Tag: rallies

…and that’s a Wrap!

So that is another Gathering successfully completed. The Chapter would like to thank the Committee and Chapter Volunteers for working hard to make it the success it was. A particular shout out is owed to Scott Grove who stepped in to manage the event while Director Stevie Trainor focuses on recovery from health issues. Thanks also to all the staff and management at Hunters Quay for their support and hard work to make the event the success it was….and you lot must have behaved because we are invited back again next year!

The Hitches

We of course had the usual curve balls to deal with, not least the weather which after pretty much 2 months of dry sunny weather decided to become more “unsettled” a couple of weeks prior to our rally.

It could have been much worse ( remember 2022!?) but the only real casualty to the showery outbursts was our much loved 7 Lochs Ride Out which had to be binned. This was on advice from the destination location Lochgoilhead who were putting on a BBQ for us, and multiple weather apps. On the day the weather at the Rally site wasn’t too bad at all really but looking up the Cowal Peninsula you could see the cloud had closed in over the hills. So better safe than sorry. The road crew took a bullet for the team, recce’ing the route the weekend before and let’s just say everyones wet weather gear was thoroughly tested!

Also our Sunday night entertainment, The Johnnie Beattie Band had to cancel just before the event so we are ever so grateful to Gordon Seith and Kay for stepping in to help us out. In the event turned out a perfect set for us as we wound down after a full-on weekend. And of course we would be amiss to not mention Eric on the Decks both for keeping the party going all weekend with tunes and the longer session on the Sunday.

Friday

We had probably the majority of arrivals on Day One, big thanks to all that helped with Registrations through Friday and Saturday. It is fair to say few riders arriving managed a run to the site without encountering a heavy cloud burst somewhere en-route but there were lots of smiles on arrival . The Ladies of Harley Prosecco Party got things off to a flying start with Edward Reid coming once again to entertain the ladies. The ladies and he just don’t want the party to end!

But end it did and the rally was entertained by the superb Splendid Gentlemen who I think might be making another appearance at some future event judging by the reaction!

Saturday

Obviously we had no ride out due to the weather, but as locally it wasn’t too bad, many attendees took the opportunity to visit the local town on Dunoon. This will be much welcomed by the community. We did have our Chapter Games in the afternoon which were designed to cope with whatever the weather threw at us and that turned out a right laugh of games most won’t have played since their youth!

Saturday nights entertainment was provided by Emily J Clark and her band who performed her “Stupid Girl: Pink Tribute” and followed up with a rocking second half. The hall was packed and the Emily went down very well with everyone. What a show!

Sunday

A busy schedule on the last day of The Gathering with a modified ride out after a morning Custom show.

Usually we take a ride to Inverary on the Sunday but with the prior days weather issues we headed to Lochgoilhead but using the more direct route. The Lochgoilhead Community turned out to greet and support us with a BBQ and we had over 60 bikes on the ride, with a few others making their way to the destination independently. The weather stayed fine for the majority of the ride with a wee shower catching the bikes on the last few miles to Hunters Quay.

No sooner were we back than it was Loudest Pipes time…that gorgeous Road King ( now with extra bling) of Keith Milne’s was once again unassailable!

Then it was Whisky tasting helping to lubricate proceedings before the evening entertainment with Gordon Seith and Kay (that rendition of Paradise By The Dashboard Light though….was that not epic?) followed by Eric on the decks.

….And rest…..

The rally raised over £2500 for Prostate Cancer. We had I believe 16 Chapters represented, coming from locations as diverse as Northern Ireland, Suffolk and Northern Norway in the Arctic Circle! Dunedin Chapter, our Scottish brothers and sisters from the East of Scotland walked away with another Best Attending Chapter award, and Jorund Tingvand was the furthest travelled joining us all the way from Artic Chapter Norway!

Thanks to all that attended making it such a memorable event and we look forward to welcoming you once again to Hunters Quay on the 5th June 2026. Tickets will go on sale later in the year.

In case you have not got bored with looking at the photos published via fB, all those shots ( KH) plus others as yet unseen are now on our Flickr site under the Gathering 2025 Album.