Possible Clues:

• Behatted abstainer's story about another - it's gossip
• Small talk
• Rumour in half 22 time in championship - top of table which leads premier to lose point
• Small amount to thank teetotaller with the French gossip
• *Gossip
• Top team in Championship tells a lie about race gossip
• Idle chatter
• Gossip as flier let out story about motorbike races
• Small talk?
• Light, breezy gossip (2 words)