Knowle

At the risk of being christened " super-anorak " to amplify the above comment Johnny Hole was the first nominated holder of the sash and his first defence of it was to have been against the Poole top -scorer at Knowle on April 15 but it was rained off. He lost it to Reg Fearman at Stoke on 21 May when sliding off when leading.

Came across a copy of a Knowle Stadium paychit for a rider called Charlie Bourdon who rode at Middlesboro on 10/4/1947 which stated that he was paid for 4 starts @ £1 each, no points money earned, travel expenses £3.10.0 minus 3/6 insurance, total paid £7.6.6 There is a footnote to say that due to the low payout he was let off £2.10.0 machinery repair charge. This was his only appearence for Bristol.

May I suggest that Jimmy Gooch was riding until at least 1964.Also a Buster Brown was a very minor player at Wembley in 1949 and at Swindon in 1962, I assume this to be the same person. Far be it for me to be picky with Norbold's list but I can't resist it. Bronco Wilson appeared in 1947 only. Bob Oakley also appeared in 1950 and Bill Kitchen in 1953. It is interesting to note that Wembley used more or less the same 8 riders right through any given season. If only that happened now.

Hope info on Denzil Kent is untrue. Would not we have heard this at the time of the accident? Also saw him in the second half at Bristol. His full throttle style made a lasting impression.

Brett Alderton born 3.12.1963 Seven Hills, Sydney, New South Wales. Son of former rider Denis Alderton .Began riding when only 14 at Nepean training track. Made his public debut at Canberra before arriving in UK 1981.(taken from Peter Oakes 1982 Yearbook.)

Cov 9 is definately Bob Mark,Unknown 10 not Warren but who ?

So far the following tracks have not appeared in this topic; Ellesmere Port, Bradford(Greenfields ),Tamworth, Cardiff Crewe,Wombwell, Wigan(2),Barrow (2), Exeter ( Alphington), Neath. Can anyone fill us in?

Fleetwood still exists as a football stadium so I believe.

The mechanics face looks familiar-Jan Staechmann's dad perhaps.

In the absence of any other response may I suggest Bristol as I understand he was a local cycle speedway rider when young.

I thought Eddie Lack has passed on? Hope I am wrong.

I have only the speedway sequences however I understand the film is mainly about a singer being accidentally discovered at Billingsgate fishmarket. Her son Fred played by a young John Mills somehow gets into a big race final with real life stars Johnson, Watson, Farndon, Rye and Warwick and of course wins in a nail-biting final having had to ride over a burning byke left on the track by a faller on the previous lap the steward (referee) having failed to stop the race!. John Mills then falls off after the conclusion of the race and a drunk man leaps the fence and wobbles off on his byke in the wrong direction and passes between the 4 riders who are in the next face. The drunk then crashes through the safety fence and runs into the beer store! It is a comedy! On a different note thanks to miro for identifying the track as Lea Bridge. You mentioned a section of track being specially built in the studio for filming purposes- I think this would have been for Swagman I remember getting this info from the late Arch Windmill who was one of the doubles in the film. Finally I was disappointed that no-one came up withthe identity of the track with two small towers with conical roofs. Perhaps getting this thread back up to the top will jog someone's memory.

I have an extract from a film entitled Britannia Of Billingsgate featuring a speedway meeting with Ron Johnson,Colin Watson, Tom Farndon,Claude Rye and Arthur Warwick. It was released in 1933 and was wondering at which track it was made. Also I have an extract from a film made about 1950 which features a track with two low towers at one end with conical roofs. I had an idea that this was Walthamstow. Can anybody confirm this and/or name the film?

Thats where I got it from! In the details it mentions that he rode a motor cycle before the war so 1924 would be pushing it a bit.I had a quick look at my Stenners but could not find any further confirmation. On the subject of Cliff Watson I do not think he is still alive. That same publication gives his year of birth as 1916.

I think it was Cliff Watson as Colin had already retired by then. My first instinct is to nominate Split Waterman as the oldest as he was born in 1921and Cyril Rodger in 1922 as was Louis Lawson

No need to apologise! The confusion I referred to was the fact that in downloading the picture it needed further expansion otherwise the 2 riders on the right did not appear at all. We appear to be the same age and began watching at the same time. Was the third division club Tamworth by any chance? I have a lot of cine shot at Birmingham, Cradley and Tamworth in early 1950s. Sad to think that in a very few years it was all gone.

Fantastic detective work put in on this thread-most interesting,some confusion caused by some people not viewing the complete picture. I believe that Geoff Bennett is still around. Can anyone confirm that and is he the sole survivor?

Agree with that. This only leaves the presenter of the trophy unidentified. Cannot be the 1948 league trophy as Bristol won it but Birmingham were promoted!

Steady on! This is speedway! PS Sounds a great idea but I go to speedway to remind myself of what things were like in my youth when i first started going (in 1949).

I was level with the start. It was not as much as half a bike!

I agree with Najjer.I feel the centre green man was a bit hard done by. He was only calling it as he saw it and would have had a better view than the referee with the advantage of no intervening fence.

Great meeting. Thought crowd was down on last year but if hot line said meeting was off that is not surprising. I feel that next year some way must be found of including all teams in the league especially if an even number are operating (16 or 18). Noticed that after the centre green presenter had in the referee's opinion wrongly called the semi final result in favour of Reading he was not heard of again until the presentation ceremony. Was he silenced by the referee?

I think Reg died about 15 years ago.

Jack Mountford died on June3 2004 at his home in Spain aged 80.

Aug 19 1949 Bristol v New Cross National Trophy 2nd leg Heat 1 Chris Boss, Eric Salmon,Bert Roger, Bill Longley 5-1 to New Cross. Local hopes had been high as second division Bristol had held New Cross to a 2 point advantage 2 days previously but it was not to be with the visitors winning 60-47 Bill Longley scoring 16. Still have the programme.