Blackburn Type I at Oakenshaw, Wakefield.

On 2nd October 1913 what was named the "War of the Roses Air Race" was competed for. It was a challenge race between the A.V.Roe Company (of Lancashire) and the Blackburn Aeroplane and Motor Co.Ltd. (of Yorkshire) and was organised by the Yorkhire Evening News newspaper. The hundred mile course was well advertised and publicised, it would start and end at the aerodome at Moortown, Leeds the home of the Yorkshire Aero Club. The route would involved flying to specified locations where the aeroplanes would have to land and wait for twenty minutes at each location where crowds would be waiting. Leaving Moortown at 14.14hrs the first location was Bootham Stray, York, then locations at Doncaster (possibly the racecourse?), Sheffield and Barnsley before landing at Moortown. Blackburn entered the new Blackburn Type I monoplane while A.V.Roe entered the prototype Avro 504. The Blackburn Type I, flown by Harold Blackburn and with the aircraft's owner Dr M.G.Christie as passenger, landed at 17.48hrs and won the race.

During the afternoon of Saturday, 4th October Mr Blackburn begun a long flight to London carrying his passenger from the air race and the aeroplane's owner, Dr Christie, who was to begin a holiday in the Mediterranean. Having reached the Oakenshaw area of Wakefield a problem with the aeroplane's engine saw a forced landing being made in a newly sown carrot field without any apparent damage to it or injury to the occupants. Many people visited the aeroplane in the field which was taken away later in a cart for repair. A later claim for damaged crops was made by the landowner, Mr W Clapham and the NFU for damages to be paid in respect of damaged crops caused by aeroplanes landing on farmers fields.

Pilot - Mr Harold Blackburn.

Paseenger - Dr Malcolm Grahame Christie.