Young badminton players proved top of the form when they took to the court for a tournament at Ashington Leisure Centre.

Teams from Berwick, Allendale, Alnwick and Prudhoe took part in the Key Stage Three and Four Northumberland Schools Badminton County Final organised by Badminton England and the School Sports Partnership..

Northumberland Schools Badminton County Final Key Stage Four winners (back) and the stage three victors (front) receive their trophies at Ashington Leisure Centre

For the first time, all six School Sports Partnerships in Northumberland - Ashington, Blyth and Bedlington, Cramlington and Seaton Valley, Morpeth and Ponteland, North Northumberland and Tynedale - were involved in the competition.

Graeme "Gowla" Gowland is to return to 600cc machines this season in the Fuchs-Silkolene British Supersport Championship.

The Allendale rider will pilot a Parkalgar PTR Honda CBR600RR, the same machine which took Eugene Laverty to second in last year's World Supersport Championship, riding in his own family-run outfit.

The news comes after months of speculation about the talented 24-year-old's future. He had been looking to land a top ride following his successful rookie season in the MCE Insurance British Superbike Championship.

The Journal Champion of Champions has a 7am start at De Vere Slaley Hall on Sunday, but that won't faze one of the long shots for the title, Whitfield farmer Richie Rutherford.

Ten times the champion of Allendale, he'll be in one of the first groups out on the Hunting Course, but says: "It won't bother me.

"I'm a hill farmer and the beef and the sheep keep me busy. I'm always up at the crack of dawn anyway."

Report from Doug Robson of Hexham FC for the Hexham website

Despite the monsoon conditions on Friday, the four team tournament went ahead - as
part of the celebrations for the Allendale Club in the opening of their new Clubhouse.

Group A - Prudhoe Reds, Corbridge, Haltwhistle
Group B - Prudhoe Blues, Corbridge, Allendale and Hexham

Hexham won the Group B and were drawn to play 2nd placed in Group A in the semi
final.

Corbridge played Allendale in the first semi final which went to extra time where Allendale scored to win 1 -0.

Allendale 1st XI V Stocksfield. Allendale won by 6 Wickets

Match report sent in by Gareth Mews of Allendale CC

Allendale vice captain and Crazy Frog impersonator Ant White assumed the reigns at Riding Haugh on Saturday as Allendale continued their recent run of good form.

Play began late after a heavy shower or two and with inclement conditions forecast, the home skipper asked his guests to bat.

There was a buzz about the fielding side who were really fired up after not being invited to Chairman John Mews' impromptu early morning barbeque.

Allendale 1st XI vs Wylam 1st XI. Allendale won by 63 runs

Match report sent in by Gareth Mews of Allendale CC

Allendale welcomed early season pace setters Wylam to a sun drenched Riding Haugh on Saturday with the home side looking to build following the previous weeks resounding victory.

They also welcomed back prodigal son Joe Mills who has been down the road at Tynedale practicing his fielding for the past two seasons.

Jonathon Stephens of Low Fell won Saturday's Allendale 8M Road Race, coming home 40secs ahead of his father John.

Tynedale's Sonia Morley (9th) and runner-up Dawn Richardson of Quakers, were well inside the old record in the women's race.

Allendale 1st XI V Haydon Bridge. Haydon Bridge won by 6 wickets

Match report sent in by Gareth Mews of Allendale CC

The nature of Allendale's performances and their apparent willingness to surrender winning
opportunities and accept defeat are beginning to become as notoriously soggy as their outfield.

Squally showers blew in and out, the covers were pulled on and off and yet the only direction that Allendale heads looked was down.

Allendale's total of 65 for the fall of nine wickets was not enough to prevent Haltwhistle moving to second in the table behind Wylam in the West Tyne League.

Bowler J Armstrong collected impressive figures of 4 for 6 in Allendale's innings, while Parker scored 31 not out in Haltwhistle's reply of 68-6. Rutherford and Sunda each took three wickets for Allendale.

Yamaha boy Graeme Gowland will be looking to settle a couple of scores as the British Superbike Championship hits Oulton Park tomorrow.

Gowland, who will line up for just his second Superbike race, admitted he can't wait to get back on board his Motorpoint Henderson Yamaha R1, following his strong 1000cc debut at Brands Hatch on Easter Monday.

The 23-year-old from Allendale announced his arrival in style at the opening round, proving to be a solid top-10 runner in all of the qualifying and practice sessions, before going on to score a ninth and a 15th, ending the day a respectable 13th in the championship.