ASTLEY & Tyldesley hosted the official opening meeting of the re-built cycle speedway track on Wednesday evening.

Despite rain falling throughout the meeting, a good-sized crowd witnessed an excellent night's racing on the superb new Gin Pit circuit. British Cycling's North West Development Manager, Alex Scoular, cut the green ribbon to declare the track officially open. Also present were several official guests from British Cycling, local Tyldesley ward Councillors, City Build Manchester and Sport Leigh.

First up were the u-10s and A&T's John White raced to a 16 points maximum score, setting a new fastest three laps time of 34.94 seconds, when winning heat 6.

A&T's Charlie Burgess lost only to White, with back from injury, Nathan Holt, dropping points only to White and Burgess.

Bury's Louis Turner top scored in the u-13s category, losing only to A&T's Matt Snell first time out. With only one u-19 rider, the u-16s and u-19s races were combined, with scores subsequently adjusted. A&T's Reece Pollitt won all his races on the track, setting up a 4 laps track record of 41.06 seconds, when winning heat 8.

Bury duo of Adam Turnbull and James Elston were both unbeaten by u-16 riders. In the Division 2 match score, taken from each club's top 5 scorers from the u-10, u-13, u-16 and u-19 categories, Astley & Tyldesley and Bury tied with 74 points apiece.

Manchester League Division 2 match result (top 5 scorers count to each team's total)

Astley & Tyldesley 74 Bury 74 Stockport 34 Sheffield 13

A&T scorers: John White 16, Reece Pollitt 16, Charlie Burgess 14, Nathan Holt 14, Matt Snell 14, Jack Murray 12, Ciaran Collins 12, Emily Burgess 11, Max Evans 11, Lucy Grantham 8, Aiden Green 7, Frank White 7.

Stockport's Ben Higham top scored in the Senior (Division 1) match, dropping his only point to A&T's Reece Pollitt in heat 9. Bury took the team win in the Division 1 match.

Manchester League Division 1 match result (top 5 scorers count to each team's total)

Bury 51 Stockport 26 Astley & Tyldesley 25

A&T scorers: Reece Pollitt 14, Ciaran Collins 11.

There was plenty of excellent fast racing, with riders bunched up closer on the banked, re-modelled track, which rides very differently to the old track. The track surface held up very well, despite being laid within the past month.