Located on the Roodee, beneath the city's ancient sandstone walls, the course stages the prestigious Derby trials in its May meeting - attracting over 30,000 spectators who appreciate the unique atmosphere and tightness of the circuit. The land which eventually became Chester Racecourse , results from the silting of the Dee and this magical river is much used today for a variety of recreational activities, including angling and canoeing. The North of England Head of the River Race is held at Chester each year and sharing the river are several long-established rowing clubs, including the Royal Chester, the only one in Britain with Royal in its title. Elsewhere in the county waterborne activities, including windsurfing, angling, sailing, canoeing and rowing take place on river, canal, mere, reservoir, flash and pond. But these could not contrast more vividly with the speed and excitement of another category of sports for which Cheshire is justly famous.
Cycling is the option chosen by people wanting to travel at a more sedate pace.
And Cheshire, with its undulating landscape is the ideal county in which to take to the saddle. To make matters easier the County Council's Tourism Unit have produced a popular Cheshire Cycleway leaflet, which guides riders on a fascinating and scenic 135 mile circuit of the county. Starting and finishing near Chester, the route travels north and east past Northwich , Knutsford, Alderley Edge and Prestbury, circles Macclesfield, before bearing south and west past Congleton, Alsager, Crewe, Nantwich and Audlem. On its way, the Cycleway offers a cross section of Cheshire's varied scenery, from the gentle countryside of the Cheshire Plain to the hills and valleys of the Pennine moorlands. Cricketers are not excluded from Cheshire's sporting scene - which is able to boast numerous clubs as well as a Minor County side that won the Minor Counties' Knock Out Cup in 1996.