Peter Tuckwell wins first in series Club TT series Tuesday 6th May 2008 Peter Tuckwell won the first even in the club time trial series, on probably what was the best evenings weather so far this year. Defending champion Jon Mawson could only manage third place after being delayed by a puncture. For complete results and overall standings click here
.	Peter Tuckwell takes first event.
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Killhope Grimpeur
Sunday 30th March 2008

The first running of the Killhope Grimpeur 100k Audax attracted 56 entries, of which there were 47 starters.
The day started fairly breezy and ended up not far short of a south westery gale as the riders tackled the higher slopes.
Despite the wind and a missing bridge at Allenheads and having to negotiate the road closure at Edmundbyers, most riders got round safely, with a few having to cut the route short.
Practically all comments were favourable, with most saying they would return next year, but would like a little less wind.

Audax events 2008

The club will be promoting two Audax events this year, the Northumberland and Durham 200 in September and a new 100km event in March.
The first event on March 30th will be the Killhope Grimpeur, a 100km event starting in Lanchester and taking in a route to Muggleswick, Blanchland, Allenheads, Nenthead, Killhope, Crawleyside and back to Lanchester. 1800mtrs of climbing to test your legs early on in the season. This event will replace the usual club reliability trial.
For the third year running we will be promoting the popular Northumberland and Durham 200 on September 14th, starting at the clubrooms in Newbottle and taking a route via Parkhead, Hexham, Bellingham, Woodburn, Elsdon, Cambo, Stocksfield, Whittonstall, Ebchester and back to clubrooms.
Free food a finish of both events.
Entryforms can be found at:
Killhope Grimpeur
Northumberland & Durham 200
Contact Joe Applegarth or Dave Cummins for further information. Help required for both events.

Club Christmas Dinner Sunday 16th Dec 2007 Twenty two club members and friends attended the annual club Christmas lunch, which is traditionally held at the Kings Arms, Great Stainton. Thankfully the very cold weather eased a little so the roads were clear of ice. Harry Venables sneaked past to take the sprint at the Great Stainton sign from Jon Mawson and Garry Milner. Food and service were again excellent Thanks to Bob Smith for doing the organising.

For more photos click here

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75th Anniversary Dinner Friday 23rd November 2007 Eighty five members and guests attended the 75th Anniversary at the Chilton Lodge hotel. Chairman Bob Smith welcomed everyone and asked for a moments silence in memory of Tommy Thompson who died ealier in the year. This was followed by a very entertaining talk by guest speaker, Mike Smith from Eurosport, who related some of his experiences commentating on cycling events. Peter Marshall then paid a tribute to Tommy Rennoldson, club secretary during the 1960's. Tom was a leading figure in north east cycling and worked tirelessly for the benefit of the club and it's members. Prize presentation followed, with awards going to Peter Tuckwell (Vets BAR,100, 9m series vet), Jon Mawson ( 9m series), Andy MaCrae( Hill Climb), Martin Gibson (10,25,50) and Joe Applegarth (Brian Ferry award). A special presentation followed when Mike Smith presented President Albert Wheeler with a certificate to commemorate the fact that he was president on the 75th anniversary and the only known surviving founder member of the club.
.	President Albert Wheeler with his commemorative award.
	Joe Applegarth was awarded the Brian Ferry gold disc for his achievement in qualifying for the Paris-Brest-Paris 1200km endurance audax in August. Joe completed all qualifying events successfully at 200km,300km,400km and 600km, as well as the national 24. He got to the 700km point in the P-B-P but had to abandon because of stomach trouble. Another feature of the evening was a display of photographs and bikes/trikes arranged by Knoel Knox. Thanks also goes to secretary John Coulson for organising the dinner and Harry Brown for arranging guest speaker Mike Smith. For more photos click here
Joe Applegarth with the Brian Ferry award.	.

Andy takes hill climb
Club Hill Climb Sunday 14th October 2007

Andy MaCrae repeated his victory of last year when he won by a mere 1 second.
He doubled the margin this year, with a 2 second win over Jon Mawson.
Conditions were ideal, with very little wind and the added advantage of a virtually closed road.

Club AGM Friday Oct 5th 2007

The main points from the AGM were:
Membership steady at around the forty mark.
Financial deficit for the year of £163.29.

Club Dinner
75th Anniversary dinner on Friday 23rd Nov, ticket price to be £15. Harry Brown to contact Mike Smith with a view to inviting him as guest speaker.
Bob Smith to arrange commemorative cards and key rings for club members.
All members urged to spread the word to try to increase numbers. Possible notification to local press.
Noel Knox requested photographs to make collage with focus on Tommy Thompson.
Events programme
Hill climb will be on Sunday 14 Oct, Quarrington Hill.
Club Christmas dinner at Great Stainton, will be Sunday 16th Dec (Bob Smith).
2008,Club 9 mile TT series and open event to be run in June (John Coulson, Ian Murray).
100k Audax to be run on March 30th 2008 (from Lanchester), replacing club reliability trial (Joe Applegarth, Dave Cummins)
200k Audax to be run on Sunday 14th Sept 2008, same format as this year. (Joe Applegarth)
Joe will also set up some "Permanent" Audax events to be included in Audax handbook. Also a possibility of helping with the of running an Audax from clubrooms in February 2008, organised by Mick McGeever of Tyne Velo.
A note was also added to the minutes to congratulate Joe Applegarth of his achievement of qualifying for the Paris-Brest-Paris, and covering 700km of the event before having to pull out because of stomach problems.

Tommy Thompson

It is with great sadness that we learned of the death of Tommy Thompson, one of the clubs longest serving members and cyclist to the core.
Tommy had a heart attack when returning from a Sunday ride to Parkhead on 22 April.
He never recovered and died in hospital the following Thursday.

Tommy will be greatly missed as one of the most active members of the club and also one of it's great characters.

The funeral took place on Friday 4 May, at Saltwell Crematorium, Gateshead, with a huge turn out of friends and fellow cyclists. A fitting tribute was paid to Tommy by Ian Murray on behalf of the club.

Tommy joined the club in 1959 and after a spell of National Service, in the Middle East, with the Royal Engineers, took up the trike and joined the Tricycle Association (TA) around 1962, eventually taking on the post of regional secretary which he held for over 30 years.
A keen cyclist and tricyclist, Tommy used his bike as his main form of transport, despite once being the chauffeur for the Tyne and Wear Corporation and Tram driver at Beamish Museum.
Tom attended many functions, usually going there by bike and doing a "James Bond", where he would peel off his cycling gear to reveal a well turned out suit and tie.
He was also a popular speaker at many cycling functions, as well as a dab hand on the dance floor.
Tom was adept on the unicycle and through his work at Beamish, the "Penny Farthing" and other vintage bikes, frequently appearing in period dress and featuring on some of the museum's publicity material. He was also involved in a lot of the restoration work, both on period bikes and motor vehicles.
He was associated with the northern veterans association as early as the sixties, long before he was a vet himself, and joined officially when he became "of age".
Tom was a life member of the Tricycle Association and the VTTA, a second claim member of Solway Sociable and actively associated with Bygone Bikes.
Although Tom led a very active life, which included the job of membership secretary at Houghton, he still found time to compete regularly in time trials and organise TA events.
Tom was in the winning vets team in the 1985 24 hour TT and still holds the Houghton to York and back trike record.
Tom will always be remembered for his love of cycling, friendly and helpful nature and one of cyclings great characters.

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