stratton Posted March 30, 2014 Report Share Posted March 30, 2014 I was looking through my old programmes and was surprised on how many national league meetings i attended.I always enjoyed watching that league and see some great entertainment over the years what a decent product it was.Who were people's all time top five riders? and another top five who were they're favourites here goes.Didnt include Lee,Carter, both Crump's and Tiger Louis. 1.Joe Owen( the king) also did well in the BL 2.Tom Owen. 3. John Jackson. 4.Steve Lawson. 5. Laurie Etheridge. My favourite all time five riders in the NL were Malc Holloway, Mark Courtney, Pete Jarman,Paul Woods and Bob Humphreys. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted March 31, 2014 Report Share Posted March 31, 2014 (edited) I was looking through my old programmes and was surprised on how many national league meetings i attended.I always enjoyed watching that league and see some great entertainment over the years what a decent product it was.Who were people's all time top five riders? and another top five who were they're favourites here goes.Didnt include Lee,Carter, both Crump's and Tiger Louis. 1.Joe Owen( the king) also did well in the BL 2.Tom Owen. 3. John Jackson. 4.Steve Lawson. 5. Laurie Etheridge. My favourite all time five riders in the NL were Malc Holloway, Mark Courtney, Pete Jarman,Paul Woods and Bob Humphreys. My favourite top five in the National League were POSSIBLY Jack Parker, Vic Duggan, Max Grosskreutz, Ernie Price and Wilbur Lamoreaux. But there more who ran them very close - including Ove Fundin, Charles 'Pee Wee' Cullum, Wal Morton, Frank Dolan, Keith Harvey and Geoff Pymar among them. To be honest - everyone who got on a speedway bike was a favourite! Edited March 31, 2014 by Guest Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The White Knight Posted March 31, 2014 Report Share Posted March 31, 2014 Graeme Smith (Canterbury/Sunderland), Trevor Geer (Eastbourne), Richard Greer (Peterborough), Bruce Forrester (Teeside) and Doug Wyer (Berwick). Those are my five favourite Riders - however I must also mention one Rider who was usually worth the admission money alone and that was 'Crazy' Jack ('Millen the Villain') Millen (Crewe/Sunderland). Probably the MOST entertaining Rider I have ever seen and we were VERY fortunate to have seen his BEST years at Sunderland. When you mention Speedway to folk in Sunderland today - Jack Millen is the name that still comes up. Amazing when you consider that we haven't had a Track for FORTY years. My five top Riders were more skillful and stylish than Jack - but - if you desperately needed Points - Jack was the man to get them - one way or another. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gavan Posted March 31, 2014 Report Share Posted March 31, 2014 Joe Owen Steve Lawson Andy Galvin Marvyn Cox Bobby Garrard Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Grachan Posted March 31, 2014 Report Share Posted March 31, 2014 (edited) Joe Owen was always the king of the NL. I remember it was a big deal to sign the top NL rider to join you in the British League. I can think of a couple of times we did it at Swindon. Signing Andrew Silver was a revelation. He may not have grown into the very top international rider that he could have, but in terms of entertainment, style and sheer coolness he was one of our best ever. Mike Ferriera was another, who was top of the NL averages, but never quite lived up to what was expected of him once we signed him. Edited March 31, 2014 by grachan Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted March 31, 2014 Report Share Posted March 31, 2014 Further to my previous National League all-time greats - these are worth some sort of consideration : Jack Milne, Bluey Wilkinson, Lionel Van Praag, Cordy Milne, Eric Langton. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
oldace Posted March 31, 2014 Report Share Posted March 31, 2014 I was looking through my old programmes and was surprised on how many national league meetings i attended.I always enjoyed watching that league and see some great entertainment over the years what a decent product it was.Who were people's all time top five riders? and another top five who were they're favourites here goes.Didnt include Lee,Carter, both Crump's and Tiger Louis. 1.Joe Owen( the king) also did well in the BL 2.Tom Owen. 3. John Jackson. 4.Steve Lawson. 5. Laurie Etheridge. My favourite all time five riders in the NL were Malc Holloway, Mark Courtney, Pete Jarman,Paul Woods and Bob Humphreys. My favourite top five in the National League were POSSIBLY Jack Parker, Vic Duggan, Max Grosskreutz, Ernie Price and Wilbur Lamoreaux. But there more who ran them very close - including Ove Fundin, Charles 'Pee Wee' Cullum, Wal Morton, Frank Dolan, Keith Harvey and Geoff Pymar among them. To be honest - everyone who got on a speedway bike was a favourite! Further to my previous National League all-time greats - these are worth some sort of consideration : Jack Milne, Bluey Wilkinson, Lionel Van Praag, Cordy Milne, Eric Langton. I think everyone bar one knew which league you were referring to Sidney. Couldn't really argue with your top 4 there Sidney Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted March 31, 2014 Report Share Posted March 31, 2014 I actually saw 13 of the 16 National League riders I named. The exceptions were Jack and Cordy Milne and Bluey Wilkinson. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
oldace Posted March 31, 2014 Report Share Posted March 31, 2014 I actually saw 13 of the 16 National League riders I named. The exceptions were Jack and Cordy Milne and Bluey Wilkinson. I suspect you knew which league Sidney was referring to (lets face it the riders he named gave it away for all but the most stupid) and wanted to amaze us all with your knowledge that pre 1965 the top league was the National League. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted March 31, 2014 Report Share Posted March 31, 2014 (edited) I suspect you knew which league Sidney was referring to (lets face it the riders he named gave it away for all but the most stupid) and wanted to amaze us all with your knowledge that pre 1965 the top league was the National League. The thread title says - Who Over The Years Were The Stars In The National League.? I just followed the guidelines. Perhaps it should have added 'since 1965' then there would have been no confusion? Edited March 31, 2014 by Guest Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
oldace Posted March 31, 2014 Report Share Posted March 31, 2014 The thread title says - Who Over The Years Were The Stars In The National League.? I just followed the guidelines. Perhaps it should have added 'since 1965' then there would have been no confusion? 1977 actually. Prior to that it was the Second Division then the New National League Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The White Knight Posted March 31, 2014 Report Share Posted March 31, 2014 1977 actually. Prior to that it was the Second Division then the New National League Does it really matter - they were BOTH National Leagues - so where is the problem. No Dates were stated in the original Post - and it IS interesting to read about the old stagers of our Sport. So come on - let's have a bit of fairness here. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
moxey63 Posted March 31, 2014 Report Share Posted March 31, 2014 Everytime a discussion starts on this site there is a pattern that someone or other turns into a Sheldon Cooper character from The Big Bang Theory TV sitcom. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The White Knight Posted March 31, 2014 Report Share Posted March 31, 2014 Everytime a discussion starts on this site there is a pattern that someone or other turns into a Sheldon Cooper character from The Big Bang Theory TV sitcom. Who - ME!!! Sheldon is GREAT!!! :approve: 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted March 31, 2014 Report Share Posted March 31, 2014 The thread title says - Who Over The Years Were The Stars In The National League.? I just followed the guidelines. Perhaps it should have added 'since 1965' then there would have been no confusion? Does it really matter - they were BOTH National Leagues - so where is the problem. No Dates were stated in the original Post - and it IS interesting to read about the old stagers of our Sport. So come on - let's have a bit of fairness here. Thank you TWK. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Paulco Posted March 31, 2014 Report Share Posted March 31, 2014 God himself , Steve Lawson . He was Glasgow Tigers from 1978 till 1992 . Probably never see such loyalty ever again in speedway 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
iris123 Posted March 31, 2014 Report Share Posted March 31, 2014 God himself , Steve Lawson . He was Glasgow Tigers from 1978 till 1992 . Probably never see such loyalty ever again in speedway No.I can see Matthias Kröger,who has ridden for Brokstedt from 1984 until the present day has a few years to do to catch up with Stevie Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stratton Posted March 31, 2014 Author Report Share Posted March 31, 2014 Thank you TWK. "Gustix" you post what you like my friend,i am interested in your recollection of that period now it would be interesting from 1965.If i am right i think Charlie Monk was top of the averages in 1965 and did he win the Wills International.? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
oldace Posted March 31, 2014 Report Share Posted March 31, 2014 (edited) "Gustix" you post what you like my friend,i am interested in your recollection of that period now it would be interesting from 1965.If i am right i think Charlie Monk was top of the averages in 1965 and did he win the Wills International.? Right so you simply meant who is your favourite rider of all time then. In that case your selections are a little silly. You are saying joe and tom owen were bigger stars than craven or fundin Edited March 31, 2014 by Oldace Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted March 31, 2014 Report Share Posted March 31, 2014 (edited) Right so you simply meant who is your favourite rider of all time then. In that case your selections are a little silly. You are saying joe and tom owen were bigger stars than craven or fundin Is this a question for me (gustix) or for Sidney? It's somehow become jumbled in transmission? "Gustix" you post what you like my friend,i am interested in your recollection of that period now it would be interesting from 1965.If i am right i think Charlie Monk was top of the averages in 1965 and did he win the Wills International.? Charlie Monk won the 1965 Internationale but did not top the averages. You will find the averages at http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1965_British_Speedway_League Edited March 31, 2014 by Guest Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Join the conversation
You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.
Note: Your post will require moderator approval before it will be visible.