The first reported bicycle race at the fair was on 25th September 1875, the race was over two miles and took place on local roads. Before the sports, the organisers distributed £8 of bread and tea to the poorest people in the town. For the next thirty years, the bicycle race seemed to have been held either on local streets or a grass track, usually over two miles. Attendance at the Fair was often poor.
Bicycle races seemed to stop for a long time, but by 1953, there were three grass track races at the Fair, 880 yards and one mile handicaps and a one mile scratch race. There are press reports of cycle racing at the Fair at various times in the 1960s, 1990s and 2000s. It was then reported that cycle races were to be brought back in 2019 and races were scheduled for 2025.
** Gurning is a competition people to pull the most hideous face through a horse-collar. The gurning world championships are held at the Egremont Crab Fair each September in the Market hall. There are men's and women's gurning events and each of the top three receive a prize. The most famous gurner is Tommy Mattinson, who has won the World Championship sixteen times.