Thrapston started to hold local Athletic Sports in 1876 and the following year, on 23rd August 1877, which was Feast Monday bank holiday, the sports included a bicycle race. The sports were held in a fairly rough field lent by Mr G Sharpe, which made the two miles open handicap bicycle race a little challenging. The sports were generally well supported, but there were only three competitors in the bicycle race, which was won by the scratch man, H Linnett of Northampton.
The following year the Peterborough Standard reported that "the sports had now become a recognised institute", a new stand for over 400 people had been erected (entrance cost an extra sixpence) and the flat, four laps to the mile, course was carefully rolled and the central area roped off. A crowd of 3,000 spectators watched the sports, a bicycle race was included, which had 19 entries and J Smith of Woodford lead from start to finish. The sports were an important annual event for Thrapston over the next thirty years.
By 1880, Thrapston Athletics Sports were the "leading meeting in the county of Nottinghamshire" and Lord Burghley was their patron. The meetings were extended to include pony racing, which was very popular. The amusements included "several peep-shows, shooting galleries, cocoa-nut shies and Hawkins' Cork Model Exhibition"** and the band of the County Militia played at the sports. A telegraph box was used to display race information to the crowd. The two miles bicycle handicap race was won by H Wright from RC Pars of Lincoln by a yard.
The principal shops in the town were generally closed for the sports and the 1888 meeting had an attendance of 5,000 people, in spite of poor weather. There was professional foot racing and three bicycle handicap events - a two miles novices race and one and five miles open races. The Rushden National Prize Band played throughout the meeting and for dancing in the evening. There was a balloon ascent and fireworks at the close.
The Thrapston Athletics Sports were held annually until the outbreak of the First World War, attendances of several thousands was normal and 1899 saw a record crowd of 10,000 spectators. Thrapston and District Cycling and Athletics Club organised the annual sports from 1905 and there was a record of 255 entries. The Erskine cup and gold medal were on offer for the one mile bicycle club handicap race and there were three other bicycle races. Flat racing and the horse show completed the events and the Raunds Temperance Silver Band played throughout the meeting.
The last sports before the First World War were held on 3rd August 1914 with a near record crowd. The Thrapston and District C&AC organised the sports and the bicycle events were half and one mile open handicap races.
The annual sports were revived in 1920, but there were no bicycle races, and there does not appear to have been any further bicycle races at Thrapston in modern times.
** Hawkins' Cork Model Exhibition appeared at shows around the county, displaying models of famous buildings made out of cork. The Grantham Journal described the exhibition as "the chief object of interest was the elaborate and beautiful cork model of Burghley House, which occupied ten years in construction, and is built from 500,000 old bottle corks, put together with 400,000 ordinary pins."