at chest height and the rear washroom drain outlets were at ground level.
Shorter caravans fared better, of course, yet there was plenty of empty pitching space that was almost flat at the top of the hill.
I wonder if the site layout was done by someone making pretty drawings at a desk without considering what the estate actually looked like.
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I think just about everyone except the Chairman's line(s?) and the disabled block were on a fairly steep slope, we have a fairly large van and even on the second row of admin block we had our rear end on the grass. The aim is for a flat as possible arena and village area for all the marquees, after that it is pot luck and with just over 1400 units, it would be impossible to take note of every vans length and position them accordingly, especially with people requesting which block they want to be in. There are limited venues willing to take such a large number of outfits for a fairly long time to set everything up - and over a bank holiday, it is so nice to see a new venue for next year, roll on Ragley Hall
Alison
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Great review from Caravan Times ... http://www.caravantimes.co.uk/news/industry/the-caravan-and-motorhome-club-national-rally-$21388193.htm?source=newsletter
Alison
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