One of the disadvantages of the Recreation Ground for watching bicycle racing was that spectators could only be accommodated in the centre of the track, due to the small size of the ground.
The first bicycle races on the new track took place at the Bury BC evening meeting on June 25th 1885, where two club championships were decided, for bicycles over ten miles and tricycles over one mile. The Bury and Norwich Post of 9th June 1885 commented "All races will be run under the rules of the National Cyclist's Union, the left hand inside."^^ WJ Sparks won the ten miles championship when all the riders except Sparks, crashed after eight miles and he went on to win easily.
On Thursday evening 18th July there was an invitation meeting which enabled local clubs to try out the new track. The weather was cold and entries were quite low. The three cycle races were two miles tricycle handicap one and three miles bicycle handicap. After the racing, the grounds were illuminated and there was dancing to a fife and drum band.
There was a 100 miles bicycle race on 29th August 1885, conditions were good but there were only five starters and the Bury BC champion Sparks drew ahead to lead by three miles at half distance. After 59 miles there was an agreed dismount for lunch after which Nunn put on a spurt, but could not catch Sparks who ran out the winner in 10hrs 14min.
Bury BC held a bicycle race meeting on Easter Monday 1886 there were five events, but again entries were low. The press criticised the poor catering at the event and the inconsistent handicapping. The attendance was one thousand. A promenade concert was held in the evening and entertainment was provided by an exhibition of feats of strength by Mr Adair.
At the January 1887 AGM of Bury BC, several racing members of the club reported that the track was unsafe for competition and that there were accidents at most race meetings. The committee were to decide whether money should be spent on the track. After repairs to the track, the Easter Monday sports went ahead.
At the 1889 AGM the meeting considered that the £10 spent the previous year was excessive, but the Easter 1889 race meeting was held there.
At the 6th January 1891 AGM of a Bury BC, the possibility of moving the race meetings to the cricket ground was discussed. It was considered that the corners at the Recreation Ground were dangerous and many riders boycotted the track, particularly in sprint events, it was also thought that the spectators view at the ground was poor. The Cricket Ground gave spectators good views and was safer, but their venue was criticised because it was on a steep hill. After a vote, the club Easter meetings were moved to the cricket ground, but other club meetings were held at the Recreation Ground.
There must have been much disquiet in Bury BC, because in June 1894, a new cycling club was formed called the Peregrine Bicycle Club. Shortly after this, it was reported that Bury BC had been dissolved and replaced by Bury Bicycle and Athletics Club. The Peregrine BC were to hold their meetings at the Recreation Ground and Bury B&AC at the Cricket Ground.
Early in 1895, the Recreation Ground Company decided that they did not wish to carry on operating the ground themselves, so they advertised and let the ground for one year to the Bury Cycle and Furnishing Company. Unfortunately the deal went sour and in court, the Recreation Ground Company successfully sued the Bury Cycle Company for £17 10s.
The newly formed Peregrine Cycling & AC held a race meeting and fete at the Recreation Ground on 30th May 1895 and a further meeting 26th Sept 1895.
The Peregrine C&AC held some races at the ground in 1896, but their meeting on 25th August 1896 was the last bicycle races at the Recreation Ground and by 1900, the Peregrine Cycling and Athletics Club was defunct.
The Recreation Ground Company tried to attract families to the ground by holding fetes and lawn tennis, bowls and quoits, but the ground was sold in the early 1900s for development and is now a car dealership.
** Bury St Edmund's was usually abbreviated to Bury by the locals. It should not be confused with Bury, Greater Manchester.
^^ In the 1880s, there was no agreement as to which way round bicycle races would be run around a track. Left hand inside was by far the most popular, but was not universal until some years later.