The Astley & Tyldesley club was formed in November 1989 and made their on track bow in April 1991, initially racing in the Manchester League. Improvements to the Gin Pit circuit, which was originally mainly funded and built by club members, have been made on an ongoing basis with the venue being afforded the status of the North's Regional Centre in 1997.

The club is an accredited British Cycling Go-Ride Club and the venue became British Cycling’s North West Cycle Speedway Academy during 2002. The A & T club boasts a proud record of recruiting and developing their own talent, with home grown A & T riders having won thirteen British Individual titles. A & T have won the Manchester League Division One four times, the Northern Junior League five times, the Northern Junior K. O. Cup four times, as well as the 1997 British U-16 Team Championship at Exeter.

During the 2003 season the club successfully promoted the World Team Cup. The club acquired the prestigious Sport England Clubmark accreditation early in 2005 - only the 2nd cycling club in the U.K. to do so. The club successfully promoted the 2010 British Individual Finals and will host the British Team Finals on Sunday 11th September 2011.

Riders Racing Statistics

Record of Personal Best Times
 
Luke Jamson - Age 18. Luke took up racing mid-season through 2008, after sampling a taster session at his school. Has improved rapidly and shows great potential. Raced in the 2008 British U-16 Indoor Individual Final and won the 2009 Northern U-19 Grand Prix series. Was the only rider who was an ever present for A & T in 2009.  Luke will gain extra racing experience by competing for Bury on a secondary licence in Northern League matches.
Matthew Turnbull - Age 19. Elder brother of Adam, Matthew started riding midway through 2007 at the Club's weekly training nights. Has improved steadily and won the 2010 Northern U-19 Grand Prix series and Club U-19 Individual.
 
Alexander (Sacha) Street - 14 years old. Has been a regular participant at the club's training nights since mid 2009. Has now moved up into the club's racing squad. Represented Wigan in the 2010 Gt. Manchester Champions Challenge and took 3rd place in the Boys Sprint Final. Winner of the North West Trophy Cup for Best Novice and Club U-16 Individual 2010. His progress has been restricted by twice breaking his wrist in non racing accidents.
 

Joel Partington - aged 13. Took up cycle speedway in May 2007. Won the Manchester League U-10 Grand Prix series and the Club U-10 Individual. Winner of the Rory Blackwell Cup for the Best Newcomer 2007. Was runner-up in both the Northern and Manchester League U-10 Individuals in 2007. Won four British titles in other cycling disciplines in 2009 - U-12 National Omnium Champion, U-12 National Omnium series, U-12 English Schools Cycling Association (ESCA) Hard Track Champion, U-12 ESCA Grass Track Champion. Won the 2008 and 2009 Club U-13 Individual Championship.
 

Adam Phillips - 13 years old. He won the 2006 A & T U-10 Club Individual title and the Rory Blackwell Cup for the Best Newcomer 2006. Won the Northern U-10 Individual in 2007 and 2008. The Club's Young Rider of the Year 2007, Adam was winner of the 2008 Manchester League U-10 Individual and runner-up in the 2008 British U-10 Individual Final. Had back to back wins in the British Junior Grand Prix series, winning the U-10 series in 2008 and the U-12 series in 2009. Took third place in the 2009 British U-13 indoor Individual Final. Won the Northern U-13 Individual, Manchester League U-13 Individual and GP series, Club Open and U-13 Individuals 2010. Is also a regular member of Liverpool academy football team.
 
Bethan Braithwaite - 13 years old. Took up racing midway through the 2009 season and shows potential, despite making only sporadic appearances.
 
Alex Green - aged 13. Started racing midway through the 2010 season and is a keen and enthusiastic rider.
 
Reece Pollitt - 12 years old. Started racing early in the 2010 season and shows great potential. Won the Rory Blackwell Cup for the club's best newcomer in 2010.
 

Stefan Whitelegg - 11 years old. He has been a regular member at the junior training nights since the start of the 2005 season. Winner of the club's Most Improved Rider award 2006 and 2010. Stefan took 2nd place in the Club U-10 Individual in 2007, 2008 and 2009. He took 2nd place in the Manchester League U-10 Individual in 2009. To keep his fitness at a peak level he plays football for a local team and is a member of a local Karate club.
 
Ross Green - aged 10. Started racing midway through the 2010 season and is a determined rider.
 
Charlotte Gilmore - 10 years old. Started racing midway through the 2010 season and is a keen and enthusiastic rider.
 
Adam Turnbull - Age 10. He started riding midway through 2007. Adam took 3rd place in the British U-8 Grand Prix series and in the Northern U-10 Individual in 2009. He won the Club U-8 Individual and the Most Improved Rider award in 2009. Won both the Northern and Manchester League U-10 GP series, as well as the Club U-10 Individual in 2010. Also trains on the track at Manchester Velodrome.
 
Max Evans – Age 9. He started racing during the 2008 season at the club’s weekly training nights. Max won the North West Go-Race Grand Prix series and the North West Trophy Cup for the Best Novice in 2009. He retained the NWGRGP series in 2010 and took 3rd place in the British U-8 Grand Prix series. Won the J. Fisher & Sons Club Young Rider of the Year and Club U-8 Individual 2010.
 
Tyler Koch – Age 9. He started racing during the 2008 season at the club’s weekly training nights. Tyler has improved steadily since then and also competes in road and cyclo-cross events.
 
Matthew Snell - 7 years old. Started racing at the back end of the 2010 season and shows a terrific turn of speed for such a young rider.
 
Thomas Whitwam - 6 years old. Started racing at the back end of the 2010 season and was quickly beating riders several years older than him at club practice sessions.
 
      Detail ............
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