THEY weren’t quite the days of the penny-farthing, but the tracks of history go a long way back for the Ferryhill Wheelers.

Indeed, it’s so long ago that no one can be really sure who gave the club its first push downhill. The most reliable suggestion appears to be that three cycling brothers, Joe, Ralph and Lawrence Lowe, from Windlestone, were the club’s first official riders.

That was back in 1926 and it was two more years before a newspaper report confirmed the club’s affiliation to the North Yorkshire and South Durham centre of the National Cyclists’ Union, which was celebrating its own 50th anniversary at the time.

The Northern Echo: HISTORY: Extracts from the Ferryhill Wheelers' history book issued in 2001

Extracts from the Ferryhill Wheelers' history book issued in 2001

The County Durham club has had its stars over the years. In 1961, the remarkable George Bennett was named “King of the Mountains” in the Tour of Britain, which was to become The Milk Race. George, a lifelong Ferryhill Wheeler, was doing national service at the time, so rode for a combined services team. He was second in the national championships that year and went on to win the World Road Race title for 60-64s in 2000.

David Cook is another Wheelers’ legend. Winner of the National Amateur Road Race Championships in 1989, he finished 13th in The Milk Race and was selected for the 1992 Olympics in Barcelona.

Whatever doubts may have arisen amid the mists of time, 2016 has been taken as the club’s official 90th anniversary and the arrival at such an important milestone has been marked with pride.

A series of events have been organised to celebrate the anniversary but two stand out: a 300-mile challenge, and a recent anniversary dinner.

The 300-mile challenge involved tackling the “Coast To Coast” route with a difference. Normally ridden from Whitehaven in Cumbria to the North-East coast, it is a ride of about 130 miles. However, the 90th anniversary demanded a greater challenge so the route was stretched to 300 miles by starting and finishing in Ferryhill market place and covering 300 miles in two days.

Twenty riders left Ferryhill and, remarkably, no one had a puncture on the 600-mile round trip. The even better news was that a total of £7,069 was raised for Help For Heroes, thanks to the generous support of the family, friends and work colleagues.

The 90th anniversary dinner, held at the Eden Arms, Rushyford, was well supported by members, former members and guests. Eighteen trophies were presented, including “Best All-rounder” to Howard Heighton, and Senior Road Race Champion Mark Hansom.

The trophies were presented by Kathleen Edmenson and her niece and nephew Karen and Carl Edmenson, relatives of the Edmenson brothers who had been stalwarts of the club. Kath’s late husband, Bob, had been club’s “Best all Rounder” eight times and the trophy now bears his name. Karen and Carl’s late father, Sep, had been club secretary for many years and his name is on the 25-mile Handicap Trophy.

The presentations ended with Joan Davies standing up to announce that she was born the year the club was formed and had ridden with the “Wheelers” in her youth. She then made a presentation of a new trophy to the club, “The Harold Davies Memorial Trophy”, in memory of her late husband’s enjoyment of the sport.

The club's vice chairman, Steve Davies, six times a World Masters Champion, said: "To reach the 90-year mark is a remarkable achievement and the club has celebrated in style, raising a lot of money along the way for an amazing charity."

Ninety years after the brakes were released for the first time, the Ferryhill Wheelers are still adding to their history.