It has been quite a year for One Life Racing, the Tyne Valley-based triathlon and multisports club.

Newly-opened state-of-the- art training facilities at Wentworth Leisure in Hexham have enabled club officials to accommodate the ever-growing demand for new memberships, with numbers rising to more than 200 during 2009.

One Life athletes have also been enjoying remarkable success on a regional, national as well as international level, with four senior members being crowned national champions in their respective age groups.

An aspiring athlete is cycling her way to success with the help of a Northumberland hotel.

Professional downhill mountain biker Sarah Newman came even closer to fulfilling her dream of becoming the world champion in the adrenaline-fuelled sport after bosses at Matfen Hall Leisure Club decided to step in and lend a hand.

The hotel has given 23-year-old Sarah, from Haydon Bridge, complimentary use of their state-of-the-art gym, meaning her gruelling training schedule is easier to achieve.

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.

On a good weekend for the North East sides, Blaydon secured their National Two future with an 83-33 mauling of Waterloo, Percy Park won promotion to North Two East, seeing off Bridlington 36-3 in the play-offs, and Tynedale accounted for Mounts Bay 32-14 in Cornwall to finish fourth.

Tynedale closed out their season at Mounts Bay with their third straight away win in National Two.

A Jack Harrison hat-trick did the job in the South West, while cruel luck befell Ross Samson, who tore a hamstring after 15 minutes of his last Tynedale match.

Tynedale could not make it 38 straight home league wins against champions-elect Birmingham and Solihull.

The Corbridge men could not repeat their feat of toppling the leaders, as they did against Redruth three weeks before. Birmingham wing Simon Hunt ran in a hat-trick, with Rob Connolly, Mark Woodrow, Alex Davidson and Rod Petty completing the rout.

James Hoyle crossed twice for Tyne, with Ross Samson grabbing a try at the death in his last home appearance before joining Edinburgh.

Tynedale edged out Stourbridge 31-27 in the Midlands, scoring five tries to grab a win bonus point.

Grant Beasley grabbed a brace of tries, while Pete Southern, Jamie Murray and Jack Harrison claimed the other scores which sealed the win.

The joys of spring might upset Tynedale's National Two plans this weekend, but not if enough of the wider squad are fit to take the strain provided by lambing.

Farmers Andrew and Jamie Murray and Peter Southern may well find themselves tied to the North East this weekend if their lambing commitments stretch on.

Should that happen, Tynedale rugby chairman John Shotton said there will be no demands made of the three stalwarts to travel south to Stourbridge.

Tynedale stretched their home league winning streak to 37 matches on Saturday, seeing off National Two leaders Redruth thanks to three late tries.

Charlie Ingall's early score and Rob Miller's penalty had Tynedale 10-0 to the good, but the visitors grabbed a stranglehold to lead 13-14 at the break.

Tynedale entertain league leaders Redruth in Corbridge, aware of their kingmaker status.

Rugby chairman John Shotton said his side will not surrender their 36-match home league winning run without a fight.

Schoolchildren from around Northumberland battled it out in a swimming competition while being cheered on by Olympic and Commonwealth medal winners.

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.