chunky

Unfortunately, even if you have missed a couple, Mark is still WELL behind the leaders. So far, we have (including new entries Featherstone, Woffinden, and Corradine) : 18 - Alan Mogridge 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) 16 - Wal Morton 15 - James Birkinshaw 15 - George Major 12 - Chris Julian 12 - Ken Vale 11 - Mark Burrows 11 - Reidar Eide 11 - Eric Hockaday 11 - Geoff Penniket 11 - Nigel Sparshott 11 - Rob Woffinden (Berwick, Birmingham, Boston, Edinburgh, Halifax, Middlesbrough, Milton Keynes, Rye House, Scunthorpe, Sheffield, Stoke) 10 - Jimmy Squibb 9 - Mal Corradine (Birmingham, Cradley, Doncaster, Long Eaton, Middlesbrough, Oxford, Stoke, Weymouth, Wolves) 9 - Steve Johnston Steve

Bastable did make it as reserve in 78, of course. I did actually think about Garry Middleton, but I don't think he ever managed the consistency. I think the same with both Courtney and Ott; both had promise, but neither really fulfilled their potential. Andrew maybe, but Preston was definitely good enough. I just think a couple more years of top quality league speedway here would have really made the difference. Steve

I know exactly what you're saying, but he could (and probably should) have easily been. He was sometimes a little temperamental, but I don't think he ever totally recovered from his broken leg. Steve

Willie rode in four World Finals, and Lovaas qualified in 1974. That leaves Chris Pusey who has already been mentioned. Steve

I will admit, other than Schwartz, Pander and Hunter (Norman that is) are two who really stand out. Steve

I agree 100%. Even WTC/SWC winners are apparently considered above pairs champions. You can be a member of a WTC/SWC winning team, and not even score! That never happened in the pairs... Actually, I know that most people still regard Jerzy Szczakiel as a "joke", or at least a "fluke" world champion. However, few recall that he had already won a gold in the pairs, scoring maximum points. It doesn't matter that like his individual win, it was in Poland; he still had to go out and beat some great riders. Steve

When I started the thread, I did think about that! Steve

Sandor Levai was good, and I did think about listing him. However, Arne Pander was definitely World Final material. With regard to Bobbath's post, both George Hunter and Jack Kitchen went through my mind. Steve

Reading Bobbath's post on Leo McAuliffe, it made me think about who the best riders were, never to ride in a World Final. The riders mentioned - Tommy Miller, Charlie Monk, and Roy Trigg - are all names who surprisingly didn't make speedway's big night, but who else? Some that spring to mind are Chris Pusey, Dave Morton, Bob Valentine, Ivor Brown, Norman Hunter, Dave Younghusband, Tony Davey, Geoff Mudge, and Arne Pander. However, for me, one stands out quite clearly - Bobby Schwartz. Not only was he a rider who could sustain a 9-point CMA in the British League, but he is the only World Pairs gold medalist never to have reached the individual final, and he won that twice! I'd like to hear some of your suggestions... Steve

This is where we could have a problem... I do know that George was in Div 2, and I know that they were apparently one-offs. However, as they were not regarded as guest appearances by the said publication, I am reluctant to classify them as such. I know where you're coming from, but even back then, there were deals being done between first and second division teams, both long and short term. Unless we know the specifics of each case, it is difficult to go against what is printed. Of course, I can check back through the old Speedway Stars to see what they say. Steve

Thanks for that. Of course, I would think that the Britannia Cup would count as an "official" fixture, so I will include Norwich in the list. Steve

What I have for Wal Morton so far is: Bradford Coventry Glasgow WC Hackney Harringay Ipswich Liverpool Middlesbrough Newcastle Norwich Odsal West Ham Weymouth Wimbledon It has also been claimed elsewhere that he appeared for Motherwell, although I have been unable to find confirmation of that. Steve

According to Peter Morrish's British Speedway Leagues 1946-64 George Major did not appear in an NL fixture for Norwich. Of course, this may be an error, and if anyone could correct this with some concrete evidence, I would be grateful. Also, looking through The Complete History of the British League, George is recorded as appearing once for Belle Vue (1971), once for Glasgow (1972), and finally for Wolverhampton in both 1972 and 1973. Neither of these publications include guest appearances. Steve

Don't know why this really came to me, but I have been wondering which riders have ridden for the most British teams during their careers. A few obvious names immediately sprang to mind, and it seems that my suspicions were confirmed. I may well have missed out on an odd team or two, and I'm sure there are other riders who have been omitted. Obviously, there will be some newer names to be added, but since leaving the UK, it hasn't been quite as easy to follow who's doing what. So, here's my list, and if anyone has any new names or teams, I look forward to seeing what you have. Steve 17 - Alan Mogridge (Arena, Berwick, Bradford, Canterbury, Crayford, Eastbourne, Hackney, Ipswich, London, Middlesbrough, Peterborough, Rye House, Stoke, Swindon, Wimbledon, Wolves, Workington) 13 - George Major (Belle Vue, Birmingham, Cradley, Doncaster, Glasgow, Leicester, Neath, Newcastle, Oxford, Sheffield, St. Austell, Wolves, Weymouth) 12 - Chris Julian (Bristol, Exeter, Cradley, Glasgow, Glasgow White City, Mildenhall, Neath, Newport, Plymouth, Southampton, St. Austell, Weymouth) 12 - Ken Vale (Aldershot, Canterbury, Cradley, Eastbourne, Exeter, King’s Lynn II, Long Eaton, Neath, Newport, Oxford, Weymouth, Workington) 11 - Geoff Penniket (Cradley, Eastbourne, King’s Lynn, Long Eaton, New Cross, Newport, Plymouth, Poole, Rayleigh, Romford, Workington) 11 - Reidar Eide (Coatbridge, Edinburgh, Exeter, Leicester, Newport, Poole, Reading, Sheffield, Swindon, Wembley, Wolves) 11 - Nigel Sparshott (Birmingham, Exeter, King’s Lynn, Long Eaton, Middlesbrough, Milton Keynes, Oxford, Poole, Rye House, Swindon, Wimbledon) 10 - Jimmy Squibb (Canterbury, Cradley, Eastbourne, Exeter, Harringay, Ipswich, New Cross. Plymouth, Poole, Southampton) Dave Jessup, Gordon Kennett, and Garry Middleton have each ridden for eight teams.

Agree with Laurie Sims, but I'm still sure it's Ballard on the inside. It's also Ballard on the outside with Roger. Check the other pics of Woolford and Ballard and compare; of course, the other pics of Ballard could be wrong... Any help, anyone? Steve PS Oxford 71-2 is definitely Genno Workington Unknown 1 is Chris Blythe

Agreed; it's definitely not Berg. Agree on both. In addition... Birmingham 1 71-1 Ian Wilson Birmingham 2 71-1 Terry Shearer Eastbourne 3 & 4 71-1 Malcolm Ballard on the inside Cradley 1 71-1 Roy Trigg Cradley unknown pair Bob Andrews behind Stoke 73-1 Looks suspiciously like Brian Woodward Workington 73-4 Kym Amundson Steve

Anyone out there know how Ken's doing these days? We lost touch a few years ago, when Ken and Esther moved out to the Caterham area somewhere. Steve

1957, actually... Steve

Sorry Brian; already mentioned... Steve

That's why I would always try and get there early, so I could park on the road... Steve

What do I remember? Bengt Jansson, Garry Middleton, and dear old Les McGillivray... Thommo's swoops on the fourth bend... The souvenir kiosk on the first bend... Snowy Beattie... John Louis at the Bonanza Best Pairs, and the kids getting free sweets... The crappy toilets, although really, they weren't any worse than Eastbourne's... Going to see a junior match against Belle Vue (with a 16-year old Andy Smith) in the middle of winter... Us winning 56-22 against the Hawks with Pat Pawson in the team... My old friend and work colleague, the lovely Maxine Hill... Having that poxy drive down Whitechapel Road and Mile End during rush hour... Driving home down Whitechapel Road; if I could turn right from the lights at the Green Man pretty quickly after they had changed, I used to be able to judge it perfectly, and get back to London Bridge without catching a red light! Steve

He rode for Ipswich in 1969 and 1970, but I can't find anything else. Steve

I think you may be talking about Janice. Short girl? Her friend was Jenny, I believe. Steve

I remember quite a few with huge chests! Sorry, we seem to be digressing... Steve

Fortunately, I wasn't there, but it still had a profound effect on me, the same as Tommy's tragic death did. I'd been talking to Vic in the Wimbledon pits the night before. Steve