An event hosted by a Dunfermline-based cycle speedway club, and their head coach, were shortlisted for honours at a national awards ceremony.
Fife Cycle Speedway, and founder, Craig Masson, were feted at the Scottish Cycling Awards, which were held on Saturday November 16 at the Inchyra Grange Hotel near Falkirk.
The club, which has its own custom-built track within the grounds of Queen Anne High School, hosted the first-ever Scottish National Cycle Speedway Championships in September.
Held in collaboration with Scottish Cycling, with support from JDB All Trades, the "first of its kind" event saw competitors race in a series of sprint battles against up to three other riders at a time, with each race consisting of four laps of the 80m track.
Similar to motorcycle speedway, the pedal version sees competitors ride on a small, dirt oval track, with no brakes, sliding through the corners to take the fastest line, and is accessible, affordable and family-orientated.
Its popularity has been growing across Scotland, after forming in 2016, Fife Cycle Speedway was chosen to host the inaugural national competition, which attracted 50 riders and more than 150 spectators.
Its success saw it nominated for Scottish Cycling's 'Event of the Year', alongside the Scottish Downhill Association Series, the Scottish National Youth Circuit Championships, and Zetland Park Pump Track Series, the latter of which was announced as the award winner.
In addition, Craig, who earlier this month was named as Community Coach of the Year at the sportscotland Coaching, Officiating and Volunteering Awards 2024, was one of three nominees for Volunteer of the Year, alongside Lorna Breetzke and Mary Lloyd.
READ MORE: Cycle speedway coach Craig scoops national award
Lorna, of Elgin Cycling Club, picked up the award for having been "instrumental in growing the sport in the north of Scotland, particularly for female riders", but cycle speedway did receive recognition as Trevor Bryant, of Border Raiders, was named Community Coach of the Year.
Speaking to Press Sport following his sportscotland award success, Craig said: "I want to continue to grow our club and get more people participating in the sport.
"Obviously, I want to grow it in Scotland, so I'm wanting to get more cycle clubs involved in the sport, or new ones created, like the Borders, for example, because I feel that cycle speedway is, out of all the cycle disciplines that people can engage with, cycle speedway is one of the most, if not the most successful ones.
"Just with the kind of resource that the sport has, how good the cycle speedway community are with each other, I believe that it's ideal for kids starting out in their cycling journey to come and try and get involved."
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