The first bicycle race in Sidmouth was at the Regatta on 28th Aug 1888, there were two miles amateur races for bicycles and tricycles. It is likely that the sports were held at, or near the cricket club ground.
Sidmouth Athletics Sports were first held on 15th September 1891 and bicycle races were included, these were a one mile local handicap and a two mile open handicap race. In the local handicap, Sidmouth CC riders were prominent and their two scratch men EA Orchard and AJ Thacker made an exciting race, with Orchard taking the victory in 3m 45s.
More bicycle races were added in 1893 including a five miles scratch race for the Challenge Cup. The Sidmouth Athletic Sports meetings formed part of Devon Athletics Week from September 1894, with sports meetings in Sidmouth, Exeter, Tiverton and Newton. At the Sidmouth Sports, J Platt-Betts** came second in the five miles scratch race, after he fell on the last lap and three other riders rode over him.
The Sidmouth Sports continued to be held up to1899, when they were abandoned because the cricket pitch was not available. The same thing happened again the following year and unfortunately the sports were never held again. This also resulted in the Sidmouth Cycling Club winding down and folding shortly after. Sidmouth Cricket Club still play on the Fortfield ground.
** J Platt-Betts beat the one mile world record at Wood Green in 1895, with a time of 1 min 48 sec in front of a crowd of 18,000. In the same year, he broke the 50 miles world record with a time of 1 hour 48 min 38.4 sec riding a Rover bicycle.