BMX Tracks Cantley & Hexthorpe

[Herbert Anchovy]

When I was a nipper back in the early 80's I was well into BMX bikes. I recall that there was a great BMX track on Cantley Park and also one on (or near) the Dell in Hexthorpe. I've heard that the one in Cantley has been gone for a few years now, but was wondering if any others still exist in Donny's parks?

I vividly remember that the BMX race meetings at Cantley Park were big affairs with teams from all over England coming and racing. One meeting in particular that stands out is when BBC TV cameras turned up to film the meeting as part of a kids TV programme. Also, there used to be a local group of Breakdances called 'Force 4' who did a bit of a show up at the track at one of the meetings and I'm sure that was filmed for TV too. Some of you may remember Force 4 as a group of teenagers who used to breakdance in town on Saturday afternoons in the doorway of the Co-op. We're probably talking 1983/84 time I'd guess.

Cantley BMX track was also the scene of an infamous and very unpleasant huge punch up between youths from Wilby Carr and Ellers High school. I was banned from going to the track for a while after that by my Mum who was convinced that it was the meeting place of every reprobate in Donny!

Great Days!

[winegums]

I'm sure he one in Hexthorpe Park is still there

[auckleyflyer]

Remember both well, raced at hexthrope. What I cant believe now is that we'd bike to either, max out on the tracks all day and then ride back to woodlands!!! On bmx's ?! Hardly touring bikes!! Used to use the old train tracks through donvalley sunnyfields area. That ran alongside old rugby ground and popped you out at Bentley top/marshgate. Then thro northern bus stn and onto train stn. Round back of sorting office and your on hexthrope bridge.
Used to survive on whatever local chippy you could find. Again on bikes! No wonder we were like rakes in the 80s.

[Herbert Anchovy]

Remember both well, raced at hexthrope. What I cant believe now is that we'd bike to either, max out on the tracks all day and then ride back to woodlands!!! On bmx's ?! Hardly touring bikes!! Used to use the old train tracks through donvalley sunnyfields area. That ran alongside old rugby ground and popped you out at Bentley top/marshgate. Then thro northern bus stn and onto train stn. Round back of sorting office and your on hexthrope bridge.
Used to survive on whatever local chippy you could find. Again on bikes! No wonder we were like rakes in the 80s.

With you on all of that Auckley! We used to cycle to hexthorpe BMX track from Cantley! Never thought much of it at the time to be honest. I've got a vague memory of there being a track in Rossington too but I'm not sure about that one. I had a Raleigh Burner and then graduated to a Mongoose before someone 'liberated' me of it on Cantley bottom shops never to be seen again! 

[not on facebook]

I was on cantley park last week playing  a game of togger .

As you go into the park from the Beechers pub on the left had side down a bit they was building something .

It was formed from concrete structures and I did not give it much notice.but I have a guess and say it was a skateboard park > say that
I have known to be wrong before.

Could not workout if the pitch and putt was still up and running .

[bigbadjack]

Remember the bmx track in cantley well spent some good days there with my mates, saw my first adder there now there all over the place in the woods next to it

Pitch and putt is still going remember being chased by the parky for not paying, I didn't know anyone who did

[roversdude]

Think the Hexthorpe one is on the old pitch and putt, was still there last year. Young un pestering me to take him again

[BobG]

That was a helluva pitch and putt that one in Hexthrope Dude. An absolute monster of a bunker on one of the holes. It took me 19 shots to get out of it once.

BobG

[balbyrover]

There is still a bmx track in Hexthorpe,next to the football pitch.
A lot of youngsters ride there scooters there.