Boat Rally : Russell Newbery Register

Usually one of the highlights of the year for RNR members is the annual rally. The rally takes place in a different location each year. In the past this followed a four year cycle of Midlands, South, Midlands, North. However with very few (almost none) suitable venues in the south of England, this pattern is not guarenteed.

2026 Rally - Stalybridge

Although the Bridgewater Canal remains closed following the New Year's Day 2025 breach at Little Bollington, we are continuing are plan to hold this years Rally on the Huddersfield Canal at Stalybridge.

There is a silver lining to our decision to postpone the Rally at Stalybridge from last year. This year is the 25th anniversary of the restoration of the Huddersfield Narrow Canal. Hence our Rally will form part of those celebrations. Additionally, the Fund Britain's Waterways pressure group are planning major campaign cruises converging on Manchester and Liverpool during July. Thus our Rally is an ideal staging post prior to those cruises. Consequently we are opening up bookings for the Rally to non-Register members. The only proviso is that attendance at the workshops and use of the reserved moorings (between locks 5W and 7W) are restricted to Register bookings. If you are not a member, you can join at the discounted rate of £15 with your Rally booking. Even if you do not join the Register and plan to attend by boat, please submit a booking, so that we can manage the moorings.

The Rally dates are Wednesday 24th to Sunday 28th June. Following a generous offer from the priest of the Catholic church of St. Peter and St. Raphael; their fabulous church hall is the main location for Rally events. This hall ranks amongst the best Rally facilities we have used; it has a large kitchen and very importantly a separate bar. It is a 7 minute walk of less than half a mile from the canal. Dogs are permitted in the hall.

The fee for Rally attendance is just £20 per adult. There are no separate charges for boat or motorhome entries. The only additional charges are for Rally plaques (£8.50 each).

Boat moorings

Our mooring plan for Stalybridge has most boats moored in the pound between locks 6W and 7W; with two abreast on the offside and single mooring on the towing path side. As usual, mooring spots are allocated in strict order of receipt of booking.

Provisional Rally Activity Plan

Wednesday 24th June
Afternoon For those who are arriving early, we plan a guided walk to the site of Gorse Hall. This was the home of Beatrix Potter's maternal grandmother, and where Beatrix spent many summers in her childhood.
Evening Welcome reception at Bridge Beers. Evening free to sample the some of the town's pubs and restaurants. One not to be missed is the world famous Station Buffet Bar.

Thursday 25th June Morning / afternoon Day out by train/tram/bus; Option 1 – East Lancashire Railway ; Option 2 – RHS Garden Bridgewater at Worsley; Option 3 – some of the numerous museums and attractions in Central Manchester.
Evening Rally bar open in the Church Hall; games session.

Friday 26th June Morning Craft session. Technical session.
Lunchtime Rally bar open in the Church Hall.
Afternoon A history talk or tour.
Evening Rally bar open in the Church Hall. Presentation by the Huddersfield Canal Society on the restoration of the Narrow Canal.

Saturday 27th June Morning Craft session. Technical session - probably cylinder heads.
Lunchtime Rally bar open in the Church Hall.
Early Afternoon A visit to Portland Basin Museum, housed within the restored nineteenth century Ashton Canal Warehouse in Ashton-under-Lyne. The museum combines a lively modern interior with a peaceful canal side setting. (Free entrance).
Late Afternoon Register AGM. [There is no charge if you are just attending for the AGM. Provisional start time is 4pm.]
Early evening 'Pie & Pint' meal to commemorate and celebrate the life of Andy Todd. Andy was the Register's Administrator until his untimely death in 2025. The choices for the main course of the meal are meat and potato pie, cheese and onion pie, and vegan vegetable hotpot. All served with salads and a choice of sweets to follow. There is no charge for the meal or for a celebratory pint, or another drink of your choosing.
Evening Rally bar open in the Church Hall. Evening entertainment: is Still Reeling, a Lancashire based Ceilidh and Barn Dance Band. The dances and music will be a variety of English, Irish, Scottish, American and European. Audience participation is encouraged!

Sunday 28th June Morning Technical forum.
Lunchtime Rally bar open in the Church Hall.
Evening The RNR Ensemble band of staggering musicians and singers provide the musical finale to the Rally in one of the town centre bars.

Monday 29th June to Wednesday 1st July After the Rally, we are running a short group cruise exploring the west side of the Huddersfield Narrow Canal as far as Wool Road, Uppermill.

Booking process

This year there is a simple charge of £20 per adult; there are no separate charges for boat or motor-home entries, or for accompanied childeren (under age of 18). The only additional charge is for Rally plaques (£8.50 each). To attend any of the activities at the Church Hall or to occupy a reserved mooring (between locks 5W and 7W) one of your party must be a Register Member. If not, we will add £15 to the cost of the booking and enrol you as a member (or you can submit an application to join the Register with a direct debit instruction for £15.)

Travel for all the Rally day out options on Thursday is by public transport - trains, buses and trams. Participants will need to pay separately for any fares; similarly for the attraction entrance fees. Depending on numbers, we may be able to arrange for some discounted entrance rates. (National Rail trains and Greater Manchester buses and trams accept carriage of dogs, subject to some conditions).

There is no formal booking form. To make a Rally booking, send an email to rally@rnregister.org.uk or a text message to 07870 294580. Include all of the following information (hint - copy and paste from here):
Your name and Register membership number (or state that you wish to join)
Names of other adults in your party
Names and ages of any children in your party
Quantity of Rally plaques required
If attending by boat: boat name and length, planned arrival and departure dates
If attending by motor home: length and width, planned arrival and departure dates (there is limited parking places near the church hall)
Quantity of Saturday evening meat meals (meat and potatoe pie)
Quantity of Saturday evening vegetarian meals (cheese and potatoe pie)
Quantity of Saturday evening vegan meals (vegetable hot-pot)
List any allergies or special diet requirements of any person in your party
Number of dogs you are bringing
Number of cats you are bringing (only if coming by boat)
Any special requests
Your contact email address for Rally communications
Your contact phone number for Rally communications

You will receive an an acknowledgement containing the instructions on how to pay the correct amount. If you are ordering Rally plaques, the deadline for booking is 2nd May. Submission of a Rally entry implies compliance of these conditions of entry.

We look forward to seeing plenty of members at what will be our most northerly Rally yet. Water supply issues on the Huddersfield Narrow and at Marple on the Peak Forest may require us to request staggered boat arrivals and departures.

Previous Rallies

Due to the COVID-19 (Coronavirus) epidemic we cancelled the 2020 rally which was to be held at Circus Field Basin, Aylesbury - home of the Aylesbury Canal Society.

Autumn Gathering

In addition to the main rally, the Register organises an informal gathering usually in mid September. Members and guests can arrive by boat or any other means for a weekend of relaxation, eating and drinking.

The 2025 Autumn Gathering took place at the Stafford Boat Club at Wildwood on the Staffordshire and Worcestershire Canal near Saafford. See our Autumn 2025 Newsletter for a report with pictures.