These are the confirmed dates so far. We hope to arrange at least one more home and away friendly with another club.
| 19th August Edinburgh v Northumbria |
| 23rd September Northumbria v Hull v Edinburgh |
| 30th September - Northumbrian Riders Championship |
Practice night is on Tuesday evenings from 6:30pm and training day on Sundays from 12.30pm. All comers welcome.
NVCSC is a British Cycling Clubmark club. More information here> Clubmark
I've been asked so many times by people who've never heard of Cycle Speedway "What is it?", and decided it's best NOT to use the "Speedway on pushbikes" analogy we've used since World War 2, because an awful lot of folk have never seen motorbike Speedway either, but rather to call it "pedal bike racing on a short oval track". So that's what I'm calling it here, you may prefer "Short Oval Racing", I would certainly prefer a name change for a new era - shame on me!).
You won't find shorter than this!
So now, visitor, you know what Cycle Speedway is from the photographs here. Those of us (probably the vast majority) who have it in their blood will describe it as being similar to Roller Derby on bikes, others maybe suggest Destruction Derby is closer to the truth, as a googlie at some CS videos on YouTube may suggest. However savage some of the "friendly" on-track conflict may appear, we love it, get loads of fun and plenty of laughs from it, make new friends, travel quite a bit and stick with it for ages. It is, of course, a great way to stay mobile and reasonably fit if you'd otherwise be using only your elbows to support a glass or a PS4 controller.
Come and have a go!
So, reader, now you know. With 2 or 3 metric dozen clubs around the UK, you can find one close enough to go take a look. You'll be made very welcome, you'll be loaned a bike and helmet, and you'll be shown the ropes by a track expert wherever you land, it's that kind of setup. We are waiting for you at Northumbria STRC (oops, sorry - CSC) but your first visit will prove fruitful whichever club you aim for. Use the links above or below to get in touch, or just turn up at the track when we resume serious Northern League Racing activities on 22nd March at 2:00 pm. Come and watch free, come and ride free. It's your move!
The North & Scotland 4-a-side series resumed at Dunfermline on Sunday 14th July saw Northumbria's quartet of Josh Herring, Shane Gray, Jason Keith and Terry Kirkup come away with the Round Three win to see them just two points adrift of Edinburgh Falcons with two rounds to come at Leith on Sunday 25th August and Cramlington on Sunday 29th September.
Not permanently (or maybe?) but as part of local community group Tyneside Outdoors' Big Bike Week celebrations, Vikings will provide bikes and equipment for a "come and try it" session on the site of the 1960s Trow Lea Mariners track at Temple Memorial Park on the John Reid Road around 50 years since the last two-wheeled action there. Free entry to all, come and have a go!
Jason Keith and Terry Kirkup rode for England at Ipswich on Saturday 6th July in the Home International against Scotland, Ireland and Wales. On a hot, sunny afternoon the 5-man Lions team romped to a well earned Gold medal in a fantastic victory and indeed a historic one for our Club.
At Glasgow on Sunday 30th June Josh Herring, Jason Keith, Shane Gray and Terry Kirkup finished equal first with Leith in Round Two of the North & Scotland Four Man Team competition with Leith. Edinburgh were third followed by Fife and hosts Glasgow.
Horspath (Oxford) club founder Geoff Gamage invited Jason Keith, Ashie Patterson and Terry Kirkup to take part in his 50th year at Horspath celebration meeting. Jason rode in the England Veterans team against the Euro-Vets and was on the winning side, while his companions raced in the Peter White Memorial Trophy also with some success.
Friday 14th June saw the start of our track sessions for Cramlington Learning Village's feeder primary schools. First off the mark was Shanklea school and the sixteen girls and boys showed an immediate liking for the track and the bikes. Fortunately, as vociferously pronounced with great relief after the session by one of the four Shanklea staff in attendance, there were NO falls or injuries of any kind! Vikings Head Coach Richie Smith was well pleased with the turnout and performance of the youngsters on their first ever short track laps.
From now on it'll be Sundays from 11:00-12:00 for Under-16 riders then 4:00-5:00 seniors, and Tuesday night adults from 6:15. Sundays are dependent upon North & Scotland League fixtures which start when the Vikings are due to ride for their adopted sides in Hull and Edinburgh on 7th April . PLEASE keep an eye on our Facebook page for the most recent updates.
Viking's skipper Jason Keith finished 3rd in Northern League Individuals in Wigan. Jason also currently runs in second place in the Euro-Vets Over 40 Grand Prix series with teammate Terry Kirkup third in the Over 60s.
On Tuesday 12th February, Richie Smith and Terry Kirkup met Seat Valley and Cramlington's School Sports Co-ordinator to discuss possible school sessions on the track this season. Lets hope we can start to emulate the amazing Queen Anne High School in Fife and get a massive betch of youngsters into the Sport. This is all schedules for May and June.
Viking's long-time Number One, ex-British Over 40s Champion Gavin Parr has signed for Hull CSC for the 2019 season. This follows the cessation of Northern League racing here at Northumbria following a disappointing few years where we failed to attract any new riders to boost our numbers and ensure a healthy future for the team. With a few of the remaining regulars off to Edinburgh for 2019, Gavin has taken advantage of the chance to link up with his good friend, 3-time British Champion Andy Angell at the Humberside club and we wish him all the very best for his coming season.
2018 sees us embark on a team rebuilding programme with a serious search for junior talent led by Coach Richie Smith.
TK made some changes to the track floodlights on 23rd October while the School was on half term break. We now have much better coverage with some tweaks to the aiming angle of each lamp.
Saturday 29th October 2016 and our British Cycling Head Coach, Richie Smith joins a very select band of fully-qualified Cycle Speedway Coaches at Wednesfield, elevating himself from Lord to God at the Vikings lair. Not sitting on his newly-won laurels, Richie immediately sizes up some opportunities for winter indoor racing at several venues on Tyneside should the desire to race be strong enough. Some interest has already been shown by several of Terry Kirkup's Team Midaircrisis mountain bike club colleagues so we may see some fresh talent if this comes off.
We are always looking for extra help on match days and all such offers would be gratefully accepted and really appreciated. Like most other amateur sports clubs we do depend heavily upon parents and relatives, so if you think you could offer to help out in even the smallest way then just ask any club member for further information. You can also e-mail our Volunteer Co-ordinator through our inbox at vikings @ northumbriacsc.org
CALLING ALL UNDER 16 RIDERS AND POTENTIAL RIDERS! (and your folks!)
and of course anyone else over 16, both ladies and gentlemen - there is NO UPPER AGE LIMIT and this year we have riders in their early-20's and early 40s making their debuts! Come along on Saturday and show us what you can do!
Keep watching here and our FaceBook page (see link below) for information on training, racing and coaching, and come see what our Sport can offer YOU!
