THE roar of classic motorcycles could be heard in Stamfordham on Sunday as owners and visitors gathered to admire the impressive show of vehicles.

The annual Tyne Valley Classic Motorcycle Club show, at the Bay Horse, attracted vintage names, with Triumph, BSA and Norton among those on display.

With fierce competition, judging was by motorcycling journalist Tim Britton.

Best in Show was awarded to Bob Wealleans, who was also last year’s winner with his Velocette. This year, he won with his BSA Rocket Gold Star.

The Best British award went to club chairman John Abbot with his Silk, while Best Classic (tax exempt) was awarded to Eric Ree with his Triumph Speed Twin.

Best Pre-75 was awarded to Brian Chappelhowe for his Triumph Trident Manx Travelling Marshal and Best Post 75 went to Gordon Lapsley from Ponteland for his Triumph T140E.

The club, which meets at the Duke of Wellington on the last Wednesday of the month, was joined by both the BMW and Triumph owners’ clubs and The British Legion riders branch.

Secretary Andy Morgan said: “It was a good turn-out, with over 100 bikes there for the show and quite a lot of people turned up to take a look.

“Fortunately, the weather was good so people came out.

“It can be a networking thing and also an encouragement to spruce up your machine and get it into showroom condition. It’s always a good challenge to get it looking nice.”

Mr Morgan said the oldest motorcyle at the rally – a 1928 Rudge – belonged to Peter Baldasepa, from Wideopen, while many of the other bikes were from the 1960s and 70s. He was personally impressed by John Abbot’s Silk, which is one of roughly only 100 made in the country, and one of only a handful still in use.