A CRICKET club has hosted a British Cycling national grass track event on its natural grass velodrome.

Richmondshire Cricket Club held the event on Monday, May 26 and more than 1,500 spectators turned out to watch some highly competitive cycling, including the national 8km endurance final.

Organiser James Hall of Nutcracker Racing said: “The turnout was just fantastic.

“With competitor numbers at their highest in more than 10 years and the cricket ground brimming with spectators it created a great atmosphere, and the one day window of warm and dry weather helped as well.

“The cricket club did a great job of preparing the track and the hospitality was second to none.

“We’d like to reiterate our thanks for their support – and we’ll definitely be back next year.”

More than 50 competitors battled each other in a range of races, including points races, omnium and devil take the hindmost, and there was a series of children’s races with dozens of boys and girls emulating their Olympic heroes and heroines on the track.

Andy Barlow, chairman of Richmondshire Cricket Club, said: “Our ground is one of only two natural grass tracks in Yorkshire, and we were especially delighted in this year of the Tour de France to be hosting this event.

“I’d like to thank all the volunteers - from both cycling and cricket fraternities - for making this day the highlight of the Bank Holiday weekend, a great start to a whole range of events and activities the cricket club has planned in the run up to the Grand Départ on the first weekend in July.

“Throughout June and July we will be hosting a series of grass track events for the newly formed North Riding Track League, and it’s great to see this natural cycling amphitheatre being enjoyed by cycling enthusiasts, old and young, throughout the surrounding areas.”