British picnic is a roaring success

Competitors in their MG TF 1500

On Sunday morning, participants gathered alongside a bright red London double decker bus on Place Massena in Nice and alongside the port in Cannes before heading off into the hinterland.

In Gourdon a host of typically British picnic treats awaited the 120 people taking part, with delights stashed away in picnic baskets ranging from salt and vinegar crisps to Branston pickle.

A concert by the crooner Alain Gorla followed lunch, with more British pastimes on display thanks to the Beaulieu Cricket Club, who came ready with bat and ball to demonstrate ‘the gentleman’s game’.

Matthew Fisher came top of the pile in this year’s race in his 1972 MG BGT. Fisher received a dinner for two at Le Bastion restaurant in Antibes as his prize. Xavier Roux (1965 Austin Cooper) and Nicolas Malbert (1965 Jaguar MK2) also finished with ‘podium’ positions taking home a year’s subscription of The Riviera Times home with them.

The event has even inspired the Automobile Club to consider hosting similar rallies celebrating the best in French, German and Italian motors.

Other nations aside, the Brits were clearly a huge hit this year and both The Automobile Club de Nice and The Riviera Times, who are partners of the event, are already eagerly looking forward to the 2012 British Classic Car Picnic.