The first bicycle racing at the cricket ground was at the Newark FC Whit Monday meeting in 1876, the event attracted a large crowd and local donations enabled £150 in prize money to be offered. There were two bicycle races, the one mile local handicap ‘open to Gentlemen amateurs of Newark' was won by JA Clarkson and in the two miles open handicap, A Smith of the Hulme Zephyr BC was victorious.
Newark Bicycle Club held their first sports at the cricket club on 24th September 1881, there were four bicycle races, including the club one mile championship race. There were a large number of competitors and most of the events needed five heats. The event was repeated only in the following year.
The football club Whit Monday sports continued through the 1870s and 1880s, with the number of entries steadily rising. At the 1884 sports there were 5,000 spectators and the bicycle handicap races over one and two miles were both won by FB Coulson Grimsby CC. By the 1892 sports the bicycle races were for safeties only and there were 254 entries in 19 events, watched again by 5,000 spectators.
By 1889 Newark FC moved their home ground to Muskham Road, using the facilities of the Midland Hotel, but they still continued to hold their annual sports at Newark Cricket Ground.
Newark Rovers CC, who had been form in the 1890s, changed it's name to Newark Cycling Club in 1896. The football club sports in 1897 included a club race for members of Newark CC and a separate race for members of Newark Castle CC.
The sports continued to be a major event in the area through the 1900s. At the 1903 sports the bicycle races were over half and one mile (open) and a one mile novices race. The NCU (Notts district) half mile Championship was held and LA Mack of Nottingham was the winner. A novelty event of a two miles motor cycle race was held and HW Stones of Lincoln won easily.
There was a dispute between NCU and the AAA which kept cycle race entries low for the 1910 sports, it was also the last bicycle racing to be held at the cricket ground.
Newark Cricket Club became known as Newark Ransome & Marles Cricket Club, named after the ball and roller bearings company in Newark. Ransome & Marles is now part of NSK UK.