Ribblesdale Grass Track Racing Association was set up in 1951 to promote grass track racing in the Whalley, Nelson and Clitheroe area, the secretary was John Hilton and Harry Aspen was the president, both men were from Langho.
The first grass track racing at Whalley was organised by the Association on 22nd September 1951 and the Clitheroe Advertiser reported that forty eight cyclists from seventeen Lancashire clubs took part in the Festival of Britain event which was the first attempt by the NCU at track racing in East Lancashire. The crack local riders taking part included Ken Hartley and Joe Whalley and there were a wide variety of cycle races. Tickets cost one shilling from the Don Cafe or Aspden's Cycles.
The event was repeated the following year on 23rd August 1952 and the attendance increased from 600 to 1,000 people. The two lap sprint race was won by Harry Hardcastle, Abbotsford Park and the three miles point to point was won by JD Whalley of Padiham. A roller racing competition was organised by the Clarion at Castle Bandstand, to run in conjunction with the track race.
At the meeting the following year on 15th August 1953, the crowd again numbered 1,000 and Jeff Smith of Blackburn Eagles won the local NCU 800 yards championship race. The devil take the hindmost race was very popular and S Castle of Manchester C&AC was the winner from T Grimshaw, Manchester Wheelers.
On 26th September 1953, the Association organised another grass track meeting, this time at Nelson's Seedhill cricket ground. The track was set at five laps to the mile and there were thirty competitors, six of them girls. The popular events at the meeting were a three miles point to point, won by WE Penrose of Huddersfield RC and a devil take the hindmost, won by S Ryall of Manchester C&AC. Miss W Hynes of Bradford St Christopher's won the women's 440 yard sprint race.
The Ribblesdale Grass Track Cycle League advertised a race meeting on June 17th at Whalley Cricket Club in the Lancashire Evening Post on 15th May 1954 but the meeting did not take place because of poor support. There was no further grass track racing at Whalley.
Whalley Cricket Club still play at their ground.
