The 5th annual athletic sports were held at the Flower Show on 14th August 1879 and included bicycle handicap events; there was a one mile open race and a three quarters of a mile local race. The open race had seventeen starters and was run off in three heats, in the final, Leslie Radcliffe of Warwick BC won the first prize of four guineas. There was a record attendance at the sports, with music from the Synyer and Gilmore bands and a firework display in the evening.
By the 1887 sports, a half mile open tricycle race had been added, which was won by HE Laurie of Worcester AC off scratch. A Ladies Challenge Cup, valued 25 guineas, was offered for the winner of the one mile scratch race from the 1894 sports. J Chamberlain of Bristol won the Cup for the third consecutive time in 1899, thus making it his own property.
At the 1902 sports, Ernie Payne of Worcester St John's CC (nicknamed ‘the Worcester Wonder') was competing. He rode in the one mile handicap, which was run in six heats and Payne won off 80 yards, he also won the mile open scratch race fairly easily, bringing his prize money for the day up to £10. Payne went on to win a gold medal in the 1908 Olympic Games team pursuit event with Ben Jones, Clarence Kingsbury and Leon Meredith. Payne rode an Imperial Rover with Dunlop tyres and he returned the following year and won the one mile scratch race with ease.
The last bicycle racing at the Abbey Grounds was at the Flower Show annual sports on August Bank Holiday 1912. EW Stanford, the National AAA Champion 1912, was racing the meeting but was unfortunately brought down on the last lap of the one mile scratch race for the Ladies Challenge Cup. This was also the last bicycle racing to be held in Pershore.
The Abbey Grounds are now known as Abbey Park, which is a popular local park close to the town centre.
