THE Beamish Reliability Run will return to its traditional route next year, despite the successful staging of the annual event over a curtailed course last weekend.

The foot-and-mouth crisis meant that organisers were only given the all-clear to stage the 30th running of the reliability and safety test for mainly vintage and classic vehicles a month before the scheduled run.

But after reducing the route from its usual 150 miles to around 91, avoiding farmland and removing all sections in North Yorkshire, it passed smoothly last Sunday.

All but two of the 84 starters managed to complete the run, over a revised figure-of-eight route, from Beamish to Bowes museums, and back, all in County Durham.

Nine other entrants failed to make it to the start line at Beamish on Sunday morning.

George Jolley, of the North-East Club for Pre-War Austins, said: "Mercifully, it didn't rain. It stayed dry, if bitterly cold, and it all went well. The marshalls all did a great job and the police were really wonderful.

"Obviously, foot-and-mouth has been a real problem and we wanted to respect the farming community and not risk making the situation any worse this year.

"But, providing everything is back to normal next year, we will return to our usual course."

The 2002 run will be staged, as usual, on Father's Day, the third Sunday in June.

To mark the 50th anniversary of the Queen's accession to the throne, entry will be permitted for all cars made up to 1952, inclusive.

Mr Jolley thanked the sponsors, Beamish Museum, The Northern Echo and Barry Peacock, of Lanchester Dairies, for their help in backing this year's event, but appealed for a donor for a trophy for the best post-war car for the 2002 event.

Anyone who can help should ring Mr Jolley on 0191-536 0929.

2001 Roll of Honour:

This year's overall winner was Andrew Raine, from Spennymoor, in his 1949 Alvis TA 14, who took the Beamish Enthusiasts' Trophy, presented by the Jolley family.

Mr Raine also took the Alvis Eagle award, donated by the Alvis Owners' Club North-Eastern branch, for the best performance by an Alvis.

The best vintage car category was won by Mike Telford, of Warwick-on-Eden, near Carlisle, in his American 1930 Ford Model A, who won the North-East Club for Pre-War Austins Trophy.

HP Bailey of Whickham, near Gateshead, in a 1935 BSA Coupe, won the Peter Bramwell Trophy for the best post-vintage car.

The best car over 12 horse-power was a 4.5-litre 1936 Bentley, driven by Tony Gray, of Darlington, who won the Herrington Industrial Services Cup.

A 1935 American-made Ford V8, driven by Edgar Coulson, of Hartlepool, won the Mill Audi Sunderland Trophy for the best foreign car.

The best post-war car was a 1948 Riley, driven by George Delgarno, of Newcastle.

Winner of the Maskell Engineering Services Trophy for the best commercial vehicle, was Tom Cummins, of Sunderland, in his 1950 Austin Champ.

The best performance by an MG was David Hook, of Durham, in his 1949 MG Model TC, which won him the Sayers Trophy.

John Lowther, of Butterknowle, near Bishop Auckland, on a 1950 Sunbeam S8 500cc won the Ken Blacklock Trophy, for the best motorcycle.

The best pre-war motorcycle was judged to be the 1927 James 350cc, ridden by Walter Bratley, of York, who won the Teesside Yesteryear Motor Club Trophy.

Unfortunate entrant Ken Blacklock, of Chester-le-Street, took the Jolley Hardluck Trophy, after his 1959 BSA B33 failed to finish due to clutch problems.

The earliest-made vehicle on the run was a 1905 Brown Brothers, driven by Stephen Cleminson, of West Auckland, who earned the accolade of completing the run in the oldest car in the 30-year history of the event.