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Papua New Guine And Kenya


Puma23

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Hi

 

I hear about riders from Kenya and Papua New Guinea, who rode in british legaues. Is it true ? Paul Muchene and Joe Naido from Kenya and Garnet Thistlewaite and ? McDonald ? Did you hear about other riders from this exotic countries ? I read also about any ghurke from Nepal who rode in any scottish club but I do know who and when ? Anybody know somthing about it ?

 

 

 

 

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Guest Schumi
I hear about riders from Kenya and Papua New Guinea, who rode in british legaues. Is it true ? Paul Muchene and Joe Naido from Kenya

Yes, I remember Paul Muchene. He was a junior at Hackney who tragically died a few days after an accident on track in 1989 - I was there. But I think he was British.

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Yes, I remember Paul Muchene. He was a junior at Hackney who tragically died a few days after an accident on track in 1989 - I was there. But I think he was British.

 

Exactly right. Anyway, Mark Loram was born in Malta, be we don't say he's Maltese.

 

Steve

 

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  • 3 weeks later...
Hi

 

I hear about riders from Kenya and Papua New Guinea, who rode in british legaues. Is it true ? Paul Muchene and Joe Naido from Kenya and Garnet Thistlewaite and ? McDonald ?

 

Hi Puma, that was Kevin McDonald, the Papua New Guinea champion of 1974, 1975 and 1976 ! He was born in Melbourne on December 31, 1956, but grew up and lived 20 years in Port Moresby. Speedway started there in the early 1970's and Kevin McDonald was the most talented of the local riders. Several Australian riders,mainly from Queensland and the Northern Territory rode in Papua New Guinea, and McDonald also rode in a few meetings in Australia in the mid-1970's. He was quite good, twice finishing as the runner-up in the Australian Northern Territory Championship (1975 and 1976).

Together with fellow New Guinean Garnet Thistlethwaite they came to England in 1977 or 1978. As far as I know Thistlethwaite only had second half outings in the UK, but McDonald was an instant success and signed for Newcastle Diamonds in 1978. He rode for them in just three matches, (3M-11R-15P-3B-18TP-6.55CMA), when he suffered a bably broken left thigh, that unfortunately ended his very promising speedway career.

In the 1977/78 season McDonald even rode in the world championship qualifying rounds, to the best of my knowledge the only Papua New Guinean ever to do so. He entered via the Australian rounds, qualifying from the Queensland Final at Bundaberg, where he finished 2nd, before being eliminated in the second round (Northern Zone Final) in Sydney finishing joint 11th with 4 points.

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Hi Puma, that was Kevin McDonald, the Papua New Guinea champion of 1974, 1975 and 1976 ! He was born in Melbourne on December 31, 1956, but grew up and lived 20 years in Port Moresby. Speedway started there in the early 1970's and Kevin McDonald was the most talented of the local riders. Several Australian riders,mainly from Queensland and the Northern Territory rode in Papua New Guinea, and McDonald also rode in a few meetings in Australia in the mid-1970's. He was quite good, twice finishing as the runner-up in the Australian Northern Territory Championship (1975 and 1976).

Together with fellow New Guinean Garnet Thistlethwaite they came to England in 1977 or 1978. As far as I know Thistlethwaite only had second half outings in the UK, but McDonald was an instant success and signed for Newcastle Diamonds in 1978. He rode for them in just three matches, (3M-11R-15P-3B-18TP-6.55CMA), when he suffered a bably broken left thigh, that unfortunately ended his very promising speedway career.

In the 1977/78 season McDonald even rode in the world championship qualifying rounds, to the best of my knowledge the only Papua New Guinean ever to do so. He entered via the Australian rounds, qualifying from the Queensland Final at Bundaberg, where he finished 2nd, before being eliminated in the second round (Northern Zone Final) in Sydney finishing joint 11th with 4 points.

 

That's a really incredibly informative Post. Well done! I enjoyed reading it.

 

 

 

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That's a really incredibly informative Post. Well done! I enjoyed reading it.

You're welcome! :rolleyes:

It would be great to know even more about the brief history of speedway in New Guinea. After all, it is only about 30 years since they did race there, so the riders, promoters and people who attended those events must still be around. Anyone out there who knows more ?

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Yes, I remember Paul Muchene. He was a junior at Hackney who tragically died a few days after an accident on track in 1989 - I was there. But I think he was British.

Yes Paul Muchene was (at least half) British, but either his mother or father was Kenyan. The bizzare thing about his fatal accident I seem to remember that the collision happened with another African rider (not that there are that many speedway riders with African roots). I can't remember the name but I am pretty certain that it was a young South African. Perhaps someone can either confirm or correct this, please. Anyone remember that South African rider's name?

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Yes Paul Muchene was (at least half) British, but either his mother or father was Kenyan. The bizzare thing about his fatal accident I seem to remember that the collision happened with another African rider (not that there are that many speedway riders with African roots). I can't remember the name but I am pretty certain that it was a young South African. Perhaps someone can either confirm or correct this, please. Anyone remember that South African rider's name?

I was in the pits at Hackney the night of the tragedy so it would have been against arena essex but I must admit I can't remember the name of the other (totally blameless) rider involved but have a gnawing feeling that it might have been Nick Floyd (sorry if I've got that wrong). If Bryn reads this he was Hackney PR at the time and probably knows.

As for Southern Africa - I seem to remember the sport was quite big in Rhodesia during the mid-70s (Zimbabwe that is) with the legendary (!!) Dick Barrie making trips and reporting extensively for the Speedway Star from Bulawayo and Salisbury.

Also wasn't Denzil Kent (Canterbury?) and Peter Prinsloo at Poole Rhodesian?

Edited by George Dodds
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As for Southern Africa - I seem to remember the sport was quite big in Rhodesia during the mid-70s (Zimbabwe that is) with the legendary (!!) Dick Barrie making trips and reporting extensively for the Speedway Star from Bulawayo and Salisbury.

Also wasn't Denzil Kent (Canterbury?) and Peter Prinsloo at Poole Rhodesian?

 

Don't forget Mike Ferreira, and a little later, Dave Steen.

 

Steve

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You're welcome! :rolleyes:

It would be great to know even more about the brief history of speedway in New Guinea. After all, it is only about 30 years since they did race there, so the riders, promoters and people who attended those events must still be around. Anyone out there who knows more ?

 

 

There was some stuff about Papua New Guinea on http://sports.groups.yahoo.com/group/oldtimespeedway some months ago.

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Hi Puma, that was Kevin McDonald, the Papua New Guinea champion of 1974, 1975 and 1976 ! He was born in Melbourne on December 31, 1956, but grew up and lived 20 years in Port Moresby. Speedway started there in the early 1970's and Kevin McDonald was the most talented of the local riders. Several Australian riders,mainly from Queensland and the Northern Territory rode in Papua New Guinea, and McDonald also rode in a few meetings in Australia in the mid-1970's. He was quite good, twice finishing as the runner-up in the Australian Northern Territory Championship (1975 and 1976).

Together with fellow New Guinean Garnet Thistlethwaite they came to England in 1977 or 1978. As far as I know Thistlethwaite only had second half outings in the UK, but McDonald was an instant success and signed for Newcastle Diamonds in 1978. He rode for them in just three matches, (3M-11R-15P-3B-18TP-6.55CMA), when he suffered a bably broken left thigh, that unfortunately ended his very promising speedway career.

In the 1977/78 season McDonald even rode in the world championship qualifying rounds, to the best of my knowledge the only Papua New Guinean ever to do so. He entered via the Australian rounds, qualifying from the Queensland Final at Bundaberg, where he finished 2nd, before being eliminated in the second round (Northern Zone Final) in Sydney finishing joint 11th with 4 points.

As others have said, that is a very well researched post. :approve:

 

Can you clarify which nationality Kevin McDonald is though please..........I'm guessing he's Australian?

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Hi

 

I found contact to Kevin McDonald. Look at http://www.ausm.info/reports/nominate.htm

 

Bathurst Longtrack Enquiries to:- Kevin McDonald - 02 6331 1955. I think it is the same person we were speaking.

 

Maybe anyone contact with him. I can not because english is not my favourite language :)

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Bavarian do you know others riders from Papua New Guinea ?

 

 

 

 

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This Kevin McDonald of Bathurst is the Dad of Glenn McDonald, ex Aussie/ Longeaton rider....

Regards.

 

Hi

 

I found contact to Kevin McDonald. Look at http://www.ausm.info/reports/nominate.htm

 

Bathurst Longtrack Enquiries to:- Kevin McDonald - 02 6331 1955. I think it is the same person we were speaking.

 

Maybe anyone contact with him. I can not because english is not my favourite language :)

 

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  • 1 month later...

I recall a lad who came over in the early 80's from SA ( I think) called Mark DeKok. Sure he did quite a lot of second half racing here and possibly rode for Newcastle at some stage.

Also in reference to Kevin Macdonald, his father was originally from Northumberland and emigrated to either Australia or PNG in the 1950's.

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