A sports organiser believes the secret to their yearly success is a snack given out to participants which he claims 'keeps them coming back year after year'.
HUNDREDS turnedout to celebrate the 10th anniversary of The Haydon Hundred, an event that began in 2013 and puts bikers to the test in three routes, 40km, 60km and 100km which tests their abilities.
The different routes have several unique features including climbing the Alston cobbles and crossing Alston and Allendale Moors.
The challenge once started as a small community event and is now a much anticipated annual event across the North East and Cumbria.
Chairman Mark I’Anson said: "When we first started the event, we didn't know what would happen - whether it would be successful or not.
"Thankfully, we are celebrating the tenth anniversary and is a much-loved event in the North East biking community.
"The event is organised by volunteers which I am sure everyone agrees shows our great community spirit.
"This year we had 226 participants - which is a good number and we had no serious injuries, just a few people falling off their bikes.
"We even welcomed back Louise Alderson, who hasn't missed any of our events in the last 10 years!
"It was great weather and I think the main reason why everyone comes back is for the flapjacks which we hand out at intervals throughout the routes.
"Everyone loved them, even though we changed our chef - Gary from General Havelock."
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