Well that was fun. Quizzes were attempted, bingo was....binged and raffle prizes were won. Congratulations to everyone who won a prize through either skill or good luck - or indeed a combination of both! The 'passy the bucket' game rounded off the evening. The eventual winner, Steve M, rounded up his winnings and very kindly donated the dosh to the charity Crisis! I think everyone enjoyed themselves, the food was good but the company was even better! Looking forward to a year of fun and frivolity on 2025.

As information, the section officers willing to stand again were re-elected. Peter Waltham volunteered to take on the role of treasurer. After being duly seconded, he was duly elected to the post. Welcome to the committee, Peter Thanks very much to our outgoing treasurer, Jon Spawls, for all his hard work in keeping the Section on the right track in financial terms.

At the previously announced Section AGM on the 18th November, our current treasurer will not be standing for re-election. If anyone wishes to take up this position, please send me a personal message.

Please read the following information about parking etc. The event now starts and finishes at the Anchor Inn, B6309, Whittonstall, Consett DH8 9JN Your last chance of the year to get down and durty with the Northumbrian Section! The famous Colonial Run sets out with brave riders ready to do battle with the elements, mud and route sheets. What better way to spend a Sunday in Autumn? The Anchor Inn can provide food and beverages before the start the day. If you do want to have a breakfast, it would be best to give the pub a ring to confirm this. You can leave your cars/trailers in the car park BUT you need to ensure they are registered with the pub management to avoid parking charges.  At lunchtime, you will have the chance to refresh yourself before meandering back to The Anchor, empty the water from your boots, put dry clothes on before having a celebratory drink before heading home.  Sounds good to me. The run is designed for bikes with some off-road capability (same with the riders). Trials universal tyres only please - no knobblies. For those of you not on trail bikes, a road bike route is provided. So, who cares if winter is round the corner, come join us!

Taking in to consideration the gentle nature of some of the bikes taking part in the run AND the need for plenty of time to enjoy the tea and buns at Path Head, the run will start out for Bradley Burn at about 12.00

If you are coming to the Bunfight, don't forget to bring three x 20p change for each person. This is for the Great Northumbrian Section Bucket Game!

Come one, come all - get your tickets here!!

Well, hopefully everyone enjoyed the Rookhope Ryde yesterday. Many thanks to Hilary and Craig for marshalling the event and everyone else for turning up. After a night of highly complex calculations, the central Northumbrian Section computer has brought forth the results. Even it commented it was a close run thing. So we have:- 1st Peter Bates 2nd Russell Thornton 3rd Charles Plumeridge 4th Dr. Jon Warren 5th Peter Waltham 6th Graham Craggs Also, thanks to Andreas for sending the good weather that never turned up at the C2C. It turned up eventually!

If you are going to the Gathering, get your accomodation booked at Highburn House or wherever ASAP. If you are going to stay at HH, mention the Gathering when you are booking. You won't get any discount but you wil gain entrance to the enclave!!

A great day out on the Cloverleaf Run yesterday, weather and scenery stunning. Special thanks to the marshalls, Hilary Craig and Spike without whose help it wouldn't have happened and all the entrants for their good humour and willingness to partake of something different with special tests. The results have been computed and are: Overall Winner: Peter Ashcroft 35pts Joint Second: Peter Waltham & Bobby Robinson KOBI 34pts Special Awards: King of Cool: Peter Bagnall for his outstanding knowledge of modern biker terminology (compared to the fossilised vintagents he was competing against) Narrow-minded Award: John Robinson KOBI for his sensational effort in riding at speed through a gap barely wider than his machine Perfect Parking Prize: Peter Waltham for his precise machine control and almost mystical awareness of his machines location. All prizes and awards are virtual with no cash value, but can nevertheless be bragged about. Thanks everyone, let ne know if you think the format worth repeating.

Martyn, we will do our very best to have a good time. I'm sure your bit will be very well done indeed! Have fun- we will be thinking of you.

Tom says :- The ‘Beamish Awards Night’ will be at our regular venue: Middleton St George Cricket & Social Club, Water View, Middleton St. George, Darlington, DL2 1JQ starting at 7:30pm on Thursday 10 November 2022. There will be a buffet, distribution of goodies for the marshals, and a still photograph display and the presentation of trophies. We are inviting all riders, marshals, observers and helpers so it is an opportunity to thank them. We really hope you can make it.

I have the honour, as chief dogsbody and Petty Official to declare the results of the Bob Rawlings Run 2022, held in variable weather on Sunday 4th September. Hold on to your hats everyone! Peter Bates 1 Geof Stephenson 2 Geoff Grigg 3 Peter Ashcroft 4 Aidan Easton 5 Dave Harrison 6 John Robinson KOBI 7 There you go – Our Cultural Attaché triumphs on a Triumph! Signed photos will be available at reasonable rates!!

Just to let you know, we have SPECIALLY BUILT a large petrol station just off the route in the morning, about 11 miles from the start. It looks very like the Shell station in Corbridge. We have also moved another petrol station to within a mile of the route in the afternoon. That is about 10 miles from the finish The route sheets have the relevant (and irrelevant) information on them. So those of you who have limited capacity are catered for in loads of different way. The Northumbrian Section – kind, considerate ant thoughtful as ever!!!!

Well that went very well - many thanks to Dave for organising this.

In a close fought battle for the glory of winning the Rookhope Ryde, here are the results from our event committee 1st John Robinson KOBI 2nd Peter Bates – merely BI 3rd Geoff Grigg 4th Russell Thornton 5th Brian Metcalfe 6th Denny Chappell 7th Charles Plumeridge 8th Peter Thompson 9th Kelven MacNish 10th Mark Bell Congratulations to all who took part and thanks to all the helpers. It was even good weather!!

Hot news! As Son of Sam is a modified T160, John will also be bringing a standard T160 for comparison. It going to be good!!

As no-one has expressed an interest in the Cumberland Hotel menu, I'll be cancelling the reservation. As has been suggested by a few people, there is the The Nook Farm Shop and Café, just to the North of Alston. I'll put directions on the route sheet if it takes your fancy, but please be back at the Texaco garage in Alston by 1.30 for the handing out of afternoon routes. THE NOOK FARM SHOP & CAFE, Alston - Updated 2021 Restaurant Reviews, Photos & Phone Number - Tripadvisor

Martin Vincent has passed on this information about the lunch stop at Alston:- You may want to consider a half hour at the Hub Museum. The museum (£2 entry) has a very interesting collection of classic motorcycles and cars, including Velo KSS, Rudge, Douglas,, early Triumph, even an AA BSA M21 combination. There is a good cafe 50yds away at the old railway station where you will find narrow gauge steam trains. There is ample parking at the museum and station. It's at the bottom end of town where you will also find The Cumberland Inn, Alston House and other hostelries close by. We’ll be handing out the return routes at 1.30 next to the Texaco garage so don’t get carried away!

We have checked the route out for this run and this is just some information about the Lunch Stop, which is basically Alston. For the next few months, the main hill in Alston (which is on the route to Teesdale and Weardale) is closed for repair. Apart from anything else, this has had an effect upon the small businesses in the town. Specifically for us, quite a few of the small cafes are shut. Therefore for lunch we would suggest the following alternatives:- 1. Take your own bait 2. Get some food from the garage next to where we suggest parking. They do hot stuff, cold sandwiches and coffee/tea. 3. We have tentatively booked a table at the Cumberland Inn (right next to the garage). They offer Sunday Lunches but they will be busy so they have asked that we tell them beforehand if we need the table. It has to be said that prices reflect the post-Brexit, post-Covid reality. Here is a specimen menu, They also do sandwiches. If you want to partake of lunch at the Cumberland Arms, please let me know ASAP