The Bridge Rats MCC are establishing a tradition for running some of the best organised events in the North of England. Every December the club gets together with bikers form all over the North to support the waif and stray animals taken in by the good folks at Halifax RSPCA, and rides en masse through the streets of Hebden Bridge and Halifax in an annually growing convoy to deliver huge quantities of donated pet food.

Ian from Quick Quacks MCC with a very wet Bob from FWE MCC.

Roo decides which Police bike to pinch. Take the Blackbird!

This year was no exception. Except, that is, for the weather. It would be no exaggeration to say that this year IT RAINED. In a big way. In fact it absolutley pissed it down. Bucketloads. Cats and dogs, even. In the time it took to proceed at the regulation snail's pace through the streets of Calderdale to our ultimate location of Lakeside Lodge at Brighouse, I was personally soaked to the skin despite the efforts of Hein Gerike's finest.

Cue journo cliche no.27; it didn't dampen our spirits though! In fact the rather grim ride was, for me, enlivened immensley by the sight of Steve Dobbie on his Daytona 595, right up the arse of the Police outriders blasting up the outside of the convoy on their lardass Pan Europeans. At speeds of up to 110mph apparently. Still, if it's safe for them to do it...

Ah, aren't they lovely and cuddly

This one goes home under my jacket.

I have to say that as a taxpayer I object to the Police being issued with such needlessly powerful bikes. Underneath the dayglo stickers one bike looked suspiciously like a Super Blackbird, so be warned. And we taxpayers are paying for these things, remember. I think we should reclaim such tasty toys and put the Police back on LE Velocettes where they belong.

Special mention to George from the Bridge Rats, who tried valiantly to take some decent quality digital photos in the pub only to be beaten by steamed-up-lens-syndrome, more or less inevitable in a boozer packed with sodden bikers on a cold December day. Apparently his "normal" camera bit the dust too after a soaking on the run. Hope the new Nikon F90 is a good consolation George!

Graham and Roo looking like, er, bedraggled Rats...

Mission accomplished! Outside Halifax RSPCA

Many thank to the Bridge Rats for such a well organised and well turned out run; we'll be there again next year whatever the weather!

Rod Gibson