Parsloes 1928 nearly Posted July 3, 2013 Report Share Posted July 3, 2013 I have read the article on the Kent Kings website and seen how it links to WJ Cearns and The Laurels at Wimbledon from 1953 onwards. However, there are several history sites including http://www.speedwayc...cal-helmets.php that trace the event back to 1939. What significance then do winners prior to 1953 that these sites recognise have in regard to the competition now? These winners are among the recognised greatest ever speedway riders. Are they in future to be ignored as winners of The Laurels? Are these sites to "correct" their list of Laurels winners? If you read the article you'd see it's clear! No-one's saying the Laurels didn't start until 1953 and no-one's wiping from history the pre-'53 winners! In fact if you note, it says that Ronnie Moore won the event (the Laurels) FOUR times and one of the those (his first) was indeed in 1952; therefore BEFORE '53! So chill out! The anniversary (60 years) was of the WJ Cearns Trophy being twinned with the Laurels - this is both 100% clear in the article and - because of the modern-day Kent club's connections with the Cearns family and this trophy - a very important one to acknowledge! I'm concerned if you worry about this too much gustix, you'll miss your stop at Streatham Common!! 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted July 3, 2013 Report Share Posted July 3, 2013 If you read the article you'd see it's clear! No-one's saying the Laurels didn't start until 1953 and no-one's wiping from history the pre-'53 winners! In fact if you note, it says that Ronnie Moore won the event (the Laurels) FOUR times and one of the those (his first) was indeed in 1952; therefore BEFORE '53! So chill out! The anniversary (60 years) was of the WJ Cearns Trophy being twinned with the Laurels - this is both 100% clear in the article and - because of the modern-day Kent club's connections with the Cearns family and this trophy - a very important one to acknowledge! I'm concerned if you worry about this too much gustix, you'll miss your stop at Streatham Common!! Thank you for the clarification. I now understand fully the point you are making in regard to the Laurels and it's tie-in with the Cearns trophy. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Modd Posted July 4, 2013 Report Share Posted July 4, 2013 Did anyone please take any pictures of he meeting and the presentation? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
spinkox Posted July 4, 2013 Report Share Posted July 4, 2013 Well I suppose somewhere but its whereabouts sadly not known... Someone should ask whoever won it when Wimbledon first closed down - altho it might be rightfully his. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Parsloes 1928 nearly Posted July 4, 2013 Report Share Posted July 4, 2013 Someone should ask whoever won it when Wimbledon first closed down - altho it might be rightfully his. That was Hans Nielsen I believe......!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
speedibee Posted July 4, 2013 Report Share Posted July 4, 2013 That was Hans Nielsen I believe......!! bet he would swop it for half a dozen golf balls Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted July 4, 2013 Report Share Posted July 4, 2013 And - Does that fantastic original trophy from the Wimbledon days still exist?? Many of these trophies were "snatched back" by the track after the presentation. This COULD (but not known) what happened to the trophy. Then probably it got caught up with other items when speedway closed in 1991 at Wimbledon Stadium and POSSIBLY (but not known) taken under the custody of stadium owners the GRA. But that's just a scenario on my part. I think the GRA use the old greyhound Laurels trophy at a similar named event at Belle Vue these days? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cityrebel Posted July 4, 2013 Author Report Share Posted July 4, 2013 (edited) custody of the GRA usually means thrown in the skip. i was part of the crew that cleared out white city, harringay and wembley stadiums prior to demolition. a lot of very historical greyhound items were just thrown away. i rescued a few things from each venue including a couple of speedway items. regarding the laurels shield, this trophy used to be housed in the speedway office alongside the knock out cup which the dons were allowed to keep after their third win in 1970. both of these trophies were 'removed' from the stadium during the era that the GRA did not promote speedway at wimbledon 1985 - 91. i don't know who took these items that rightfully belonged to the club, or where they are now. Edited July 4, 2013 by cityrebel Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted July 4, 2013 Report Share Posted July 4, 2013 custody of the GRA usually means thrown in the skip. i was part of the crew that cleared out white city, harringay and wembley stadiums prior to demolition. a lot of very historical greyhound items were just thrown away. i rescued a few things from each venue including a couple of speedway items. regarding the laurels shield, this trophy used to be housed in the speedway office alongside the knock out cup which the dons were allowed to keep after their third win in 1970. both of these trophies were 'removed' from the stadium during the era that the GRA did not promote speedway at wimbledon 1985 - 91. i don't know who took these items that rightfully belonged to the club, or where they are now. As there is sadly no Wimbledon Speedway club if the Laurels trophy is found it could be a major issue trying to get it from the GRA - if in fact they actually have it in their possession. But there's no harm in contacting them in regard to trying to trace where the original speedway Laurels is now. Anyway, if you say it was among items moved from the speedway stadium during 1985-91 who actually did this? And why? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
IAN2 Posted July 4, 2013 Report Share Posted July 4, 2013 Did anyone please take any pictures of he meeting and the presentation? Yes resident Photographer Tony Fowles of E.S.A. ( Essex Sports Agency ) has got all the photos of the meeting and all are available via his site and can be viewed on Facebook. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cityrebel Posted July 4, 2013 Author Report Share Posted July 4, 2013 As there is sadly no Wimbledon Speedway club if the Laurels trophy is found it could be a major issue trying to get it from the GRA - if in fact they actually have it in their possession. But there's no harm in contacting them in regard to trying to trace where the original speedway Laurels is now. Anyway, if you say it was among items moved from the speedway stadium during 1985-91 who actually did this? And why? you would be wasting your time contacting the GRA. they have no interest in anything to do with their greyhound racing heritage let alone speedway. i have an oil painting of derby final night that used to hang in the boardroom at white city that i rescued from a skip. when the GRA finished promoting speedway at plough lane in 1984, a lot of speedway items were given to me by the outgoing dons boss cyril maidment, most of these were his own property. the trophies remained in the speedway office when the new promoters took over. i have a good idea who took the trophies, but no proof and a public forum is not the place to be making unfounded accusations. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted July 4, 2013 Report Share Posted July 4, 2013 you would be wasting your time contacting the GRA. they have no interest in anything to do with their greyhound racing heritage let alone speedway. i have an oil painting of derby final night that used to hang in the boardroom at white city that i rescued from a skip. when the GRA finished promoting speedway at plough lane in 1984, a lot of speedway items were given to me by the outgoing dons boss cyril maidment, most of these were his own property. the trophies remained in the speedway office when the new promoters took over. i have a good idea who took the trophies, but no proof and a public forum is not the place to be making unfounded accusations. Then at least they are in existence somewhere which is, in a small way, reassuring. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
spinkox Posted July 5, 2013 Report Share Posted July 5, 2013 custody of the GRA usually means thrown in the skip. i was part of the crew that cleared out white city, harringay and wembley stadiums prior to demolition. a lot of very historical greyhound items were just thrown away. i rescued a few things from each venue including a couple of speedway items. I wouldnt mind your job! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cityrebel Posted July 5, 2013 Author Report Share Posted July 5, 2013 I wouldnt mind your job! i stopped working for the dreaded GRA in 2002, ironically the year speedway returned to plough lane! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Parsloes 1928 nearly Posted July 5, 2013 Report Share Posted July 5, 2013 I had heard horror stories of the GRA's attitude at the closure of White City - interesting (though very depressing) to get your 'insider' view on it, cityrebel. What kind of ignorant philistines can ride roughshod over the history of one of this country's most famous ever stadiums (an Olympic stadium remember..) ... Also how unbelievably stupid throwing out items which could've been sold for lots of money.. I understand there was Boxing memrobilia there as well as Greyhounds stuff and surely there must have been Athletics trophies etc. there too. My blood boils at how this ignorant organisation conducts itself. It beggars belief that an organisation caled the Greyhound Racing Association seems only interested in CLOSING down the country's top Dog tracks... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
oldace Posted July 5, 2013 Report Share Posted July 5, 2013 I had heard horror stories of the GRA's attitude at the closure of White City - interesting (though very depressing) to get your 'insider' view on it, cityrebel. What kind of ignorant philistines can ride roughshod over the history of one of this country's most famous ever stadiums (an Olympic stadium remember..) ... Also how unbelievably stupid throwing out items which could've been sold for lots of money.. I understand there was Boxing memrobilia there as well as Greyhounds stuff and surely there must have been Athletics trophies etc. there too. My blood boils at how this ignorant organisation conducts itself. It beggars belief that an organisation caled the Greyhound Racing Association seems only interested in CLOSING down the country's top Dog tracks... Mr Bamforth treated Belle Vue's history with similar contempt when he "disposed" of Hyde Road Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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