norbold

Thanks as always for your comprehensive and well researched reply, BL. Just to say I didn't mean they would be heat leader status, I did mean I thought they would be good enough for second string positions.

As a New Cross supporter, I didn't see many Provincial League riders in its early days, 1960/61, but I did see some in Individual meetings and in second halves. Purely from memory, without resorting to record books, I seem to remember that I thought Trevor Redmond and Ivor Brown were head and shoulders above the rest of the riders I saw and were the only two I felt at the time could hold their own in the National League. Of course that is purely a subjective view of a young speedway novice (me) and without seeing all of the top riders. i'd be interested in hearing Provincial League aficionados from that period's views on Redmond and Brown.

Tommy Miller was ranked in Stenner's Top 15 rankings three years running - 1951, 1952 and 1953. Not bad for a second division rider.

Thanks, Chunky, some really interesting stuff about Swindon and why they were so successful in 1957. I only started going in 1960, but I was always very impressed by the Swindon line up as it seemed they had five heat leaders in their team, George White, Ian Williams, Neil Street, Teo Teodorowicz and Mike Broadbank(s). They were the only team that had such a strong top five. However, and I could never really understand this, they managed to finish bottom of the league! This was partly due to the fact that their top scorer, George White, missed several matches through injury and also the fact that their no. 6 rider, Johnny Board, could only manage an average of 2.5, while the reserves, Brian Meredith and Ron Taylor, could only manage 2-4 and 1.7 respectively (remember they were eight man teams in 1960). Brian Brett rode in 11 matches and managed even less with 1.4. It was a sad decline from the heady days of just three years earlier.

Have you seen Robert Bamford and Glynn Shailes' book "A History of the World Speedway Championship"? It takes the story up to 2001.

Maurice Jones died some time ago. All his speedway archive was auctioned off.

This is the message John received from Phil giving the reasons for his ban: Reason: Spamming Penalty: Given 1 points which will never expire. Content moderated - 30 days Restricted from posting - 14 days Banned - 14 days

He's been banned for another transgression. He told me I could tell you.

By nomination. No qualifying rounds.

I looked up Stenner's rankings and found these riders who didn't win the world title in the year they were ranked first: 1949: Jack Parker, 1950 Graham Warren, 1953 Jack Young. Of course there was no World Championship in 1946, 47 and 48 but Vic Duggan was ranked first in all three years. And then the Speedway Star Rankings. Similarly, no. 1s who were not World Champion in their no.1 year: 1957 Ove Fundin, 1959 Ove Fundin, 1962 Ove Fundin. Certainly looks as though Ove might have benefited from a Grand Prix style World Championship! Only Barry Briggs in 1958 interrupted his run of no. 1 rankings from 1956-1963

Talking of which, what's happened to gustix?

Yes, of course, Sydney. It would be interesting to see how many times the recognised best rider in any particular year did not win the title.

Wish I'd thought of him!

Quite the reverse I think, Sidney. Briggo owes Ove his 1957 win. Ove was the best rider in the world that year,

He must have sneaked an extra one in while no-one was looking as well.

Yes, 1939 I believe.

Didn't Colin Watson have a spell at Sheffield?

I was just about to say that....

Tiger Stevenson, West Ham only. Good point about four teams. I'll give it some thought.....

I think Jim Kempster only Wimbledon, Joe Francis Crystal Palace and New Cross, Nobby Key also Crystal Palace and New Cross.

Bluey Wilkinson and Eric Chitty only West Ham; Vic Huxley Harringay and Wimbledon, Frank Arthur Stamford Bridge and Harringay, Lionel Van Praag Wembley and New Cross, Roger Frogley Crystal Palace and New Cross, Sverre Harrfeldt Wimbledon, West Ham, Wembley

Well, of course I remember you at the Lokeren Trophy meeting, it's just the match against Wimbledon I'm having a problem with recalling you - or your dad. I was too upset that your man Pete Murray was to blame for Sverre breaking his arm to think straight I suppose.

Exactly, iris. I can't see how you could possibly have drawn the inference you did from my post, compost. It had nothing to do with your post.

Over the two years he was at West Ham he improved and then improved even more the following two years at Poole. In 1970 he was second in the Hammers' averages to Olle Nygren with just under 8 points per match; in his second year he just pipped Olle for top place, averaging something like 8.75 I believe. As I said above, there is no denying he was the ultimate thrill-merchant with his madcap dives round the fence. Unlike Sverre Harrfeldt though, who knew what he was doing and was on a par with the very best and often beat them at Custom House, Christer didn't always seem to be quite in control - just opening the throttle and going wherever the bike took him - and fell short of the very best. He was very popular though and was voted "Hammer of the Year" in each of his two years.

Me too. Don't remember seeing you there. After that I saw him every week at West Ham. Heart stopping stuff week in week out! We used to think Sverre Harrfedt was hair raising, but he had nothing on Christer!