August Bank Holiday: British Cycle Speedway comes to Birmingham - where & what to expect

Cycling is not always a peaceful ride in the country. Cyclists around the UK are competiting in the thrilling 2022 British Cycle Speedway and one of their events will take place in Birmingham over the August Bank Holiday.

Multiple individuals will compete in different categories on Monday 29 August at Perry Hall Park in Perry Barr - and it is going to be action packed. It’s going to be interesting to watch and you can take your family along as there will be vans selling food, sweets, alcohol and ice cream for you to partake while you enjoy the spectacle. So, add it to the list of events to attend this weekend.

What is cycle speedway?

The race takes place on a small oval shale track around 70-90 metres long and just like motorcycle speedway riders use equipment with no gears and no brakes. The sport starte at the end of World War II at former bomb sites. While it began in London it eventually moved north to the Midlands and further by the 1950s, according to Birmingham Monarchs’ website.

They have qualifiers all weekend from March to October and the top 16 scorers in each category make it to the final which is taking place in Perry Hall playing fields. The bikes have no brakes and no gears so the fastest and toughest rider will win.

What’s happening this weekend?

On 28 August, Live Championship Draws for the categories: Under 16 boys, women, and open will take place at the Colliery Suite, Hamsptead Social Club on Old Walsall Road at 8pm.

There are three Birmingham riders Paul Heard, Chris Timms and Ricki Johnson along with dozens others and everyone is trying to win the British title and that all important british cycling jersey. On 29 August, there is a veterans final at 10am, an Under 16’s Boys one at 12pm and a women’s one at 2pm. The Men’s British Individual final is at 4pm.

“This sport is full contact and not for the faint hearted. We have several marquees up and live music as well,” said Cycle Speedway star Chris Timms, who is competing at the event.

Is it dangerous?

Not for the viewers, only for the riders.

Timms, said: “I broke my scaphoid and because the hospital didn’t find it straight away I had to have pins put in. I raced all these years in various competitions and age categories and in 2013 I had a run off to be world champion. I was actually leading the race when a polish rider misjudged a pass and caught my back wheel but some how very heartbreakingly the referee excludes me for obstruction. Now because it’s only an amateur sport there’s no way of me challenging the decision. Shorty after that I badly broke my leg which effected me for some time but now I’m at my best again.”

Timms, who races for a Polish team and is the captain of the England team, started taking part in speedway when he still had stabilisers. His father, Paul - who also competed for Birmingham Monarchs - took him across the country racing for the British youth and junior league.

You can find more details here.

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