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.

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.

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."

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.

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.

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.

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

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.

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.

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.

The race, on scenic public country roads, is preceded by a one-mile junior fun run which can be entered on the day.

Entries for the main race, which close on May 23, go to: Brendon Jackson, 3 Shield Street, Allendale, Hexham NE47 9BP.

The 30-year-old action girl will run her first London Marathon later this month.

And in a bid to drum up support she has encouraged her family and friends to set her a string of charity challenges.

The 23-year-old from Allendale will tomorrow start his first British Superbike Championship race at Brands Hatch, onboard Rob McElnea's Motorpoint/Henderson Yamaha machine.

In what will be his first season on the 1000cc machine, Gowland - who likes to be known as Gowla - has already impressed in early free practice sessions this weekend, finishing in the top 10.

Some of the winners at the event at Hexham, with stars Chris Cook, left, and Nick Gillingham adding support

The competition, held at the Wentworth Leisure Centre in Hexham, saw 80 children aged eight to 15 compete in a range of events, including team relays, individual front crawl, breaststroke, butterfly and backstroke.

The cash was set aside to encourage local authorities to offer free swimming sessions to all under-16s in the run up to the 2012 London Olympics.

But out of 354 councils nationwide, 143, including Northumberland County Council, have not signed up to the scheme, claiming the funding is not enough to cover the cost.