norbold

I've just looked through every Rayleigh team for the 1950s and I can't find the name Belfield with or without a nickname. Without going through all the London teams I don't recall the name Belfield as a London rider. Peter Jackson's books only detail the records of the top riders in each team in the National League (Division One) so I doubt if he would be in there. Sorry I can't be more helpful but I'll try looking up some other southern teams.

Just another little contribution to the Tyburn Gallows debate and whether he really was an assistant hangman or not. I came across this information on another web site: "In 1964 the last two men in Britain were hanged for murder. The following year, parliament voted to abolish capital punishment, with overwhelming public support. The most famous public hangman, Albert Pierrepoint, had already retired with nearly 700 executions to his name. The passage of time has since seen the demise of every executioner and their assistants (Pierrepoint died in 1982). By 1994 Syd Dernley was the only former hangman alive in the UK." If Tyburn Gallows died after 1994 it would suggest that he never really was an assistant hangman (or, of course, that the article on the web is wrong!). Have we established when Tyburn went to the great scaffold in the sky yet?

Good idea...especially in Sweden. Then we'd get a really good track.... :roll:

You should have come and said hello! I was the small kid on the back straight munching on a giant hot dog! If only I'd known at the time! But I'm afraid I never ventured round to the back straight...too far away.

Thanks frigbo. I think I went to every home Hammers match that season except two and a good number of away matches (including our glorious night of triumph at Cradley Heath when we clinched the double - sorry reliving old glories there!) and I'd never heard of Kevin Russell and John Ellis. Your post explains why!

It's no good getting excited now, TTF. You should have told us before the final you were supporting Nicki instead of keeping quiet about it.... ;-)

Who are/were Kevin Russell and John Ellis? Which matches did they ride in?

Red Ott rode for Crayford in 1975.

What have they bottled? And where can you buy it?

Think I'll stick to writing history...The future is obviously not my strong point.

i suppose you'll want to add Ivan Mauger and Ole Olsen to that list aswell... And Anders Michanek as well. Anyway, I was hoping Crump would win after all the bad luck he's had the year, but fair dos to Nicki. You can't say he didn't deserve on the evidence of the night's racing. Next year, Crumpy!

Yes. Unfortunately I can't remember where I was at the time...

And if it stays like this Pedersen will go marching on.

It's OK, I'm here now. I haven't a clue by the way.

If they had 16 riders they could run each meeting over 20 heats so that every rider met every other rider once each. They could all have at least one ride off each gate...and...er...is this a step forward?

1. Rickardsson 2. Crump 3. Sullivan 4. Holta

I'm sure he must have gone right round the fence to do it!

The Poole rider in front could be either Geoff Mudge, Pete Smith or Bill Andrew. Harrfeldt and Leonard met Andrew and Smith in Heat 2 (4-2 to the Hammers: result 1st Harrfeldt 2nd Smith 3rd Leonard Andrew did not finish) and met Mudge and Smith in heat 6 (another 4-2: 1st Harrfeldt 2nd Mudge 3rd Leonard 4th Smith). West Ham won the match 48-30. McKinlay and Harrfeldt both scored maximums. Message to falcace - it's Samorodov

Speedway in Scotland also covers the history of Edinburgh and is also by Henry and Moultray and is in print. It's a Tempus book.

No.11 is Dave Jessup

Yes, you could be right about 1972. It was the one year, Ole topped Ivan in the averages too. OK, I'll give you that one!

No. 60 again... If Brian Leonard is in red, the other West Ham rider must be Ted Ede and the Poole riders are: White - Ronnie Genz; Y&B - Pete Munday. (and it's Heat 8 of the West Ham v. Poole match on 27 July) If Brian Leonard is in blue then the other Hammer is Sverre Harrfeldt. I'll save the Poole riders until you tell me if Brian is in red.... How am I doing, Gem?

Stop sitting on the fence, TTF. Why can't you just say who you want to win.

61 looks like Peter Craven Damn! You just beat me to it Grachan!