The Marion Bunton Memorial Challenge Trophy
Marion Bunton was an 18 year old member of Tyneside Vagabonds when she suffered an accident whilst cycling with a friend near Bellingham on 21st of March 1948. Marion had joined the Vagabonds two years earlier, and had gone on to win prizes in open competitions the following year.
Marion had become a keen Youth Hostel enthusiast and for a few weekends before the accident had been visiting local hostels with her companion Mary Wright. After spending an evening at Bellingham Hostel on Saturday 20th of March 1948, they set off in the direction of Otterburn and the tragic accident happened near West Woodburn when the back wheel of her bicycle reportedly became loose as she was cycling down a steep hill. She was taken to the Royal Victoria Infirmary in Newcastle, but passed away shortly after.
The Marion Bunton Memorial Challenge Trophy was first awarded in 1948. Appropriately, it was originally awarded to the winner of the Tyneside Vagabonds’ Open Ladies’ 10 Mile Time Trial. The winners from 1948 to 1964 were as follows:
| Year | Winner | Club / Affiliation | Time |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1948 | Joan Marflitt | Tyneside Vagabonds CC | 29m 8s |
| 1949 | MA Reaney | Hemsworth Wheelers CC | 28m 22s |
| 1950 | C Bellett | South Shields Victoria CC | 27m 3s |
| 1951 | C Bellett | South Shields Victoria CC | 27m 14s |
| 1952 | C Brown | South Shields Victoria CC | 26m 27s |
| 1953 | C Brown | South Shields Victoria CC | 25m 54s |
| 1954 | JM Burton | Stockton Wheelers | 27m 43s |
| 1955 | B Parsons | West hartlepool CC | 29m 13s |
| 1956 | JM Burton | Tees-Side Clarion CC | 27m 12s |
| 1957 | JM Burton | Tees-Side Clarion CC | 25m 22s |
| 1958 | JM Howe | Tees-Side Clarion CC | 26m 36s |
| 1959 | JM Howe | Tees-Side Clarion CC | 26m 32s |
| 1960 | A Foster | 27m 57s | |
| 1961 | A Foster | Teeside (sic) | 28m 17s |
| 1962 | P Chamberlain | Hounslow & District Wh. | 1h 9m 51s (Ladies 25) |
| 1964 | J Stokoe | 28m 4s |
We have no record of the Open Ladies’ 10 being held after 1964.
The Mountain Time Trial took place annually from 1947 to 1963. Unlike the Ladies’ 10 it was restarted, in 1971, and has taken place every year since then, except in 1987 and 2020. It is presumed that the Marion Bunton Trophy was repurposed after 1971, a new base provided and the names of all previous winners engraved.