Continuing last week's coastal theme, Environment Editor Tony Henderson talks to an artist who knows every nook and cranny along the region's shoreline.

When artist Ron Thornton, who lives in Riding Mill, read last Saturday's report in The Journal about a pioneering management plan to protect the Northumbrian coast, he could not have been more pleased.

For Ron has devoted a lot of time and energy over the past two and a half years on the North East coastline.

A youth group centre that was once infested with rats has got the go-ahead to build a new meeting place - and now the hard work of fundraising is underway.

Corbridge youth initiative has got permission to build a new centre on the Corbridge Middle School site after its current home became run down after many years of use.

Not only is it 30-40 years old but, earlier this year, it suffered a rat infestation which temporarily forced the group to meet elsewhere.

It has been quite a year for One Life Racing, the Tyne Valley-based triathlon and multisports club.

Newly-opened state-of-the- art training facilities at Wentworth Leisure in Hexham have enabled club officials to accommodate the ever-growing demand for new memberships, with numbers rising to more than 200 during 2009.

One Life athletes have also been enjoying remarkable success on a regional, national as well as international level, with four senior members being crowned national champions in their respective age groups.

A superb game saw Corbridge United win 7-5 against Forest Hall Reds.

The Reds were leading 3-2 at half-time with Walsh, Taylor and Moulden their scorers and Callum Outterside and James Hollingsworth countering for Corbridge.

In the second half Corbridge stepped up a gear with Oliver Hancock and Reuben Oliver getting on the score-sheet, plus Outterside and hat-trick hero Hollingsworth adding to their tally.

Fortunately for Corbridge, further responses from the Reds' Walsh and Moulden weren't enough for Forest Hall to get anything from the game.

Youngsters have named Hadrian's Wall as one of the most iconic landmarks in the country.

Stonehenge came top in the Travelodge poll of 2,500 youngsters aged eight to 15.

Hadrian's Wall came second, followed by the London Eye, Edinburgh Castle, and Buckingham Palace .

Antony Gormley's Angel of the North came eighth in the survey ahead of Blackpool Tower and St Paul's Cathedral.

The former academic who became one of the region's most successful entrepreneurs has given up his job at the head of the company he founded 12 years ago.

Tony Trapp is retiring as managing director of the Northumberland firm IHC Engineering Business, based at Riding Mill, but will remain as chairman. He will be replaced by sales and operations director Toby Bailey.

Dr Trapp set up the fast-growing business, which now turns over £27m and has 180 staff, sold it to Dutch giant IHC Merwede for £30m last year when he was made David Goldman Visiting Professor of Business Innovation at Newcastle University and North East Business Executive of the Year 2008 by The Journal.

Hooker Joe Graham scored two tries but Tynedale still lost at struggling Nuneaton.

Despite out-scoring their hosts three tries to two - the other score a penalty try - Tynedale still lost out 21-20 in the Midlands.

An Ashley Smith drop-goal and a Hamish Smales conversion were not enough to deny Mike Umaga's Nuneaton side, who brought their win tally to three but still remain third from bottom in National One.

Joint league leaders Walker secured a 4-0 victory away to Stocksfield at the weekend.

John Robson gave Central a first-half opener before Paul Chapman (2) and Mark Lowson netted.

Two hot Tynedale restaurants have been shortlisted for the Oscars of the curry world.

The Valley Connection 301 in Hexham and The Valley in Corbridge have been shortlisted for the British Curry Awards.

The curry houses beat off competition from more than 2,700 restaurants nationally for the prestigious awards, which are now in their fifth year.

Other regional nominees were the Lal Qila Tandoori, Valley Junction 397 and The Spice Cube in Newcastle, and The Last Days of the Raj in Gateshead.

Anglers and others are being invited to take a behind-the-scenes look at how the Environment Agency keeps an eye on fish.

As part of their monitoring programme at Riding Mill, the Environment Agency carries out fish counting and trapping, and even films the salmon or sea trout as they are returning to the river to spawn.

Visitors can have a guided tour of the Riding Mill site on the open days this coming Friday and Saturday. To book call Gemma Alecks on (0191) 203 4105 or email gemma.alecks@environment-agency.gov.uk.