Huntingdon Sports were first held at the cricket club on Whit Monday 1879, the meeting was organised by a group of local men, more out of sporting interest than a wish to make a profit. It was not until the Whit Monday 1881 sports that bicycle events were included. The racing was held on a grass track and the bicycle races were a two miles handicap open to county riders and a two miles open handicap, both of these race, were won by G Barley of Buckden. Admission to the sports was free until 1882.
At the 1882 sports, Dan Albone** won second prize in the two miles open handicap race after falling off and re-mounting his bicycle. The Cambridge Independent Press of 3rd June 1882 reported on the event "A large ring was formed with rope and stakes, and a grandstand was erected and tastefully decorated and was patronised by a considerable number of ladies and gentlemen, amongst whom were the Earl and Countess of Sandwich and party. There must have been considerably over two thousand persons present on the field....and when the bicycle races were run there was considerable cheering and excitement." The total gate receipts amounted to over £60.
At the 1883 Whit Monday sports, Dan Albone returned to win the two miles handicap race with ease. The Whit Monday sports became an annual event and continued through the 1880s.
There was a Huntingdon Cycle and Tricycle Club race meeting on 4th October 1883 with a bicycle races, a tricycle race and a ‘sensational' race, in which competitors had to ride a lap, run half a lap, carry their machines for a quarter of a lap, then wheel their bicycles to the finish with the small wheel in the air.
For the 1890 Whit Monday sports, the weather was brilliant, but the attendance was less than expected, there were around 1,500 spectators. After some 10 years, the organisers of the annual sports reflected on their financial viability, only four of the previous years had been profitable, the rest were complete failures because of the weather. The last year's meeting resulted in a deficit of £35, which had to be made up by the individual organisers. For the 1890 sports, 750 tickets were sold in advance at sixpence each and the attendance was finally around 1,500.
On the morning of Whit Monday 1891, the cricket ground was covered with over three inches of snow. The organisers arranged for the snow to be cleared, there were around 1,000 spectators and the sports went ahead as planned, although it was very cold. This must have tested the determination of the organisers to breaking point as this was the last bicycle racing to take place at the cricket ground.
The cricket club was disbanded in 1895 and re-formed in the 1920s, only to fold again and re-form in 1948. The cricket club still exists and still plays on the St Peter's Road ground.
** Dan Albone of Biggleswade was racing cyclist who made his name as a bicycle manufacturer producing the Ivel range of machines. On 5th October 1886, George Pilkington Mills set a world record 24-hour record of 294.5 miles riding an Ivel Safety machine.