A NEWLY-FORMED Fife cycle speedway team pedalled their way into contention to land a title at Queen Anne High School on Sunday.

There were plenty of thrills and spills at the school's purpose-built track, which opened in June and is the first in the UK to be created within school grounds, as Fife Cycle Speedway took on Edinburgh, Glasgow and Northumbria in the Three Rivers League.

The track, only the third of its kind to be built in Scotland, was unveiled after two years of planning, within which the sport has grown across the Kingdom and at Queen Anne through participation in an annual five-match Fife schools' series.

The top riders from Queen Anne, Madras College and Glenrothes High School were brought together to create a Fife squad that was invited to take part in the Three Rivers League and, after a 65-65 draw with Edinburgh and a 71-58 win over Northumbria, they are in contention to win the series ahead of the final round in Newcastle next month.

Craig Masson, PT in pupil support at Queen Anne and Scotland's first qualified cycle speedway coach, said that Fife have been invited to join the British Division Two league but commented: "It is something we want to do but next year might be a bit too soon. If it's not next year, then it definitely will be the year after and next year we will be able to do night sessions with the community.

"I was really pleased with how Sunday went. It is a friendly tournament that we were invited to take part in and the first leg was in Glasgow. We narrowly lost to Northumbria by two points and Glasgow beat us by 12 but this time, on our home track, we drew with Edinburgh then won against Northumbria, who had a rider who is in the top 10 in the world.

"Everyone is really impressed with how the boys are doing – they're aged from 12-18 – and are the talk of cycle speedway at the moment.

"We've had a few boys asking how and when they can get involved, which is pleasing. If we win our two matches then we have a chance of winning the competition and I don't think we'll come last. For our first competitive tournament, that's impressive."

He added: "People have been encouraging me to join Division Two for next year but we'll see how it goes. We've received track sponsorship from Hardie Bikes, The Purvis Group, Dunfermline Trophy Centre and Glasgow Tigers, which is a big deal as they've just invested £2 million in their team and stadium.

"Scottish Cycling are prepared to partner with us to develop the sport further in other regions and we've been given an £8,000 grant from the Big Lottery Fund towards cycle speedway. Some of that money will also go towards our pupil support department for RaceRunning.

"Everyone there on Sunday loved the track and said that it is one of the best in the UK. That positivity has made it worth the wait getting the track."

Track sponsorship is still available and for more information, get in touch with Craig by contacting Queen Anne High School.