In1885 at Whitsuntide a body of cyclists came from the Tyne to Barnard Castle. They found beautiful rural surroundings, cycling and foot races on the cricket field in the afternoon and a ball at the music hall at night. The sports included the appearance of the Northern Champion cyclist and other crack riders from Tyneside.

The Inaugural official Barnard Castle meet was a great success and included a procession starting from the railway station at 1pm. Large crowds lined the streets to watch 20 cycling clubs mostly from Newcastle and Sunderland, but also included the Teesdale wanderers the Barnard Castle Club.

This carried on until war broke out and there was no more held until the victory meet of 1919, where no doubt absent friends were sadly remembered, but a big crowd met in "good fellowship and lovely weather".

The meet moved into the 20's and Jazz Bands came and became an annual feature; the beret became the headgear of the fashionable cyclist; hotels were decked out into rocky mountainsides and pagodas, motor clubs joined the cycle clubs in the cavalcade and the great year, the Golden Jubilee came in 1929-the 50th Annual cycle meet.

Again war interrupted the flow of the meet history. Naturally there were no North Eastern Cyclist Meets during the war years. Mr. Newsome the proprietor of the fair that had been coming for at least 30 years presented a Trophy as the committee saw fit and the chief marshal of the cyclist's procession personally came at Whit to preserve the continuity of the meet. There was sad irony in this for never again did the North East cyclists meet.

Barnard Castle held its own Meet under its own name, and a grand affair it was as the attendances suggest; 3000 people attended a gymkhana; and 8000 watched the procession despite the rain; 1000 cyclists arrived from three northern counties. This was the start of a new era and new ideas, with wheel barrow races as well as serious running and walking races, the procession being the highlight of the weekend.

By 1955 horse racing was replaced by ring events and then by motor cycle racing. Punch and Judy shows, window spotting competition, a military band concert an open air Sunday School Service, a road race on foot from Darlington to Barnard Castle, free golf on the town's course and a dog show.

More innovations came and went reflecting the changes in fashion. In 1969 the meet was struggling to survive and no-one should have been surprised when lack of volunteers meant that the meet was cancelled that year. Enthusiasts approached Tommy Carter who had been chairman in previous years but had retired saying he was too old to help, but he rose to the occasion and was made Chairman of the Meet. The Round Table organised Sulky Racing, the Meet Queen visited hospital patients, there was a pet show, a dance, a handicraft display, the procession was said to be the longest and funniest in years-and the meet went into the 1970's.

In recent years the meet has continued to bring enjoyment and allot of business to the town. It has faced a number of challenges in the last few years, one being cancellation in 2001 due to foot and mouth. This lead to a difficult year in 2002, with only one float entering the parade. But the committee, townsfolk and local businesses rallied round and the meet has continued to grow. Andy Power deserves a special mention when the meet was in crisis with funding in 2005 as he came to the meets aid as he organised money raising events which enabled 2005 meet event to proceed.

The event in 2008 was a great success with crowds as large as 1914, with many attractions and fun for all the family. We hope with the continued support of local business and community the future of this historic event can be safeguarded for many years to come.