chunky

Sorry, but he retired at the end of the 1970 season. He rode in 37 matches for an average of 4.71. Also, speedyguy; you're correct about Gene Bonsignore and George Lazor. Both started racing in 1976, which gives them four decades each. Steve

Okay, I'm on a roll here... Another three, all of whom were active from the 1940's through the '70's, namely Jack Biggs, Les McGillivray, and Reg Trott. Oops, better make that four - Peter Carr (1979 onwards). Steve

As I said, it is quite possible that Vladimir was still riding, although his date of birth could also indicate a son of his. The main thing is that it was Viktor who made a name for himself in the 70's, and not Vladimir. Of course, Vladimir could actually have started out in the 70's... Can anyone confirm??? Steve

I wouldn't get too carried away Iris, just because of a surname. I know that some of these Russians have had a lengthy career, but the Trofimov you are talking about is actually two (perhaps more) riders! Viktor was the one in the 70's, but he retired many years ago. Vladimir (reserve for the 1987 World Final) will probably be the one that may be riding now, although it could be another generation. Steve

I agree there, but I think you must have missed something, as Bobby Schwartz has already been mentioned. Oh,and speedyguy, you are absolutely spot-on with Mike Faria. He started in 1975, so is definitely another four-decade man. I'll check into the others. Steve

Just thought of a couple more Americans; Shawn McConnell (racing since 1974), and Kelly Moran, who made a brief comeback in 2003. Then, we have Rob Hollingworth, and also (I believe) Malcolm Holloway. Steve

He did start in 1957, but it wasn't just "special meetings" in which he rode in the 80's; he rode BL until 1981, if I can remember correctly. I certainly don't think he rode into the 90's, except maybe for an occasional exhibition ride. Steve

Perfectly correct, that man. Certainly one that who crossed my mind, but I don't think he made it into the 80's. Good call, as he was obviously riding back home before he got here in 1950. Just had a thought, has anyone mentioned a certain Mr Mauger??? Steve

That's right; I don't ever recall seeing Cyril ride. Other names that haven't yet been mentioned are Malcolm Simmons, Gordon Kennett, and Nigel Boocock, all who managed four decades. Steve

In that case, we should include Markku Helminen (Leicester) also... Oh, and Bob Mark... Steve

Can't exactly remember when, but quite a few years ago now, Kev. Steve

Better say Wal Morton before someone else does... Oh, plus the Collins boys (Les and Neil), Olle Nygren, Bobby Schwartz, to name four. Steve

Not to be confused with Dud "McKean", of course... Steve

I think I did a quick check on Glyn, but I will have another look and see what I can find. Thanks, Steve

Updated; thanks, Steve

Here's the latest update... 18 - ALAN MOGRIDGE (Arena Essex, Berwick, Bradford, Canterbury, Crayford, Eastbourne, Hackney, Ipswich, London, Middlesbrough, Peterborough, Rye House, Sheffield, Stoke, Swindon, Wimbledon, Wolves, Workington) 16 - JUSTIN ELKINS (Arena Essex, Eastbourne, Eastbourne Starlets, Edinburgh, Exeter, Hull, Isle of Wight, Long Eaton, Poole, Reading, Rye House, Stoke, Stoke Spitfires, Weymouth, Wimbledon, Workington) 16 - WAL MORTON (Bradford (Greenfield), Bradford (Odsal), Bristol, Coventry, Glasgow WC, Hackney, Harringay, Ipswich, Liverpool, Middlesbrough, Newcastle, Norwich, West Ham, West Ham Res, Weymouth, Wimbledon) 16 - TONY FEATHERSTONE (Boston, Bradford, Crayford, Exeter, Hackney, King's Lynn, King's Lynn II, Leicester, Long Eaton, Milton Keynes, Newport, Peterborough, Poole, Scunthorpe, Sheffield, Wolves) 15 - JAMES BIRKINSHAW (Belle Vue Colts, Berwick, Birmingham, Boston, Buxton, Edinburgh, Glasgow, Linlithgow, Newcastle, Sheffield, Sheffield Prowlers, St. Austell, Stoke, Wolves 2nd, Workington) 15 - MARK BURROWS (Belle Vue, Buxton, Cleveland (Boro II), Cleveland (Redcar II), Coventry, Edinburgh, Glasgow, Hull, Long Eaton, Middlesbrough, Scunthorpe, Sheffield, Stoke, Stoke Spitfires, Wimbledon) 15 - GEORGE MAJOR(Aldershot, Belle Vue, Birmingham, Cradley, Doncaster, Glasgow, Leicester, Neath, Newcastle, Norwich, Oxford, Sheffield, St. Austell, Wolves, Yarmouth) 14 - STAN STEVENS (Barrow, Chesterton, Cradley, Exeter, King's Lynn, Mildenhall, New Cross, Oxford, Rayleigh, Romford, Rye House, Southampton, Rayleigh, West Ham) 13 - DAVID BLACKBURN (Belle Vue, Berwick, Boston, Glasgow, Leicester, Long Eaton, Middlesbrough, Milton Keynes, Newcastle, Reading, Sheffield, Swindon, Workington) 13 - NEIL COLLINS (Belle Vue, Ellesmere Port, Edinburgh, Glasgow, Hull, Leicester, Newport, Sheffield, Somerset, Stoke, Swindon, Wolves, Workington) 13 - DES LUKEHURST (Eastbourne, Exeter, Exeter 'B', Hackney, Long Eaton, New Cross, Newport, Oxford, Romford, Swindon, Wembley, West Ham, Wolves) 13 - GEOFF PENNIKET (Cradley, Eastbourne, King's Lynn, Long Eaton, Newcastle, New Cross, Newpool, Newport, Plymouth, Poole, Rayleigh, Romford, Workington) 12 - ERIC HOCKADAY (Aldershot, California, Coventry, Cradley, Exeter, Leicester, Oxford, Rayleigh, Rye House, Sheffield, Southern Rovers, Stoke) 12 - CHRIS JULIAN (Bristol, Cradley, Exeter, Glasgow, Glasgow WC, Mildenhall, Neath, Newport, Plymouth, Southampton, St. Austell, Weymouth) 12 - NIGEL SPARSHOTT (Birmingham, Crayford, Exeter, King's Lynn, Long Eaton, Middlesbrough, Milton Keynes, Oxford, Poole, Rye House, Swindon, Wimbledon) 12 - TOMMY SWEETMAN (Aldershot, California, Exeter, Hackney, New Cross, Norwich, Norwich II, Rayleigh Rovers, Rye House, Southern Rovers, Swindon Res, Wolves) 12 - KEN VALE (Aldershot, Canterbury, Cradley, Eastbourne, Exeter, King's Lynn II, Long Eaton, Neath, Newport, Oxford, Weymouth, Workington) 11 - DANNY DUNTON (Birmingham, Belle Vue, Belle Vue Res, Harringay, Ipswich, Long Eaton, Norwich, Oxford, Swindon, Weymouth, Yarmouth) 11 - REIDAR EIDE (Coatbridge, Edinburgh, Exeter, Leicester, Newport, Poole, Reading, Sheffield, Swindon, Wembley, Wolves) 11 - COLIN GOODDY (Brafield, Cradley, Crayford, Eastbourne, Exeter, Ipswich, Oxford, Poole, Rayleigh Rovers, Southern Rovers, Yarmouth) 11 - OLLE NYGREN (Bristol, Coventry, Harringay, Ipswich, King's Lynn, New Cross, Norwich, Southampton, Swindon, West Ham, Wimbledon) 11 - ROB WOFFINDEN (Berwick, Birmingham, Boston, Edinburgh, Halifax, Milton Keynes, Middlesbrough, Rye House, Scunthorpe, Sheffield, Stoke) 10 - JOHN FITZPATRICK (Ipswich, Middlesbrough, New Cross, Oxford Res, Rayleigh, Southampton, Stoke, West Ham, Wimbledon Res, Yarmouth) 10 - JIMMY SQUIBB (Canterbury, Cradley, Eastbourne, Exeter, Harringay, Ipswich, New Cross, Plymouth, Poole, Southampton) 10 - DEREK TIMMS (Aldershot, Cradley, Crayford, Doncaster, Middlesbrough, New Cross, Plymouth, St. Austell, Wimbledon Res, Wolves) 9 - MAL CORRADINE (Birmingham, Cradley, Doncaster, Long Eaton, Middlesbrough, Oxford, Stoke, Weymouth, Wolves) 9 - ALAN COWLAND (Exeter, Hull, Leicester, Mildenhall, Newport, Peterborough, Wimbledon, Wolves, Workington) 9 - DAVID CRANE (Coventry, Exeter, Hackney, Ipswich, King's Lynn, King's Lynn II, Norwich, Oxford, Sheffield) 9 - ERIC EADON (Aldershot, Brafield, Coventry Res, Cradley, Edinburgh, Rayleigh Rovers, Southern Rovers, Stoke, Wolves) 9 - KEITH HARVEY (Birmingham, C. Palace, High Beech, Luton, New Cross, Norwich, Stamford Bridge, West Ham, Wimbledon) 9 - BRIAN LEONARD (Hackney, Leicester, Newpool, Newport, Oxford, Poole, Swindon, Wembley, West Ham) 9 - STEVE JOHNSTON (Arena, Belle Vue, Coventry, Ipswich, Long Eaton, Oxford, Sheffield, Swindon, Wolves) 8 - TONY EADON, CLIVE HITCH, DAVE JESSUP, GORDON KENNETT, MARK LORAM, GARRY MIDDLETON, CHARLIE MONK, JOHN POYSER, GLYN TAYLOR

I looked at my watch earlier, and it hit me that was probably around the time that Tommy succumbed to his injuries. I remember picking up the Daily Mirror on the Friday morning, and seeing the headline. Oh, and Derek, the last time I saw Tommy ride was at the 1975 Laurels, which he won with a maximum. Steve

Ray Thackwell did indeed ride at Rayleigh in 1951... Steve

There must be two, then. Peter Harris was an Australian who rode for Yarmouth in 1952, and appeared for the Overseas Team in the Test Series against Britain that year. He also rode for Wolverhampton under the name "Gundy" Harris. Steve

Yes, Bob's son (Robert, I believe) is one of our members. Most people actually forget that Bob was originally English, particularly as he won the World Pairs as a New Zealander, with Ivan Mauger. There was also Bill Andrew (no "s"). It was quite common for people to confuse the two, especially as they were around at the same time. Bill, an accomplished jockey, rode for Poole, Newport, Halifax etc. Steve

Gary Allan New Zealand Goog Allan New Zealand Max Amor New Zealand Bob Andrews New Zealand (Born in England, rode for England, before become a naturalized New Zealander) Jacob Beierholm Sweden Johnny Bekker Southern Rhodesia Malcolm Brown England (as Ian said) Tom Brown Wales Wayne Brown New Zealand Jack Cunningham New Zealand Tom Davie Australia or Scotland Jacky De Vries Holland Peter Dykes New Zealand Earl Farrand USA Jorma Frantila Finland Jock Grierson Scotland Herman Gunzenhauser Germany Teemu Hagelberg Finland Dennis Hall Australia Nils Haraldsen Norway Patrik Haraldsen Norway Peter Harris Australia Ossi Henriksson Finland Rene Holm Denmark Enrico Hoth Germany Jon Hovind Norway Jack Hyland Australia Steve

Farir enough, but Arsenal's Emmanuel Eboue puts them both to shame... Steve

Sorry, but that's not a higher ratio - it's the same as Ian Ure. Steve

What about Vic or Cliff EMMS??? Steve

I think the term is "anorak"... Hopefully December, but probably not before. Steve